NextGEN / Creative Campus Program
Creative Campus Experience
Students learn valuable facilitation skills and relationship- and community-building skills through our evidence-based creative engagement methodology.
Join teachers from across the country utilizing the TimeSlips’ online training in coursework and service learning.
Create an online community where resources and tools are stored, training and progress can be tracked, and stories can be shared.
Help break down the stigma and stereotypes around aging and dementia by building positive intergenerational relationships.
Gain access to our online training and tools to support meaningful implementation for students, teachers, and other partners.
Learn more about how to embed TimeSlips in a course, offer it as a service learning or volunteer project, or turn it into an immersive one year "Student Artist in Residence" experience.
Connect with our inspiring international network to learn more about meaningful work in the field of aging.
Interested in training just for yourself? Please visit the Individual Training page to get started.
Interested in becoming a Creative Campus? Contact us or follow link below to sign up.
What is TimeSlips?
Shifting from memory to imagination opens relationships
and invites play and connection
What is Meaningful Engagement
Students learn to ask Beautiful Questions and invite someone to imagine, using words, sounds, movements and images. This shift from the expectation of memory to the freedom of imagination opens communication and invites emotional communication.
Helpful products
Designed to support student service learning
Creative Campus
Open access to our training system for students in a high school, college, or university campus, and certification for staff or instructors. Learn more here.
FAQs
I’ve done the training as a Student - should I get “certified?”
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That’s up to you! Training simply means you completed the online training. Certification assures you that you have successfully transitioned from training to practice. Why Certify? Certification:
Do I have to take the Online Training to use the Creativity Center?
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As part of our mission to make creative engagement available to all, our Creativity Center is free to use without training. We think the training will be enormously helpful - but it’s not required.
How many sessions should a teacher require students to facilitate over the course of a project or semester?
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We recommend at least 5-6 so they really get into the swing of things. It usually takes 2-3 sessions just to feel comfortable facilitating and it’s good to have enough sessions for them to get to know the elders. But TimeSlips does not have a requirement - do what is right for your group of students, your aging services partner, and your timeframe.
If a student or administrator already has an account on the TimeSlips website, can they join our Creative Campus?
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Yes! Just make sure when you invite them to the Creative Campus you use the same email address they used to create their account. (Or they can update their account to match your invitation if needed.)
Do you recommend that all students attend all the sessions together? Since they are coming from all different programs the volunteer dates/times might not work for all of them.
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Not necessarily, we understand schedules are hard to accommodate so do what works for you. At one school for example, they actually partner with three aging services partners who give possible days and times that work on their end and students can sign up for whatever times works in their schedule. This requires clear and direct communication between the students and the aging services partner, so ensure everyone is set up for success on that front. Some schools that have smaller groups of students and an aging services partner who is geographically close by the school, actually use class time to all go together which is a great option whenever possible. Students being able to co-facilitate makes for great reflection and learning.
In addition to the training online, could we do some kind of "orientation" that might include doing a practice round as a group (just students)?
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An orientation or practice is a great idea! Getting the hang of how to phrase open ended questions; remembering to use the yes, and concept; practicing how to record and ensure you are echoing and acknowledging all contributions can be hard at first. It’s also good to remind students that the more you can make it about imaging/inventing/making up the story - the better - remembering that there are no wrong answers and the story doesn’t have to be “polished” or “make sense” the way they might be used to.
In the Student Volunteer Resource Guide in your Toolkit, we’ve provided a few items that may be helpful during an orientation phase:
- Student Volunteer/Service Learning 101 has some great tips for getting started and some ideas about what to expect. Especially getting to know your aging services site which includes any volunteer orientation or paperwork that may be required by them.
- Challenges That May Pop Up goes over a few common pitfalls and how to address/avoid them. It could be helpful to role play a few of these scenarios.
- In the Appendix there is a “Recap of Training” is not intended to be a checklist or something you should bring with you when you facilitate. But in a practice session it may be nice to ensure you remember and understand the reason for each step. In addition, it may be a helpful tool for reflection after facilitating: Did you remember each step? How did each step go? If you forgot a step, how would it have changed the session? How would you do steps differently next time?
In addition, you may want to visit our where you will find short presentations like an Intro to Aging as well as Identifying Ageism in Intergenerational Spaces.
Lastly, inviting at least one staff member of your aging services partner to join your Creative Campus and take the online training can go a long way in ensuring that they are aware of sessions should work and can be of additional support to students.
What does the certification process look like if a student goes through training and facilitating sessions as part of a course?
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Certification is pretty simple. We ask that they facilitate a minimum of 3 sessions; post the resulting stories to the Creativity Center on our website, and then complete our Self Evaluation form. If someone from your Creative Campus is trained as an In House Trainer, the Self Evaluation form will show up in the students tasks. When they complete it, the In House Trainer will get notification that it needs to be reviewed. They can comment on the Self Evaluation and either send it back to the student for some discussion or simply approve it which will complete the certification process. If your Creative Campus does not have an In House Trainer, the student will need to purchase certification on our Products page and will go through the same process but will be assigned to TimeSlips Master Trainer/staff member to go through the review process with instead of someone internal in your Creative Campus.
Is it suggested that our aging services partner organize the same group of residents each time or is it okay if they are different residents each time?
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We prefer that it is the same group so facilitators can get to know the storytellers and develop relationships and rapport. These sessions also go a long way for developing a sense of community among residents and even between residents and staff. But if it doesn't work out that way, it’s also not a bad thing to spread the creativity and love around a little either!
What People are Saying
Every time I walk out of a session, I walk out with a smile. I've learned so much about people with dementia throughout this process. I learned that creativity does not waiver throughout their illness.
- Kristina Brenner, student trainee, Certified Facilitator, Galloway, NJ
My experience with TimeSlips has been nothing but fun and exciting. Each week I look forward to seeing the residents and helping them be as creative as they want to be. I love how open this program is and how it doesn't limit the leaders or residents with the storytelling. I think the residents really enjoy TimeSlips because it removes the pressure to be correct that other activities may have on them. We always have a good laugh while telling stories and it allows us all to get to know each other well.
- Micaela Flores, Sophomore, Communications Major, UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
I absolutely loved TimeSlips! I hope to stay connected in the future and continue with it even when it is not required. I developed some wonderful relationships with people with dementia.
- Rebecca Willer, Student Trainee, UWM, Milwaukee, WI
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