FROM IN-PERSON....
discussion, as well as space for small group table activities. We developed protocols and guides for the facilitation of these community events and spent a portion of each meeting explaining the technology and best practices for participants’ understanding.
...TO VIRTUAL
With the tools of our transition to virtual engagement ready, we transitioned each piece of our traditional engagement processes, careful to maintain as much of the interactivity as possible. Above is an example of how our Typology of Spaces voting (one of the activities that informs VLK | LAUNCH®) went from in-person, placing stickers on a board, to voting and commenting virtually on Slido. We transitioned a number of processes to virtual during this period. VLK | CURATION® is our thorough process of action research with clients. Our Principal of Educational Planning, Dalane Bouillion, Ed.D. uses district data such as strategic plans, innovative district plans, goals for curriculum and instruction, current instructional methodologies, academic programs, and state data to inform our design process. Navigating this process virtually meant that we needed to create an open forum for lively group
28 VLK Architects, Inc.
With this new virtual process, we successfully facilitated all VLK | CURATION® and VLK | LAUNCH® events that were scheduled prior to the pandemic. We virtually facilitated the design of the new Parkview Elementary School and Whitley Road Elementary School in Keller ISD. There were over 218 participants over the course of four evenings, who called in from over 200 different locations. VLK worked with Port Neches-Groves ISD to develop the design for two replacement intermediate schools – Port Neches Intermediate School and Groves Intermediate School. Over 100 teachers, students, parents, district officials and community members participated in the process virtually. VLK also facilitated Virtual VLK | CURATION® and VLK | LAUNCH® events for a variety of projects including the Perry Middle School Additions and Renovations in CarrolltonFarmers Branch ISD, the newest elementary school in Midlothian ISD, and even a hybrid inperson and virtual VLK | LAUNCH® for Hutto ISD for the renovations to Hutto Middle School and Farley Middle School. Like many agencies that depend on effective and equitable public engagement have discovered, the right combination of virtual platforms can be more accessible and inclusive than traditional in-person meetings. The introduction of these digital platforms to our typical processes alleviates problematic conflicts that hindered
