MakerSpace Creation

I'm in charge of a new project.  I've been asked to create a MakerSpace in our high school.  So, I gathered information, asked the my internet pals for help, made some site visits, read the blogs of people who've been in my shoes, and started making plans.  I formulated a list of things we'd want in our space.  I paid special attention to details and organization in the sites that I was able to visit.  I asked for advice.  I asked what they would do differently if they could.  Then I got busy.  I created a presentation with all of my information.  I created an ask.  I went before the Lakewood Ranger Education Foundation and presented my work.  They liked it.  They said they wanted to support it.  It's going to happen.  We have the support.  We have a strong team.  We have a solid plan.  I am ecstatic!

Attached here is our presentation.  Inside you will find examples of other MakerSpaces, the mission of our school district and the foundation, and a working budget for our new space. 

One of the visits stood out considerably.  Case Western Reserve University's Think[box] is absolutley amazing.  Here are some photos of this state of the art space. 

Stay tuned for progress on our new space!  The big check gets cut next week!  

😁

Hack Your School District

I’ve been teaching for nearly twenty years.  There have been stretches of time when I just did my job.  I went through the motions, complained about things that bothered me, but did little to fix it.  These days, I’m trying my best to solve problems rather than just complain about them.  I look at other people’s complaints as a gold mine for opportunity!  The reason I wanted to speak about hacking your school district is because I believe we have so many amazing people working in our school districts.  We have a huge talent pool to draw from to help solve our problems.  My target learner audience is teachers.  They are in the trenches.  They know best what our students need.  However, most teachers are so busy, they leave little time to grow.  Some teachers are too intimidated to propose change.  Teachers can take solace in the fact that by giving the students some of that workload, they are in fact helping them grow.  The learning objectives for my talk include providing rationale for teachers to question why things are the way they are.  I want teachers to not only question, but to look for answers, and to work with the district to solve problems.  I give several examples for ways that some districts are already successfully implementing these changes.  I believe this is an effective way to teach my objective because it a very cognitive piece.  Hacking your school district takes some thought, some reflection.  Getting the seed planted in teachers’ minds that they can make a difference is my objective.  I believe my podcast can do that.  I started my podcast with a jarring word - hack, to gain attention.  I also engaged the listeners in a game of “what if”.  The point of the game was to get the mind reflecting.  I next explained that my audience was teachers.  I told my audience that they need to speak up to initiate change.  I continued by starting with the first hack which also recalls prior learning - Have you ever?  Next, I went on by giving the following examples of appropriate instructional content -

• doc cam/ipad
• Google yearbook project
• Google school photos
• scoreboards/projector
• reduce printing, copying, paper use, & expensive machine purchase, with apps like Google Classroom
• ebooks

In closing, I reminded teachers to be proactive.  I encouraged them to spark innovation and to include the students as well. I hope my podcast can help teachers take the first step towards change.  

Click here to listen to my podcast, Hack Your School District.

Design Thinking

I was fortunate to attend Google's Innovator Academy in London this past spring.  I was introduced to Les McBeth of the Future Design School.  She brought us through all kinds of design thinking exercises to help us map out our innovation projects.  It was my favorite part of the training.  I loved being given freedom to think anything in a structured way and time.  For example, we had time limits, we had rules, but our ideas could be anything.  Then we reflected on our ideas, we tried again, we asked for help, and we fine tuned.  

Crazy 8s practice

Setting up for feedback

While recently reading more about Design Thinking and watching some videos, I took some notes.  I try to sketchnote but really my doodles are pretty weak.  

From my notes and reflection, I pulled some key phrases.  Then I used my Word Swag app to create something more visually appealing.  These statements are all great reminders when using design thinking.  

Finally, I compiled some resources that I used during my time in London and have continued to lean on while back in the real world.  Design thinking is something I would love to teach.  I imagine during committee work it could be especially powerful.  I have a huge upcoming opportunity to work on capstone projects with seniors at our high school.  Design thinking will be our first steps!

• Yes, but... Yes, and...
• Crazy 8s
• Post it app 
• Future Design School
• Les McBeth's Twitter
• Word Swag app
• Rocketbook
• Tesla Amazing Magnetic Notes

Blogs and Wikis

I'm rereading Will Richardson's book.  It has been nearly a decade since I read it last.  It's incredible how little has changed but at the same time how much has changed.  Teachers are still afraid of these tools.  Schools are still blocking them.  Researchers are still proving how necessary they are for students.  Why are we stuck?  Why can't we snap out of it?  Textbooks are outdated.  Students can and should write their own.  Classrooms don't have to have walls anymore.  Learners can go anywhere with web tools.  Why aren't we?  What is stopping us - training, time, bravery?  Let's make time, find training (guess what - it's on the web), and get brave.  Our students are counting on us.  

This is not the last time.

I started out thinking that I wish the title of this post wasn't true. But, what kind of hypocrite would that make me? I have started a new blog/website at least a dozen times. For a million different reasons/lame excuses, I haven't kept with it. I keep trying again though. I know it's important. I know my voice matters. I tell teachers and students this all the time. So, I'm trying again. Stay tuned.