Living On The Edge of Chaos

TOPICS WE EXPLORE  What is a prototype?There a tension between a prototype as a question and a prototype as a statementThe struggle of the muckety muck phase of bringing ideas to life aka "the solution"It is really hard to sit in a room of silence and watch people think.Power of space and time to sit with ideas to marinatePrototyping with focus more on the learning journey vs. final productPerspective changing of seeing materials as valuable resourcesDisservice that when we need/want to be creative we also have to consider "garbage" as material to be able to create.When making a statement to convince someone of the idea vs. actually showing something to someone to ask a question.There is only value to be gained by engaging other people in the work.YOUR CHALLENGEShare ideas you gathered from the conversation with us on the socials.What resonated with you?RESOURCE MENTIONED IN SHOW Read more about the book here - https://dschool.stanford.edu/book-collections/this-is-a-prototypeHBO's From Earth to the Moon (this is mentioned in the show)These two are from Apollo 13 which are likely stuck in your head too if you've seen that one:https://youtu.be/ry55--J4_VQ  (connection to "one material prompt")https://youtu.be/f6F6MzMT2g8LinkedInMediumMake Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration 

In this episode, I am sharing a session I was asked to present at the IASB conference. I have provided both the video and audio versions of this session. The beauty of this session is that we brought in a robust powerhouse of project based learning experts from around the country to help shape the narrative around why this work matters so much.The session description is as follows:Looking for ways to transform learning for your students? Join Pleasant Valley Schools and Mississippi Bend AEA to explore how they innovated to engage students and educators in authentic learning experiences and project-based learning. Attendees will examine real-world scenarios where teachers are weaving content standards, universal constructs and social-emotional competencies together—all while remaining collaborative and providing rigorous and authentic work. Give your students voice and choice, showcase their learning, and understand how this type of work can happen in YOUR classroom.Check out the perspectives and the challenges to enhance learning experiences for all students. The show is on Spotify!Video Versionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcDoocL9AQITOPICS WE EXPLOREQuick overview of the session and goals06:00 Chris Welch, administration perspective on authentic learning and students owning the learningStudents owning the learning changes the narrative around engagementUniversal Constructs that is so important10:00 rest of introductions and persepctive from Sarah Vice a 6th grade teacherFailure is a giftThe importance of human experienceProcess over product14:24 Steven Smith, NASA perspective8 most dreaded words "When am I ever going to use this?"Our students are going to be part of the space economyFailure is vital lesson we don't learn well19:21 Chris Welch, Administrator on providing context of how instructional design ofHow does civilizations from ancient history survive?What does survival look like present day with All Thirteen book?How do we then work with experts to think about the future that will be "present day" for our students?22:30 Jeff Robin and how to really think about projects from a real perspectiveTeachers need to do the project firstStudents don't want dumpster projectsYou only remember when learning is fun and exciting25:50 Amanda Clark and importance of strong leadershipNeed to provide space for teachers to be creative and to give teachers space to try things out.We need to do more than just teach standardsTeachers need support and love from leaders, community, school boards, etc.27:41 Erin Starkey and her story how pbl brought joy back to her teachingPBL was a lightbulb for Erin because she was passionate and that is contagiousPBL was a gamechanger because she found joy and in students from age of 4 and above29:30 Beth Campbell, librarian perspective on how to build school community to do the workIsolated spaces in schools are gone. PBL brings opportunities to team because together we are betterLibrary should be alive and vibrant with co-teaching and co-design for learning opportunitiesIncredible research on the brain and heart31:45 Chad Uhde, elementary principal and form PBL instructional coachPower of taking risks and see what we can do. Be brave to change identity of studentsPBL provides new outlet for students to showcase who they are and their why35:00 How do you assess and measure and quantify success?Jeff RobinCan the students explain what they have learned?Do we need an easy number?Are we doing education for ourselves or for the students?Erin StarkeyRequires intentional integrationUBD and designing formative flags around the wayConstantly meet needs of students naturally in PBLRubrics for learning not a checklist of tasksSteven SmithLots of standards are performance based on what students can doChallenge the paradigm that we need a numerical value for everythingLife does not work that wayPreparing students for a world that they will be creatingWe are not helping our students by creating widgetsAre we here for our students or ourselves?Why go through all the nonsense of teaching if we want each student to fit a single mold?We are in the space age and students will decide if they want to go to Disney in Florida, California, or space?We need to either start preparing our students for the future or stop pretending like we are tryingChris WelchFocus on standards and conversation on "How do you know?"Where is the learning visible?We end up with not just standards but thinking progressions on how to think at deeper cognitive rigor and DOK.Exchange not just instruction but facilitationYOUR CHALLENGEShare ideas you gathered from the conversation with us on the socials.What resonated with you?RESOURCE MENTIONED IN SHOWEverything can be found here - https://sites.google.com/view/creatingauthenticlearning/power-of-authentic-learningUniversal Constructs

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation I had with Loni Bergqvist. Loni Bergqvist serves as the Founder//Partner at Imagine If. Loni was (and always will be) a teacher. Loni started her career in education teaching at a traditional school in San Diego, California. She became a project-based learning 'convert' when she started attending night school in Leadership at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. She began to try (with little success) to do projects in her own class. Loni could see very clearly that her students needed real-world projects desperately but would probably never have access to this type of learning.  Loni left her school to teach at High Tech High, knowing one day her mission would be to bring project-based learning to students who needed it the most; the ones who were in traditional schools. Since 2014, Loni has been working with schools around the world to re-imagine education. Her project-based learning expertise has been used in several international initiatives, including REAL-Projects (Innovation Unit, United Kingdom) and LEAPS (Kata Foundation, Denmark).Direct Link: Episode:  CHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREWho is Loni Bergqvist?How has her experiences in all her roles impacted her insights on education?How can give permission for educators to be at different stages of learning about project based learning just like we expect educators to differentiate for all learners in the classroom?Why is it so difficult to do the project first before teaching it?Prioritizing space and time for educators to be able to learn while on the job.Problem solvers vs. problem identifiersSelf imposed rules and barriersFinal thoughts on pbl not being the goal.YOUR CHALLENGEShare ideas you gathered from the conversation with us on the socials.What resonated with you?RESOURCE MENTIONED IN SHOWImagine Ifhttps://xptrust.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/loniatimagineif/

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation I had with Stephanie Yeldell. Stephanie Yeldell serves as the education integration lead for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. She manages a portfolio of projects and partnerships engaging students and the academic community in NASA’s space technology development and missions, with a focus on supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the agency.She was awarded the NASA Headquarters Unsung Hero Award for her contributions to NASA STEM engagement in 2020 and previously received two NASA Headquarters group awards for innovation and teamwork. Prior to joining NASA in 2018, Stephanie worked in corporate partnerships at the National Park Foundation as well as development and public programming at the White House Historical Association. Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on impactful storytelling and public private partnerships. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history from Furman University.CHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREWho is Stephanie Yeldell?How did Stephanie end up at NASA? What is/was her learning journey?Power of Identity and Language...NASA is for everyoneFirst Woman Graphic Novel and interactive appPower of storyHow to listen and build connetions?How do Stephanie and her team work to identify problems worth solving?What makes her team so great to work with?YOUR CHALLENGEShare ideas you gathered from the conversation with us on the socials.Share how you are creating a sense of belonging in your spaces.  RESOURCE MENTIONED IN SHOWFirst Woman Graphic NovelNASA Artemis MissionOur current survival NASA project with a session with Stephanie

TOPICS WE EXPLOREWho is Susie Wise?Define 'belonging' and 'design for belonging'Belonging is not an "it"Our experience of belonging comes from a series of small subtle cuesHow can we look at ourselves to become better aware of belonging?How can we create a sense of belonging if we don't feel like we belong ourselves?Emotional Journey Map - access with the toolkit on the book websiteParticipation methods beyond the extrovert signalsEverything is designed whether we fully acknowledge it or not. What is the experience that I am trying to create to support the range of thinkers and doers in my environment?Contribution - so powerful so listen, listen, listen to Susie!!!Power of repairDivergenet exitingYOUR CHALLENGEShare ideas you gathered from the conversation with us on the socials.Share how you are creating a sense of belonging in your spaces.Buy and read the book!Book WebsiteFollow and learn from SusieTwitterInstagramLinkedInResource mentioned in showGeoggrey Cohen Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides 

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation I had with Kallie Moore. Kallie Moore manages the paleontology collection at the University of Montana and co-host the YouTube channel PBS Eons. She has also consulted for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on renovations to the DINOSAUR ride, as well as hosted a livestream for the newly opened Deep Time Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Kallie's debut nonfiction book, Tales of the Prehistoric World: Adventures from the Land of the Dinosaurs, released this fall from Neon Squid books.CHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREPower of story and throughlines to makes sense of the worldHow did Kallie find her way to being a fossil librarian?How does inquiry and curiosity drive her work?How did her quality teams form and come to fruition?The importance of understanding your audienceProcess of writing the bookYOUR CHALLENGECheck out her website to learn not just more about the book, but her course and neuroscience for change.Buy and read the book!Watch PBS EonsListen with intention and capture your questions and wonderingsProvide space for the provocations that arise from the ideas and share with us for contiued conversationReach out via social media and share your answer to your listening of the episode! What resonated with you? Share with me @aaronmaureredu and KallieBook WebsiteTwitterInstagramLinkedIn   

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation I had with Tammy Watchorn and her latest book and work real truth about understand and creating change. In particular her book, Change Ninja Handbook, places the reader in an interactive approach that will appeal particularly to non-linear thinkers and those who learn best through action and application. It’s pragmatic, focusing on tips for getting people on board and on identifying small, doable ‘ninja moves’ that gain traction and build momentum by stealth.Dr Tammy Watchorn trained as a scientist before moving into the complex landscape of healthcare to lead change.After some slow starts she began to realise that her hard-won accreditation in the process of change leadership was meaningless: the only way to achieve success was to focus on people. By understanding those involved in change as individuals, not ‘stakeholders’, she developed a pragmatic way of making progress by stealth using ‘ninja’ moves. Her own neuro-atypical approach allows her to see things differently, to look at the whole rather than the parts, and to help others to see things differently too. There’s no accreditation or one-size-fits-all process for Change Ninjas but there is now, at least, a handbook.Tammy shares her stories and her approach to leading change widely on social media and in national media and industry publications. She’s also a regular keynote at conferences.CHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREWho is Tammy Watchorn?Based on neuroscience has change been harder than ever before despire the opportunity to pivot with COVIDDifference between define our why vs. identifying problem to solveCase study example: synced medical recordsHow to handle difficult conversations - separating emotions from thinkingInvisible rules or systems that stagnate changeDifference between communication and engagementYOUR CHALLENGECheck out her website to learn not just more about the book, but her course and neuroscience for change.Buy and read the book!Listen with intention and capture your questions and wonderingsProvide space for the provocations that arise from the ideas and share with us for contiued conversationReach out via social media and share your answer to your listening of the episode! What resonated with you? Share with me @aaronmaureredu and Tammy @tamwatchornwww.tammy.watchorn.comwww.change-ninja.comwww.qube.ccTammy Watchorn | LinkedIn 

TOPICS WE EXPLOREWho is Jessica Vance?How can we consider what is happening in our practice and connect with others?The issue of disconnect that happens between leaders and staff.How do we recalibrate our brain to support the work we know is best for kidsThe difficulty of letting go and truly listen to where to go next.The power of community and not going alone in the ambiguity of inquiry.Inquiry can be profound in moments of quiet, pause, and reflection.Set an intention to listen, notice, and observe. Be present.How do we begin with inquiry?How can we be intentional with listening? What is something I am working on or challenged by?What do your actions say about your values?I notice that some of you are sharing.....I notice that some of you have noticed......What are your learners telling you?Jessica on InstagramJessica on TwitterYOUR CHALLENGECheck out the Leading With Inquiry websiteBuy and read the book!Listen with intention when we ask questions of our learnersProvide space for the provocations that arise from the questionsReach out via social media and share your answer to your listening of the episode! What resonated with you? Share with me @aaronmaureredu and Jessica @jess_vanceEDU

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation I had with two of the most wonderful people I know, Robyn Hrivnatz from Microsoft and Scott Bricker, a Director of Educational Technology & Innovation for district in California. This conversation was part of the Microsoft  EDU Live. Join @RobynHrivnatz and @ScottBrickerEDU as our friend Aaron Maurer joins #USMicrosoftEDULive to talk about how building community can transform your approach to learning. An author and host of the successful blog & podcast, "Coffee for the Brain," Aaron will also share about his current project with NASA and how you and your school can get involved. Join at https://aka.ms/usmicrosoftedulive #MicrosoftEDU #MIEExpertPermission was granted to share the conversation via my podcast. The original conversation was hosted September 13th at 5 PM PacificCHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREIt's time to step up and rethink how things should be in educationHow do we keep the nimbleness and innovation of COVID and continue to drive forward?Importance of community and not doing work alonePower of sharing our giftsOur communities of learning or communities we live in need to have various voices and embrace all peopleWhy do people think it is easier to do things outside the box when we associate this type of learning with STEM?VIDEO VERSIONhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpFmS7_HAG8

In this episode, Aaron Maurer (Coffee For The Brain, Smart Robotics with LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor), Beth Campbell (teacher-librarian, Forest Grove Elementary), and Sarah Vice (6th grade educator, Forest Grove Elementary) discussion how education is hard. Rebalancing our mindset and learning space can be even harder when so much is swirling in the realms of chaos. Let's take a breath and explore how a year of pushing our growth edges in authentic learning and project based learning transformed learning for students and educators. Come discover what happens when we give ourselves permission to draw on our courage to navigate ambiguity!  Beth CampbellBeth Campbell is currently the teacher librarian at Forest Grove Elementary School in Bettendorf, IA and an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa in the Library and Information Science Department.  During her lengthy career in education, she has advocated for the school experience to be relevant, authentic and meaningful,  while also elevating opportunities for student voice.Her  innovative work with students’ podcasting can be found on iTunes, Voiced.Ca and other hosting platforms. She co-designed the instructional frame of Design.Drive.Do with Sarah Vice.  She has co-authored an article on Student Voice with Allison Zmuda, which was published in School Library Connection.  Creating a #CultureOfReaders has been at the foundation of her work in and out of the library.  Sarah ViceSarah Vice has taught a plethora of grade levels and is currently a sixth grade teacher at Forest Grove Elementary School in Bettendorf, IA.  She has a Masters’ Degree in Educational Administration. She has helped open two elementary buildings within the Pleasant Valley School District.  As a National Geography certified educator, she shares her leadership and vision with others as the district’s grade level lead teacher.  Sarah also co-designed the instructional framework of Design.Drive.Do with Beth Campbell to help equip teachers and students. She believes in being courageous, taking risks and being an advocate for her students to empower them  to see the possibilities all around them.Permission was granted to share the conversation via my podcast. The original conversation was hosted July 6th, 2022 by What Schools Could BeCHECK OUT THE SHOW AND EPISODES ON ITUNESThe show is on Spotify!TOPICS WE EXPLOREWeaving all the learning togetherGrappling with thick questionsHow do we layer this learning and type of learning space of student ownership within the classroom?Learning how to have an organic conversations with adults vs. reading from a script is one of the most valuable life skills.How do you deal with students who are rather shy and quiet?Power of expertsFocus on undoing the school part of the thinking students have that limit their boundaries of new thoughtJust be a normal human being. You can't script everything.Most Likely To SucceedYOUR CHALLENGEExplore the classroom project from this past school yearIf interested in learning how to do this work or possibly join this project this year, then head hereLeave a comment and let’s engage in conversation around the ideas shared, what further questions you have, or what you want to know more about for your own learning journey.Join a community of deep thinkers around education at What Schools Could Be CommunityVIDEO VERSIONhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xppCYnrBYc8