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.
My name is Jess! I'm an intern at Wines Elementary in Ann Arbor, MI. I'm excited about the unit on the human body that my Ks started this week! #dtk12chat
Hey! #dtk12chat. Gary from Just outside of Philadelphia PA. (doin' fine, thanks, @TheRealJamCam ) I spent part of my Saturday applying for @projectwayfindr Hoping to attend this summer and bring Design inspired Purpose-driven Ed to my school.
Hi #dtk12chat! Chad here from Northern KY. I'm currently working on an automation project for my AP CS Principles students to complete after the AP exam.
Tonight I am selfishly hoping you all can help me continue my work @AGSHurricanes#dtk12chat So get ready first question coming soon. Please use format to answer A1 A2 A3 etc
A1: Engage all students in STEM through relevant, rigorous curriculum so they will be responsible, active, global citizens in the digital age. #dtk12chat
A1: I don't, really. Instead, we seem to look for opportunities to integrate those different content area understandings in service to a larger mission that's typically service oriented. Sometimes, not. #dtk12chat
A1 #dtk12chat It's a reformulation of a traditional liberal (broad) education--"Liberal education nurtures human freedom in the service of human community." See https://t.co/gYgbCcYo2k
A1) I would say our school is moving in the right direction, but kind of new to it all. Support from Superintendent but we are still figuring out our direction. I am pushing hard for DT to be a big part as I feel #empathy is so important. #dtk12chat
A1 for the STEAM program I run at our school makerspace I identify STEAM as integrating at least two of the STEAM subject areas within a lesson/unit.. incorporating art in some way and focusing heavily on inquiry #dtk12chat
A1 STEAM seems to be a lovely concept but isn't it just about fiercely curious about learning and representing learning in critical creative ways... Shout out to @amyburvall and @WickedDecent 's book, @IntentionBook ,that smerdges all the goodness together #dtk12chat
In reply to
@TheRealJamCam, @amyburvall, @WickedDecent, @IntentionBook
As a totally new subject. The system is not dealing with it actually, no standards or curriculum is being developed by the state as far as I know...#dtk12chat
A1: I'm @ art + science school; used these visuals to talk about integration of topics: what if we used these words/mindsets/approaches to all topics? #dtk12chat
PE is prob most isolated of the elements, but they are incorporating health science, dance, mindfulness, and one school used DT to figure out how to make lunch sports club work for all #dtk12chat
Perhaps that's just what happens when the literacy consultant is brought in. I think there is an expectation that I won't or can't go there, perhaps? It "belongs" to others. Not sure. It just seems more organic. #dtk12chat
A1a #dtk12chat in my dist. I'm on our STEM committee. I'm refocusing us on #deeperlearning rather than a stern STEM focus. Broader appeal to all disciplines and interdisciplinary connects in #deeperlearning.
A1 STEAM seems to be a lovely concept but isn't it just about being fiercely curious about learning and representing learning in critical creative ways... Shout out to @amyburvall and @WickedDecent 's book, @IntentionBook ,that smerdges all the goodness together #dtk12chat
That has been our main stumbling block. However DT has made an impact. Our SS teachers heavily invested in bringing the #empathy piece to our units as a starting point into what we do. #dtk12chat
A1: My school hasn’t defined this specifically, but IMO it’s ideally integrated with possibly multiple teachers merging their classes & content. Changing up traditional schedule & core classes as we know it. #dtk12chat
Yes! integrating art has always been the trick but found sometimes integration is parallel teaching too; ex. art = georgia o'keefe while sci = plant structures #dtk12chat
We seem to pull it in the most in science because it fits NGSS well. Tech comes in to play in ideate/prototype phase mostly, as does art/music. #dtk12chat
A2: Necessary? Well, yeah. I think much of what happens outside of school calls us there. It's not imposed though. It's inherent. I'm not sure how I feel about the "movement" yet, for this reason. We schoolify it. #dtk12chat
A2: YES! STEAM work is, in my opinion, best practice for educators. It naturally enhances and extends learning as well as gives students outlets for expression that are not usually present in traditional classroom settings. #dtk12chat
A2: Of course it is! As the Israeli Affiliate Director of @IDODI I've seen many examples who it actually changes lives of Ss. #dtk12chathttps://t.co/qcYWhzk7jj
Slow, like all these things, but we're trying to be inclusive of many stakeholders and we're trying to do a lot of visioning. #dtk12chat. 24 years ago we did a https://t.co/4QTyOITZ8a. It remade the district! (If you're curious, let me know. It was phenomenal!)
They come in with either the non-fiction reading and/or relevant novels. A long walk to water ties into the water conservation/pollution unit, which also brings the empathy piece. And of course there is all that argumentative writing from CCSS and NGSS #dtk12chat
A2 #dtk12chat Hmmm...It's definitely necessary to engage in creative work, but I think, if reformulated as a type of Liberal Education, then, Yes, it is necessary. See my previous tweet re Liberal Education https://t.co/r2GphcSSGd
A1 #dtk12chat It's a reformulation of a traditional liberal (broad) education--"Liberal education nurtures human freedom in the service of human community." See https://t.co/gYgbCcYo2k
When I say “necessary” it sometimes becomes language of the day. But so much great learning and experiences happen in various areas without label #dtk12chat
When I say “necessary” it sometimes becomes language of the day. But so much great learning and experiences happen in various areas without label #dtk12chat
A2 Yes! Necessary and important...art is often lost in the shuffle and STEAM lessons challenge students to solve real world problems, apply what they’ve learned and develop their 4 Cs skills! #dtk12chat
A2: Domains have distinct forms of critical thinking. Students need a wide range of knowledge to think about and create schema that helps with STEAM. Interleaving a thematic unit with various concepts could improve learning. #dtk12chat
https://t.co/pwVkMKXRrc "Design Dots are a deck of 50 cards. Each card has an activity connected to Design Thinking and/or its mindsets. The activities can be done as quick, one-time lessons or built out into larger units" #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @TheRealJamCam, @nober_techclass, @lndeutsch
I think "necessary" is solid word choice. Pushed me to think about it in a way I didn't expect to. I tend to think of "necessary" in terms of what the world will ask of us/them, so it was a great lens. #dtk12chat
A2: Of course it is! As the Israeli Affiliate Director of @IDODI I've seen many examples who it actually changes lives of Ss. #dtk12chathttps://t.co/ormWc6vCed
A set of cards with an activity on each that taps into a DT concept - each card can be done independently w/out a DT project. Focused on ELA integration #dtk12chathttps://t.co/fzkGhMWimw
In reply to
@PrincipalAugust, @TheRealJamCam, @MarianaGSerrato, @nober_techclass, @lndeutsch
One of the biggest benefits for Ss is that they get to see things as part of a bigger picture and not just concepts in isolation. Tends to get rid of the "Why are we learning this?" question #dtk12chat
A2: I see STEAM as necessary & important; real life is not in silos; requires seeing problems from multiple views and using multiple skills to solve #dtk12chat
A2: I see STEAM as necessary & important; real life is not in silos; requires seeing problems from multiple views and using multiple skills to solve #dtk12chat
Not yet - just message Ellen at @lndeutsch and she can hook you up. It’s a fabulous intro for teachers not sure how/where/why to start with DT #dtk12chat
In reply to
@PrincipalAugust, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam, @nober_techclass, @lndeutsch, @lndeutsch
Excited. They were downsizing the school so I wanted to have some control so I volunteered along w/ 15 others. I have mad skills in many areas. ( 41 different 'subjects'/delivery mediums) I think I can be a valuable part of any team I am on. #dtk12chat
A3 In our school I have seen excitment and great interest. Females seem to be some of my best designers, builders, and prototypers. I have seen even more interest as DT is integrated. Not just the build, but the why seems to interest some of my female Ss.
#dtk12chat
A3 In my (super-brief) experience on this one, I've enjoyed watching female Ss find a way in particularly through the low-resolution maker aspect of tinkering an idea into reality. #dtk12chat
A3 In our school I have seen excitment and great interest. Females seem to be some of my best designers, builders, and prototypers. I have seen even more interest as DT is integrated. Not just the build, but the why seems to interest some of my female Ss.
#dtk12chat
It’s interesting how gender roles start to come into play. At K-6 girls are still pretty open to STEAM so it’s not a big issue YET. And we have many female teachers in those roles. #dtk12chat
A3: Unfortunately, the slide is real. At least in my MS girls in the ehart of Silicon Valley! Bringing speakers in (IRL and virually) helps a bit. Also showing them that it is OK to take risks and to move away from traditionally female STEM careers #dtk12chat
A3: Depends on the age. Research shows that girls distancing from STEAM starts in junior high, so it's at that critical age we should expose the girls to female STEAM successful female roles. #dtk12chathttps://t.co/2Os22yeg6h
A3 I’ve seen a shift in perception & excitement about subjects like math and science from some Ss when taught through a STEAM approach. I had a parent tell me her daughter hated science before our STEAM program but loves it now! #dtk12chat
Ela in Cambridge just getting to #dtk12chat—my girls' question-asking doesn't slow down at bedtime, but I can't quite cut them off since that's what we're all about. Psyched to catch a bit with @therealjamcam modding!
A3: At the K level, I haven't noticed gender playing a role in our STEAM activities. I believe that starting STEAM early on in education will close the gender gap we see later on. #dtk12chat
A1: A school that isn't afraid to integrate for the sake of student learning. Breaking down barriers for students rather than making it easier for adults. #dtk12chat
As a former all-girls’ school admin who was a CS Dept/Head + Tech/STEAM Coordinator I do believe there are certain techniques we can use to engage girls in STEM to boost exposure, confidence and likelihood of taking STEM electives in HS #dtk12chat
I get to apply to posts as a 'newbie' but if there isn't a good fit, I can wait to be placed in a temporary contract until I see something I want. There is a teacher shortage in BC. #dtk12chat You can take a look at Make a Future
Girls and boys and hormones... actually, this is a great article about how young students start to make career decisions: https://t.co/9S3EdAkfVC#dtk12chat
A3: This. And also: How might we become increasingly sensitive to the way we impose gender roles beyond the world of STEAM, in order to change the dynamic we sometimes recognize inside of it? #dtk12chat
A3: At the K level, I haven't noticed gender playing a role in our STEAM activities. I believe that starting STEAM early on in education will close the gender gap we see later on. #dtk12chat
A2: I think if we ensure that all Ts are valued, including those teaching subjects not traditionally STEAM as well. Essentially, we need more collaborative and integrated teaching with all subject areas. #dtk12chat
IMO- 6th gr starts middle school; less personal (each Tt has 100 + kids in 55 min chunks), plus social pressures start to + (all speculation )#dtk12chat;
As a former all-girls’ school admin who was a CS Dept/Head + Tech/STEAM Coordinator I do believe there are certain techniques we can use to engage girls in STEM to boost exposure, confidence and likelihood of taking STEM electives in HS #dtk12chat
I think girls start to subconsciously take a step back from boys. Subliminal messages from adults about gender roles abound. Look at LEGO packaging: boys get space ships. Girls get ... well... #dtk12chat
Agreed!! I have S's do a lot of really rapid prototyping—i.e. no computers for the first few iterations—and find that to be a way for teams to start out on even ground and all have ownership in the ideas before the making gets more technical—then they're sucked in :) #dtk12chat
To engage underrepresented girls and other untapped Ss in STEM consider the following: Provide role models/mentors, do company tours for careee exposure, take a project-based/real word approach to STEM and model a culture of risk-taking #failup#dtk12chat
A3: Girls love getting hands-on and dirty. I've seen them have a much greater appreciation for detail in these projects as well. As a whole, they seem to be more interested than the boys in many projects I have done. #dtk12chat
I'm becoming more and more aware and interested in this. I think it's so important. Even reviewing policies, practices, and procedures to root out unintended but glaring bias there...revealing. #dtk12chat
To engage underrepresented girls and other untapped Ss in STEM consider the following: Provide role models/mentors, do company tours for careee exposure, take a project-based/real word approach to STEM and model a culture of risk-taking #failup#dtk12chat
YES. Just this weekend my 6-year-old daughter was really disappointed when her boy cousins got Star Wars sets and she got a Heartlake set from her aunt! #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam
There was a great NYT article about Finnish (I think?) Kinder-age teachers who were already trying to counter gender messages they saw expressed in their Ss school work. (I'll try to find it....) #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam
To engage underrepresented girls and other untapped Ss in STEM consider the following: Provide role models/mentors, do company tours for careee exposure, take a project-based/real word approach to STEM and model a culture of risk-taking #failup#dtk12chat
👏🏼👏🏼 wonderful offer. I’ll let you know. Right now they’re helping me deal with presently lost wallet including all US credit & bank cards, China bank card & drivers license. Oy! @cfanch@TheRealJamCam needed my bros 2 look out for me. #dtk12chat#dtk12china
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @Ed_by_design, @cfanch, @TheRealJamCam
So I love playing with lesson ideas even outside of teaching assignment. I want to do a Module on trees as they are important to Indigeneous culture. There is a wonderful book Song of Trees (?) by @DGHaskell whose 'science' writing reads like prose. #dtk12chat
It’s hard! Shopping for girls is brutal when trying to avoid gender stereotypes. My 15 yr old daughter touched on gender issues in a Blog post https://t.co/KG3tX7oK1u#dtk12chat
In reply to
@ElaBenUr, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam
yes and I believe research has shown for girls to be more engaged when they feel like they are playing a role in helping someone or something out #dtk12chat
Leave time for processing, use DT as part of PBL so the project is human centered and let Ss pick the problem they will use STEM skills to solve. We’ve had Ss design sanitary kits for girls in Cameroon, water stations for Ss in Uganda and other girl-focused topics #dtk12chat
Leave time for processing, use DT as part of PBL so the project is human centered and let Ss pick the problem they will use STEM skills to solve. We’ve had Ss design sanitary kits for girls in Cameroon, water stations for Ss in Uganda and other girl-focused topics #dtk12chat
As a former corporate tech woman (prior to education experience) I personally faced discrimination on a daily basis... need to boost confidence and skills like negotiation, public speaking - best practices like how to walk holding a book.. many games had to be played. #dtk12chat
Leave time for processing, use DT as part of PBL so the project is human centered and let Ss pick the problem they will use STEM skills to solve. We’ve had Ss design sanitary kits for girls in Cameroon, water stations for Ss in Uganda and other girl-focused topics #dtk12chat
A4: Women dominate the field of education, and yet few of them are in leadership roles. Too often, it's the thinking and work of males that is most elevated, even when more women have done greater and higher quality work. I see and hear this often. #dtk12chat
THIS. So... how do we help our female Ss learn to play the game, without... having to ALWAYS and FOREVER play the game, to the point that they become patriarchy-keepers themselves? #dtk12chat
As a former corporate tech woman (prior to education experience) I personally faced discrimination on a daily basis... need to boost confidence and skills like negotiation, public speaking - best practices like how to walk holding a book.. many games had to be played. #dtk12chat
A4 one I notice is boys often take the lead in projects or girls don’t want to fight to have their ideas done as often..so in groups I only do all girls or 2 girls & 1 boy..this allows them to take on more leadership roles w/o taking the backseat for whatever reasons #dtk12chat
A4: The empathy component of DT removes obstacles for stereotypes felt by both genders & opens many doors for “What more can I do & learn?” Fostering growth mindset, confidence, & engagement by bringing story to STEAM. #dtk12chat
I've had similar successes with this approach. The helping others aspect plays a very important role. Our EOY will be centered on designing care kits for people after natural disasters. Idea from our girls that wanted to do for children affected by wildfires in Cal. #dtk12chat
A4: Women dominate the field of education, and yet few of them are in leadership roles. Too often, it's the thinking and work of males that is most elevated, even when more women have done greater and higher quality work. I see and hear this often. #dtk12chat
I won Top Tech Exec award last year - beat out IT prof in all industries throughout the county... huge award for IT world. In my gift bag? A man’s watch. Exchanged it. Was an error. But assumption of STEM being man’s world is rampant. #dtk12chat
Such a layered Q... it’s about workplace equity training, teaching our boys gender/racial equity in K-12, funders kicking in $$ to support initiates to train around these skills often left-out of most schools that are mandated to teach to the test.. #dtk12chat
Girls need to be taught different then boys. Example: girls like teamwork and are process focused. Boys would just want to get to the answer as quick as possible. In Israel, one school has a different physics class for boys and girls https://t.co/QvmLTXgRd0#dtk12chat
Similar. My students almost all the time choose teams for their projects, and most often I end up with all girls and all boys groupings. Every so often I mix it up since they do have to experience the multi-gender workspace. #dtk12chat
Yes and research out of NC State (Beicher, 2008) shows all-girl teams of 3 to be helpful with increasing persistence and confidence with STEM standards, particularly physics/CS classes... then as Ss develop mixed co-ed teams. #dtk12chat
And funny that a lot of the skills elevated in books for leaders work against women - confidence = being a b*tch, showing vulnerability = didn’t deserve promotion, etc #dtk12chat#TopicForANotherDay
It’s going to be awesome to hear from @spreading_JAM as she journeys around the world visiting schools. Will be interesting to learn different perspectives as she experiences so many learning communities. Paula, when do you start? #dtk12chat
In reply to
@knowKMD, @LSpencerEdD, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam, @spreading_JAM
All this said, I will say that there's a big difference between girl LEGOs and Barbies. I watch my girls with the LEGOs and they're still making—worlds, cars, houses—then play, and then make some more. If they prefer more social vs. violent settings, that's fine :) #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @MarianaGSerrato, @TheRealJamCam
It all worked out, but what was telling is my initial reaction was, “of course it’s a man’s watch” when it should have been “oh no, they mixed up my gift with someone else’s gift.” #dtk12chat
such a double-edged sword... after switching K12, had to really re-adjust culturally...the skills often prized and necessary in corporate were looked upon negatively in K12.. was told I was cold/to “aggressive,” and needed to slow down.. would a man get that feedback? #dtk12chat
A4: Something I've noticed during my time in college specifically is the gender stereotypes of professions. If we wanted diversity in the work place, we need to show the younger generations that they won't be put in boxes based on their gender/career they choose. #dtk12chat
And so it begins...I just passed a bunch of my Star Wars stuff to my girls, who are now totally into it, tonight. I see yours is getting a much earlier start!!! Nice! #dtk12chat
A5: I appreciate those who are gently calling each other out and helping one another do this without shaming anyone. We need to teach girls how to do this, too. #dtk12chat
Exactly! And when I went to IT meetings it was obvious who had the respect in the room and who had to fight for a voice. But we keep on fighting so younger girls get more opportunities #dtk12chat
My 15 year old is criticized for her “feminist” stance. By men. Who are never criticized for their ... masculine stance? She gets it. But many others back down. #dtk12chat
A5 I try to set up groups so girls outnumber the boys or are in groups of all girls and create opportunities for girls to have leadership roles. I try to encourage and support their personal STEAM interests during lunchtime makerspace time, too. #dtk12chat
Maybe because band is a talent-based field so the best are truly the best? Is it harder to be sexist when I can play my flute 20 times better than you and all can hear it? #dtk12chat
In reply to
@shirky17, @GHSTEAMchic, @MissKlein20, @MarianaGSerrato
#dtk12chat be intentional.. give female Ss opportunities to take leadership roles and don’t be afraid to be creative in helping them with the first step... #MLK50
Check out the Sanford Harmony program - we were one of 1st in nation to use in my last district. Promotes positive peer interactions between genders. From Arizona State U. #dtk12chat
Bring it back to explicit DT skills, I would suggest that interview skills include deconstructing how questions are asked and how might folks respond to them differently, depending on their socialization #dtk12chat
A5: One school in Israel separated girls and boys in physics class. The results were shocking. A majority of girls chose to major in physics in high school. Attached is the article in Hebrew. https://t.co/if8qQCM5DH#dtk12chat
I was asked once at a new role in the nuclear industry to take notes... I refused... that was implicit bias at work and would have set a bad standard! #dtk12chat
