It was with some trepidation that I started my Week 20 Mindlab work today. The LOOMING question was: how to narrow down and focus on one idea for my teacher inquiry project and the up and coming literature review?
In last week's blog I recorded so many possibilities for my teacher inquiry that my head was spinning. So... after watching all the videos and reading (most of 😇) the readings, in a roundabout way I have come back to two key features I am REALLY interested in exploring and applying in my practice, that I had recorded in last weeks blog:
Design Thinking in education and Learner Agency.
I fell across Core education's website regarding top ten trends in Education for 2016 and 2017 and after a morning of scribbling down ideas and processing my thoughts, am really excited about how I can combine these ideas together to benefit my students and their learning for next year's class.
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| My beginning scrawlings. |
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| Getting closer! |
So why have I chosen to focus on these areas?
During my Mindlab experience for last year, my colleague and I created a learning unit where the students (after a lot of teaching and preparation) created and designed a digital television episode that they shared with our families. In that, I really got to experience students having and taking ownership of their learning, some elements of design thinking, experiencing the 'messiness' of learning and not rescuing students from finding their own solutions to problems.
At the heart, though I would like to explore learner agency more, helping kids have the mindset that it's okay to not have the answers, to fail and to persevere with their learning. I want to look at who really owns learning- who comes up with what is to be learned and why? I want to look at learner engagement over entertainment, as I see a bit of that going on and have probably been guilty of this myself at times. Something one student in my class last year would do was rate the learning going on by it's fun-level. I could have used that as a learning opportunity but want to explore that with my students next year. How can students really use technology and create with it? Collaboration is real and tangible in our classrooms so how can we apply these ideas to a new classroom and continue to grow the collaborative skills in a new group of students
At the heart, though I would like to explore learner agency more, helping kids have the mindset that it's okay to not have the answers, to fail and to persevere with their learning. I want to look at who really owns learning- who comes up with what is to be learned and why? I want to look at learner engagement over entertainment, as I see a bit of that going on and have probably been guilty of this myself at times. Something one student in my class last year would do was rate the learning going on by it's fun-level. I could have used that as a learning opportunity but want to explore that with my students next year. How can students really use technology and create with it? Collaboration is real and tangible in our classrooms so how can we apply these ideas to a new classroom and continue to grow the collaborative skills in a new group of students
So to me, Design Thinking with its:
- humanistic elements
- students and teachers learning alongside one another
- explorations of multiple perspectives and collaboration
- creating and testing ideas
- problem-solving focus
- future focus- 21st Century skills
So what is my question at this stage?
Please feel free to comment and critique my question:
- How can student/learner agency and engagement be fostered through Design Thinking?
Good on you. Lots to think about in 3500 words. I think that is going to be the tricky bit for everyone (and that includes references). Have you included kaupapa Maori research principles? That takes some getting your head around.
ReplyDeleteHi Craig. Yes, heaps to think about.
ReplyDeleteMy topic lends in vary well with concepts such as whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga, whaiwahitanga etc. The inclusion, problem solving, student/learner agency, collaborative process is all tied in.
I hope I am going in the right direction with this... Appreciate your comments as always!!!
That sounds really interesting Teresa. That is aiming high. I expect you and your students will enjoy the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI am still pondering, leaning towards Mindset. Applying Design thinking can encompass many of the other ideas. I think whatever we choose we will overlap. One way I see mindsets changing is through collaboration, you have made me think design may be another.
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