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.
Welcome to tonight's chat. Before we dive in:
Introduce yourself. Include an image that best expresses how you felt about going to school every day as a child. #dtk12chat
It's Wednesday & that = step three in the Unlocking Design Thinking - A Visual Guide.
The 2 strategies from the Ideate phase might be my favorite. There are often challenges during this step in the process because of complex group dynamics.
#dtk12chat#designthinking
Tonight’s #dtk12chat is focused on designing the extraordinary school experience. Feel free to answer questions at your pace. Don’t feel forced to move on just because I post another question. Use A1, A2, etc in your replies plus the hashtag to help us keep track of comments.
Q1 EMPATHY
Supt Tebo (@tebotweets) of Hamilton Comm. Schools said we need to recondition ourselves to reimagine what learning looks like for students.
Share a student (no names) for whom school is NOT meeting his/her needs & why. #dtk12chat
#dtk12chat A1: Sadly, my daughter. She is the kid that "plays the game of school." Gets straights A's, but sees no relevance or application between content learned and the real world. #dtk12chat
#dtk12chat A1: Sadly, my daughter. She is the kid that "plays the game of school." Gets straights A's, but sees no relevance or application between content learned and the real world. #dtk12chat
#dtk12chat Hey this is Mary via ATL... I actually hated school up until college... for many reasons. Why not in college I got to choose what classes to take... also, I love lecture classes
A1: my neighbor. He’s in 3rd grade and has despised school ever since KG. Said he just wants more time to play and “do stuff” instead of just sitting at his desk. #dtk12chat
A1 a HS student… he doesn’t understand why he is being taught what he is being taught… he is talk at VS with… sitting in desks for 70 min per class Killing time till he can get out of classroom Creates amazing things outside the school at home… School has zero idea #dtk12chat
What are we educating them FOR? Is it a career? happiness? productive citizen? I think that we get lost in the purpose of school sometimes and it impacts our output #dtk12chat
A1 a HS student… he doesn’t understand why he is being taught what he is being taught… he is talked at VS with… sitting in desks for 70 min per class Killing time till he can get out of classroom Creates amazing things outside the school @ home School has zero idea #dtk12chat
Q3 IDEATE
If there was nothing in your way to reimagine school so that it was extraordinary for ALL students, what would it include? Ideate wildly!
#dtk12chat
A2: The purpose of school is to inspire learners to greater things. It is to give learners the opportunity to pursue their passions and to learn thing that will enrich their lives and those who they touch and inspire.#dtk12chat
A2: The purpose of school is to educate Ss to be prepared to enter the world & be able to engage in the life they have dreamed of having. It is elusive for some b/c they have lacked the support & belief in themselves they needed. #dtk12chat
A2 a babysitter, a molder, a filler, a curiosity killer, a controller, 2 move the masses, 2 waste time, make every1 round pegs, etc I cld go on #dtk12chat Its 2 big, 2 many people, $$ is wasted & re-diverted, top heavy, & lost its true purpose- learn knowledge & skills #dtk12chat
Q3: Personalized learning pathways, no labels (SPED, GATE, etc..), continuous opportunities to learn from and collaborate with industry experts, content learning driven through scientific discovery, civic learning, and inquiry. #dtk12chat
A2: Because our current education system is still training students for the industrial age where compliance and following instructions was honoured in the workforce. #dtk12chat
Q4 IDEATE
Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful (@ingridfetell) says that joy is all around us. How might we bring joy to our physical school environment?
#dtk12chat
A3: Getting rid of grades and standardized testing. Ensuring kids had time daily to learn about things they are passionate about. Plenty of time for play. #dtk12chat
A2 To spark curiosity and coach students on their learning journey that is engaging and motivating. School can be designed to encourage thinking, sharing, collaborating, serving... #dtk12chat
Great point @njkraai! On this, the International Day of Play, may we not forget the important role of play. Student make sense of their world by role playing and interaction. #dtk12chat
A3 I wld design for 1 student & go from there… starting young play, exploration, discovery… Open spaces, mess, outdoors, creating & making, exposure to people, places & things Make messes & …. i wld not have K12 Ss in school from 8-3 & preK wld not learn school #dtk12chat
A3: I would imagine a systemic which Ts & Ss work together to determine how they (s) learns best and achievements are measured in joint narratives. Testing to determine success, as we currently know it, would be obsolete. #dtk12chat
A4: We can bring joy to the physical school environment by making student thinking visible around the school, adding color and murals that change throughout the year, leaving space for kids to post and create their own spaces. #dtk12chat
A4: For me, joy comes from those things we love. We need to help students discover what they love, whether that fits in the curriculum or not. Joy is contagious, let’s spread it. #dtk12chat
A3: Never have school in a traditional school building...the “classroom” could be anything from a park to manufacturing plant to museum to businesses to kitchens, etc. The crazier, the better. #dtk12chat
A4 more colors, flexibility, shared interest and responsibility…. again many ideas…. I think Joy comes from people… As great as a learning space may seem & look— its the people that bring & sustain the joy (a lot cheaper too than the cold IKEA-like spaces of today) #dtk12chat
A4: Exude passion. Always be present. Celebrate the greatness in others and lift others up. Joy comes from having a passion for what you do. Be welcoming and open to new things creates an open and accepting atmosphere.#dtk12chat
Q5 DEFINE
At least 50% of jobs are acquired based on who you know.
How can the extraordinary school help build students’ social capital?
#dtk12chat@juliaffreeland
Have Y’all :) ever read The Playwork Primer https://t.co/RlHlLgAW6T Nathan maybe this might inspire & inform It is an AMAZING insightful read #dtk12chat#play
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @njkraai, @SarahZRaskin, @ingridfetell
A4: I have referred to personal joys twice this past week. I think we look for ways we can improve upon what we are doing with kids & for kids. Then implement! Don’t wait for the system to bring us joy. We have the power to create our hen joy. #dtk12chat
A5 So true… The 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon should be out goal to connect I wonder is there is a way to design something with this power & reach #dtk12chat
A4: I see joy as going hand-in-hand with being present and wholeheartedly engaged...so let’s simplify the school experience so we (Ts and Ss) have time to really be in the moments that matter! And then CELEBRATE the heck outta them! 🎉 #dtk12chat
We use Nepris to connect with people around the world, but it's not the type of connection that gets students hired... your idea is intriguing #dtk12chat
A5: So true. Using sites like @neprisapp to connect students with industry expert mentors in fields that are of interest to students for ongoing discussion would be helpful. We also need to use social media as a way to model connection (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.). #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @juliaffreeland, @neprisapp
A5: We can help students with social capital by providing authentic opportunities to collaborate. Working with diverse groups in school and with practicing professionals help Ss learn to communicate in effective ways. #dtk12chat
Yes! And for our students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, these connections are CRITICAL since they aren't as likely to get them through familial connections #dtk12chat
That makes sense… One more Q do you know how much if any do your perspective students touch tech inside the classroom? Also, do you know what tech will be available?
#dtk12chat and tech is subjective to you have a lot of wiggle room
Even the outside of a children's hospital is totally different - bright colors, the sidewalks are curvy and fun, the road lanes have colorful lights flashing, fun shapes to climb on, etc. #dtk12chat (just visited CHOC in Orange County)
A5: Strong Connections: Family and close friends
Weak Connections: networks, colleagues, etc
Guess who helps more people get jobs? The weak connections! We have to help our Ss build a wide network. Social capital creation is critical in school #dtk12chat
Hey William thanks for doing the #dtk12chat convo tonight… I have a little pushback Q What are “authentic” opportunities to collaborate?
(background info Im not a fan of real world learning or authentic audience labels- no worries I dont rant or go off about it— its a pet peeve)
Q6 PROTOTYPE
Not all students want/need to sit in traditional high school for 4 years... how might our extraordinary school meet their needs?
#dtk12chat
A5 Encourage Ss to blog, post projects, exhibit, network with community. Maybe we need to set up community mentors that start in MS and work with Ss into HS?. Colleges are doing more encouraging of portfolios online and providing opportunities to network. #dtk12chat
I know most of my local schools were built in the 60s-70s & the design approach was pale green, blue, beige walls 2 keep distractions low I think they R still applying those rules Also its interesting outside kids hospital & opening=inviting… Patient room not so much #dtk12chat
In reply to
@LSpencerEdD, @njkraai, @hmoreyEDU, @ingridfetell
#Sp19edfb4338#dtk12chat A3: I think that students should be allowed to focus more on their interest as they get older so they can pick a career informed.
A6: Hey #dtk12chat jumping in late after long day. Not sure I know what to add to HS convo, but was inspired by Tt I met yesterday who shared about planning around interest of ss 1st, then finding standards that they could check off rather than starting w/standards
I have seen charter schools take that approach - seems like it could be done at all levels. Even in elem, let students choose topic for papers... simple shifts can start the process. #dtk12chat
A6: High schools can be competency based and offer students choice pathways. Each pathway would lead to college entrance, career and/or technical. #dtk12chat
A6 This goes back to student voice and choice. Why not let Ss choose their own adventure in HS and try apprenticeships, internship, vocational options? How about a model where you get to work in different departments within a business? Explore your strengths. #dtk12chat
I just found this on @google apps called JamBoard https://t.co/EGPyg5sypM
an interactive whiteboard I bet if kids had handhelds/ipads interesting things around literature and their Lit Circles could be created #dtk12chat
yes and I get that aspect of authentic collaboration… I think bringing in all kinds of people from the community is invaluable… I also think the classroom down the hall is low hanging fruit when it comes to connecting as well #dtk12chat
at 1st glance I thought this was Handmaids Tale tie in (i was trying to think how feedback play a role in this storyline b4 reading the rest of the text and seeing the tassel) #dtk12chat
This gets me thinking about the school “pipeline” & I wonder, just wonder, what if there wasn’t an “end goal” of choosing a career path at the end of HS? What if the focus was ongoing self-discovery & exploration so Ss are more self-aware for whatever comes next? #dtk12chat
#dtk12chat Give them opportunities to explore their strengths, values, and interests @EdHidalgoSD Share with them as many "adventure" options that we can. Gear their learning towards things they are passionate about.
That's my hope. I think its crazy to ask an 18 year old how they want to spend the next 50 years of their life based on a couple classes they took, or a person that hosted a career talk #dtk12chat
Q8 REFLECT
Based on everything we've discussed, any big picture thoughts on what a school should have in it to be EXTRAORDINARY? What changes can we make starting tomorrow to see this become a reality?
#dtk12chat
A7: Students are living balanced lives, using their talents and skills to be in service of others, engaging in respectful civic discourse, and they are HAPPY! #dtk12chat
A7 I will have had 9 years schooling my son by NOT going 2 School My hope & bet is he’ll B kind, respectful, thoughtful, still curious, a risk-taker, & an imaginative boy w/ interesting dreams
#dtk12chat
oh & he'll still play, explore, & discover everyday as I get out of his way
Yes, as a school counselor, it feels goofy to get students to pinpoint something to study after HS! That’s why I really love “Designing Your Life”...would love to incorporate those mindsets into school more. #dtk12chat
Energized by an amazing, authentic, humanizing PD these last two days focused on helping students find meaning & purpose in their lives 😍 Grateful for the opportunity, for my colleagues,… https://t.co/KiAEOIpuTf
A7 #dtk12chat Students have voice & choice in how learn & how assessed, innovation is woven throughout the curriculum ( despite pressure from above, prove how learning is more authentic, engaging, & memorable) & every teacher decision is guided by what Ss need to be successful 🌍
very much so… I also know that there is @nearpod@headspace & another SEL app currently called @quirkpod as some other options… which there are ton A fav of mine is @DIY which is a Skillsbased Maker platform built on feedback, shares, & curation #dtk12chat
In reply to
@KeidelTabitha, @Google, @nearpod, @Headspace, @quirkpod, @DIY
A8: Look for ways inside and outside of the schoolhouse to connect students to the world around them. Let our students interests and ideas guide exploration and instructional decisions. Examine ways for the physical environment to become the third teacher. #dtk12chat
A8: Find ways to bring joy and fun back into the classroom. Be crazy, be spontaneous, and do silly things. We work with kids. Let’s enjoy that fact. #dtk12chat
Season 3 (if you haven’t watch season 2 get off this chat NOW)
yes it is a horrifying yet can’t look away story. Elizabeth Moss is incredible #dtk12chat
