"Expeditionary
Learning"
Wow! What a unique
and powerful learning opportunity for those students. I loved how it was
fully integrated across the curricular areas such as English (writing
persuasive essay, oral presentation skills and novel study of "The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind"...there's a movie now too!), Social Studies (mapping
skills and social implications of wind farms), Science (electricity, magnets
and motors) and ADST (defining, designing, making, testing and sharing). I’m sure Mathematics was involved there as
well and why not include “Visual Arts” and call it a full STEAM activity as
they were required to make it “creative, outrageous, ingenious and
inspirational”.
The book by Averill and
Bernier lays out the process of “Design Thinking” into 6 main steps: Define,
Ideate, Prototype, Test, Make and Share. What I liked about their pedagogy and philosophy
was how many life skills are incorporated as part of the process. Collaboration, Optimism, Sharing, Curiosity,
Experimenting are just a few. Additionally, growth mindset-driven attributes
are also integrated into the process such as Reframing Problems, Persistence
(Sticking to the Process), Problem
Seeking and being Human-Centred.
The final attribute of being Human-Centred made a real impression on me as there was an authentic compulsory component called “Empathize Mode”. This required the participant to observe, engage, watch and listen with team members before dispensing judgement. What a simple but profound inclusion. Students must look at the problem from many angles, listen to each opinion and evaluate all ideas before proceeding to the next stage.
The final attribute of being Human-Centred made a real impression on me as there was an authentic compulsory component called “Empathize Mode”. This required the participant to observe, engage, watch and listen with team members before dispensing judgement. What a simple but profound inclusion. Students must look at the problem from many angles, listen to each opinion and evaluate all ideas before proceeding to the next stage.
I think my school would
be open to sponsoring a long-term project such as this because our administrator
is very keen to support instruction that is cross-curricular and includes elements
of the new ADST curriculum such as technology, robotics and coding. There are many talented and motivated teachers
on staff that would be willing to work as a team to provide support for each of
the subjects that are integrated in a platoon or jigsaw fashion. Of course, it
would take this year to plan and set up…Lego Mindstorm products would need to
be fund-raised for, purchased and onsite.
Our school will have new wing addition ready to go in the Fall and part
of that wing includes collaborative work space, maker space and ADST design / building
space, complete with tools. I guess I
have another video to show the staff besides the ISTE Student Standards!
Cathy Daniel
Works Cited:
Applied Design,
Skills and Technologies: Design Thinking & Human-Centred Design Thinking, by Sandra Averill and Stacey Bernier,
Oct. 21, 2017, ISSUU platform.
Maine School Engages Kids With
Problem-Solving Challenges
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