Please join us for a weekly conversation about design thinking in K12 education. We will have a variety of moderators with a wide range and depth of design thinking experiences. Each week, we will connect the dots to the design thinking methodology and how it can and will play a bigger role in today’s K12 educational arena.
A0: Dan Ryder, Success & Innovation Center, Education Director at @MBCampus, Farmington, ME; love me some Xbox, some #improv, & and some #LEGO#dtk12chat
I'm there often! And my daughter goes to college in Rochester. :)) Yeah, I'll stay inside and watch all the pretty while staying warm. Hahaha! #dtk12chat
A0 4th & 5th grade school teacher and Dean of Professional Growth in Maine. Favorite way of playing is chasing things outdoors. Preferably frisbees. #dtk12chat
This quote resonates! Too many times I think we have lost the art of #play, ironically especially in schools where it should be part of our DNA #dtk12chat
A1 my response is I don’t want to play with an adult who doesn’t play #dtk12chat I remember I was once told "If you can’t assess it, its not worth doing” Im pretty sure they thought Play was a waste too
A1: yes. Play allows us to be vulnerable & silly. Let’s us let guards down & create/foster friendships. Play lets us know who we are playing with #dtk12chat
A1: yes. Play allows us to be vulnerable & silly. Let’s us let guards down & create/foster friendships. Play lets us know who we are playing with #dtk12chat
A1 #dtk12chat If we don't see ourselves when we watch puppies playing, or horses galavanting, we've lost the connection to our most primal selves, the part that makes us social and drives us to create. Play is natural, office carrels are not.
This quote resonates! Too many times I think we have lost the art of #play, ironically especially in schools where it should be part of our DNA #dtk12chat
A1:) When students are allowed to express themselves in natural ways and enact ideas with other kids , it’s a framework for self-actualization. Self-actualization is a happy place. 😊#dtk12chat
A1 schools should aspire to make learning resemble play. Traditional learning for most ss means wearing heavy armor to block, defend, protect, hide. Play allows ss to take off the armor and be themselves. #dtk12chat
A1 #dtk12chat If we don't see ourselves when we watch puppies playing, or horses galavanting, we've lost the connection to our most primal selves, the part that makes us social and drives us to create. Play is natural, office carrels are not.
I feel like it’s anytime you let yourself go, whether it’s playing make believe or you’re suiting up and playing team sports. Play opens the door to giving yourself out there, then we get to know each other #dtk12chat
A1: yes. Play allows us to be vulnerable & silly. Let’s us let guards down & create/foster friendships. Play lets us know who we are playing with #dtk12chat
A2 Play is learning and learning is play. We try to infuse playful exploration in all that we do in the classroom and provide plenty of play time outdoors. #dtk12chat
A2 We may not call it "play," yet when we experiment in low stakes, when we make foolish & odd things, when we let our imaginations run wild w ridiculous notions in the service of "hey, why not?" we generate way more ideas than we would otherwise #dtk12chat
A2 #dtk12chat I love to play with words. For me and my students, living out the title of Bill Moyers' book about the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry festival (I've been there about 10 times) "Fooling with Words" is a lot of fun.
Yeah, that’s nail on the head. Low stakes with high engagement fosters risk-taking and promotes a culture where we can innovate without fear #dtk12chat
A2 I always let ss play to gather inspiration and engage in ideation. Play with tools, materials and ideas. We see who a child truly is when they are playing. Otherwise we see who they think we want to see. Play empowers ss to be themselves. #dtk12chat
A2 Easy to say Yet hope it would be true if I was back in the classroom Play wld play a huge role in the everyday classroom as well as a driving mindset #dtk12chat
And it's so necessary for Ts to embrace this so that they can help students embrace these mindsets. It drives me crazy when a "traditional" teacher says "my Ss just won't take risks" when he/she won't either. #dtk12chat
A2 We play with ideas: Write a “one time I” story about your topic. Draw a multisensory picture. List genuine questions. Make up rumors, lies, and fantasies. If it were an outfit, what would it look like? If it were a meal, how would it taste? #dtk12chat
A3 We have been experimenting with @Makedo this year as a way to amplify our cardboard making; they've been rather keen and give us lots of ways to just "mess around" in the early experimenting & tinkering phases #dtk12chat
A2: I use a lot of improv for multiple reasons. Creates safe space where we can all be silly together, and also use specific games & activities to build certain mindsets around innovation and #designthinking#dtk12chat
A2: For us play is often productive procrastination. We launch a question or select challenges, then play at something to let thoughts marinate before we start moving. Sometimes 5 minute out loud or sometimes video games #dtk12chat
A3 Play helps people see things in a new light. It can be so simple... How do googly eyes help you see something in a new light? a playful spirt helps us see #opportunities#dtk12chat
A3 I'm not a huge fan of games like Kahoot & Quizlet Live, mainly bc they take a long time to set up & they don't push into deeper learning (generally); However, I love giving kids time to explore tinkering carts, #LEGO, 3d printers & other tools for inspiration #dtk12chat
So, as I was thinking about play, I was torn between intentional play (where I have a purpose as an ed) vs completely unstructured play at school (that's not recess)-thoughts? #dtk12chat
They do okay with the saws -- they do even better with the awl (that thing is AWESOME); we purchased some canary cutters to tuck in each Makedo kit; those things are AWESOME #andsafe#dtk12chat
A3 #dtk12chat If we're all playing then we're building a culture that honors that which is most original in the human. Hopefully we're laughing, the true voice of the soul, and creates a congregation of the new church of Joy, something sorely missing in many classrooms
A3:) We have the Cereal Challenge, -where the kids use junk to build the fastest or the best sort of thing. (Winner gets a large box of cereal of choice). #dtk12chat
A3, I touched in this in A2, but play provides a break from ideating in the forefront of the brain, and lets ideas to become deeper. We pause challenges explicitly after launching them so we can play (and think in the background) #dtk12chat
The challenge I have had is that when there is play in a classroom it becomes 'time to socialize'. As much as I want teens to build those creative neurons, to them it is still school. How do you keep everyone in focused play? #dtk12chat
A3 We’ve repurposed board games to produce poetry – e.g. we gave Monopoly, Apples 2 Apples, and Battleship new rules do they’d result in poems. Not the best or most authentic writing, but a great way to play with words and ideas. #dtk12chat
A3 I wonder if a reframe or an additional Q is needed. How can teachers articulate & show learning & skill development through play w/o bolstering it w/ “and we also do…”? Why can’t Play stand on its own? #dtk12chat
I appreciate this. For me, ideation is often so intentionally planned that I feel like I'm chasing ideas. Hunting. When I play, they simply emerge. #dtk12chat
A3 2 practice collaboration, today I had teams go through simple design process. Inspiration, ideation, implementation. Use imagination playground blocks to create product to hold toys & art supplies. We processed success & challenges of collaboration. #dtk12chat
laughter and joy. Wow. Word. So many classrooms w/o either. And I am even bored as an adult. I start thinking about all the fun things I could be doing #dtk12chat
I reckon there should be space for BOTH structured & unstructured play in any school environment, including MS & HS; it's about balance of representation #dtk12chat#balancedoesntmeanequal
So, as I was thinking about play, I was torn between intentional play (where I have a purpose as an ed) vs completely unstructured play at school (that's not recess)-thoughts? #dtk12chat
Was too busy playing around to realize that #dtk12chat has started. Kenneth Drew Gordon here. Tweets emanating from somewhere in the Greater Boston region.
I appreciate this. For me, ideation is often so intentionally planned that I feel like I'm chasing ideas. Hunting. When I play, they simply emerge. #dtk12chat
My best thoughts come mowing the yard or walking the dog, or playing monopoly. Adam Grant and his Originals has helped me pitch this as best practice to admin, so now we play to help think. #dtk12chat
That’s when games w/certain intentions & purposes are good. Like the improv or rapid prototyping that builds innovation skills and mindsets. #dtk12chat
I feel that tension as well - went I get overwhelmed even at home, play goes at the window. Yet that is probably when I (and my family!) need it most! #dtk12chat
A3 I wonder if a reframe or an additional Q is needed. How can teachers articulate & show learning & skill development through play w/o bolstering it w/ “and we also do…”? Why can’t Play stand on its own? #dtk12chat
end of project I let ss have play time w/limited materials. I have worked their creative minds during the project, I think free play at the end provides refueling of energy. A way to use what they learned on their own &/or a way to gather new inspiration 4 what’s next. #dtk12chat
So, as I was thinking about play, I was torn between intentional play (where I have a purpose as an ed) vs completely unstructured play at school (that's not recess)-thoughts? #dtk12chat
Yes! Giving yourself the ability to be flexible let’s those last minute ideas pop up after being in background thoughts. Start the task quickly, finish slowly #dtk12chat
With the new curriculum, K9 students are encouraged to 'play' and then teachers pull the marks from what they did into one of the competencies. I haven't wrapped my brain around that yet. #dtk12chat
Play can stand on it’s own. Teachers simply need to know/articulate what skills/concepts are engaging while working. Understanding how creativity works is a good first step to identify skills in play. #DTK12chat
A3 I wonder if a reframe or an additional Q is needed. How can teachers articulate & show learning & skill development through play w/o bolstering it w/ “and we also do…”? Why can’t Play stand on its own? #dtk12chat
I’ve got a 10 minute walk to school now. I love the quiet 10 minutes to think, change some parts of plans almost everyday. Walk home gives me time to reflect ( and get loudly honked at by students) #dtk12chat
A3 We’ve repurposed board games to produce poetry – e.g. we gave Monopoly, Apples 2 Apples, and Battleship new rules do they’d result in poems. Not the best or most authentic writing, but a great way to play with words and ideas. #dtk12chat
I'm just sitting here thinking about what a great challenge this would be for Ss. And they could redesign for other purposes, too. Mix and remix games, too. #dtk12chat
In reply to
@WickedDecent, @amyburvall, @davidtedu, @MrZiebarth, @lorilisai
A4:) We have “Special Projects” where create things and repeatedly bomb the way we do it. We have to listen to each other if we want to do it the best way. The majority of the time, the kids’ ideas are better than mine. #dtk12chat
A4 I will pose to ss this w/regard to play. My problem is I’m bored at recess. Boredom is my inspiration. Now let’s go through ideation process & make a mind map of possible ideas. Now we can’t let it live in our head. Let’s implement the idea and refine it as needed. #dtk12chat
Brilliant! Board Game Junkyard! You collect tons of old games in a room (or corner of a room) and give kids instructions to pull out various pieces and build a new game of their own. #dtk12chat I want to try this myself!
In reply to
@AngelaStockman, @WickedDecent, @amyburvall, @davidtedu, @MrZiebarth, @lorilisai
I love you folks as my PLN but sometimes I really want the research behind the opinions. I have an issue with "playing" with unproven approaches in classrooms .... I want to back up my pedagogy with research...Sorry if that is a downer. #dtk12chat
I have learned more about learning + play in the last 19 months I love being a fly on the wall observing + making the connections w/ the play in front of me #dtk12chat
A4: @WickedDecent touched on this earlier, play allows for low stakes and engagement. That allows for us to build in a community where we can all feel free to participate, give&take feedback. That’s all the backbone for our DT #dtk12chat
Funny, entertaining books like Elephant & Piggie ( @The_Pigeon ) bring such laughter, joy, & fun into my classroom--it's definitely like play #dtk12chat
How do you use play with students who need structure and if there is a deviation, their anxiety is triggered? Or what about kids who are on the Autism spectrum? #dtk12chat
Dear #dtk12chat: you should know that all this "play" talk has caused me to lose exactly one follower. I knew excessive playing around would lead to someone getting hurt. Didn't realize that that person. Would. Be. Me. SAD!
And I agree that I am definitely torn w/ what is "right" --I want joy & laughter but does that mean play or does that mean passion or highly empowered learners? Would love more research as wel #dtk12chat
A5 #dtk12chat The Laughing Classroom (https://t.co/MR9TEzX6Fn) , Roger VonOech's "A Whack on the Side of the Head" and a set of "Playstations" I made based on his ideas. Also love Awakening Genius in the Classroom.
Did you see the TEDTalk from Stuart Brown we tweeted yesterday? I took a class fro him and several others @stanforddschool called from Play to Innovation. He has researched many aspects of topic. https://t.co/zGBp88L28H#dtk12chat
In reply to
@_Ms_J, @scitechyEDU, @stanforddschool
I also feel strongly about engaging in our own action research. You can "lift and drop" best practices that others have tested, but this doesn't ensure success for your students, right? That research--ours-- matters most, IMO. #dtk12chat
Q7: you’d all be a little disturbed if you knew how many games I made up & played in my head. Beyond that, kickball at recess, jumping into scrimmages in BBall practice, board and card games, but not often enough #dtk12chat
So many students don't have unstructured time--I think that's why I struggle with intentional play wanting to give them that time to be bored. #dtk12chat
That makes a lot of sense… i have been exploring more in the younger ages so my reference points might not be applicable for upper grades. Loose Parts Play & Wildschooling is where I am at at the moment w/ Education #dtk12chat
Creativity is basically trying new things and making connections and repeating this cycle while studying/developing the craft of whatever field you are exploring. #dtk12chat
A7 #dtk12chat I play hockey once a week, Soccer during the summer, snowboard in winter, and try to do something cognitively playful at least once per day--a game, a puzzle, or a musing...like finding the poetry that's falling on us all the time.
#dtk12chat.... I left work and had to deal with 20+ teens who were "playing".... I yelled out and said I won't be a B* about it but please get down off the roof. There were like tribbles..and travelled in pairs scrambling 20 foot drop.
Studying 21 century skills is a good place to start. https://t.co/OIiHbZ24Pt Lots of these skills are explored, engaged, practiced, developed through play #dtk12chat
Here is a blogpost that explores the necessity of tinkering which is a form of play. https://t.co/UZEK7XZMfh play was/is essential to all kinds of human innovations #dtk12chat
