Category: Thinking
Design Thinking And Solving School Problems With No Code Apps
The Design Problem $12,000. That’s a hefty number for most public schools. We had a need though. We had a growing Experiential Learning program at our local high school. Over 1000 of our high school students students participated in some sort of job shadow, internship, or site visit in the past year. The quote from […]
How Do You Track Learner Belonging? Here’s a Tool to Try!
I’m pretty excited for this tool. This was co-developed with my thinking partner Shawna Parkinson. So, big credit to her for this initial big-picture idea. Why Belonging? We’ve been working with teachers at Mason High School to create a stronger sense of belonging. It’s a big school. Last year, students were online or masked up in-person. […]
High Quality Student Data in the Arts
What data is most useful – and actionable – to the arts educator?
Empathy Mapping to Put the Learner At the Center
I recently created a quick video introducing Mason High School teachers to the idea of empathy mapping. Empathy mapping is a tool that designers use to focus on the end-user of their designs. In this case, I see teachers as designers. An empathy map helps a teacher get into the headspace of their students. It […]
Mason City Schools Personalized Learning Guide for Educators
It has been an intensely busy few weeks in Mason City Schools and Mason High School. That has made it hard for me to take time to create some new posts for this site. I do have some things I would like to share, though. This week, we released the Mason City Schools Educator’s Guide […]
Even Michael Phelps Has a Coach
I recently saw a really surprising comment from a teacher on a social media discussion board. The teacher said she felt like teachers were the only profession where we have to be “coached.” As if those education reformers think we can’t handle the job on our own. I certainly recognize that coaching doesn’t always “feel” […]
Diversity and Ensuring Everyone Learns
Defining Diversity One of the most helpful tools I’ve seen when it comes to understanding diversity in any organization is the Diversity Wheel. I first saw this from Tommie Lewis of Make it Plain Consulting – a great Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting firm here in Cincinnati. I looked into this tool a little bit […]
Recognizing Privilege
I found this little graphic from a friend on social media. I hope to find out who originally made it so I can credit them. I’ve seen a lot of people share it. It speaks some truths to me. It feels like it needs some reflection. I was alreadythinking about posting some small thoughts on […]
Taming Tensions through Design
This think piece was co-written by Allison Zmuda, Eric Chagala, and myself. It was originally posted on LearningPersonalized.com. While the disruption to school has been difficult, disheartening, and exhausting, there also are flashes of possibility, imagination, and curiosity to design again rather than return to an old design that was built for a different time. […]
Leveraging Choice-Boards as an Opportunity for Co-Creation with Students
This piece originally appeared on LearningPersonalized.com Mason City Schools has been on a Personalized Learning Journey for the past two years where leadership and staff have immersed ourselves in the everyday challenge of creating meaningful experiences with students. While we wrestle with ambiguity and experimentation, we are guided by our belief about growing a learning […]