Reflect on Equity in Your Solution Discussion Questions
These discussion questions accompany the Activity: Reflect on Equity in Your Solution strategy card.
February 5, 2021
Craft Category: Artifacts
Monterey Peninsula: Students and Teachers Co-Designing Strategies for Belonging
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) sought to address a key problem in their district: “How might we increase flexibility and personalization to build a sense of belonging and connection within the context of our labor and policy constraints?”
The team decided on a solution that would engage students and teachers in a design process to design new systems for personalization, flexibility, connection, and belonging. Though Monterey Peninsula had engaged students and teachers throughout its design process (e.g., to identify the problem of practice), the design team knew that they also needed to be part of defining the solution.
This solution supports equity because it cedes decision-making authority into the hands of those closest to the problem. This solution supports resiliency because it requires the district to be positioned to respond to the solutions that teachers and students develop. It also introduces a new method: teacher- and student-involved design sessions, which the district can use in the future to address other problems.
February 4, 2021
Mastery Charter School: Student Independence Through Blended Learning
Mastery Charter Schools sought to address a key problem in their district: “How might we build a blended learning model that fosters achievement and independence in our high school students?”
The team decided on a solution that would focus on supporting students to effectively engage in a blended model, especially given the amount of independence required in such a model. Rather than starting from scratch, Mastery decided to base its work in the ISTE Standards for Students, which “are designed to empower student voice and ensure that learning is a student-driven process.” Mastery decided to focus on one ISTE standard to start and to equip teachers to embed the standard into a unit.
This solution supports equity because it leverages a proven framework (ISTE) that emphasizes empowering student voice through technology as a path to ensuring each student reaches his or her potential. This solution supports resiliency because the ISTE standards can be used across grade levels and subject areas; it also supports resiliency by starting small (i.e., with one standard) so as to allow the network to learn and adapt as it goes.
February 4, 2021
Cedar Rapids: Building Space and Structures for Student Reflection
Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) sought to address a key problem in their district: “How might we provide relevant, standards-aligned feedback to students so that every student reaches mastery?”
The team decided on a solution that would give students space and structures to reflect on their own learning.
The team intended for this solution to empower students to set their own goals (in academics and beyond) and to prompt conversations between teachers and students about the purpose of the learning and the students’ progress toward goals.
This solution supports equity because it respects each students’ individual goals for and pace of learning, and it provides each student with the feedback and support needed to help them advance. It supports resiliency because it enables teachers to adapt their support of students based on valuable information gathered via the goal-setting and feedback process.
February 4, 2021
Match the Right Solution to Your Problem: Discussion Questions
These discussion questions accompany the Activity: Match the Right Solution to Your Problem strategy card.
February 4, 2021
IDEO Design Kit: Ways to Grow Framework
When brainstorming potential solutions to a problem of practice, it’s important to understand what kind of impact your ideas may have. This guide from IDEO shares directions for “Ways to Grow Framework,” a visual activity for understanding potential solutions.
February 4, 2021
IDEO Design Kit: Get Visual
When brainstorming potential solutions to a problem of practice, a visual brainstorming activity can more deeply tap into teams’ creativity. This guide from IDEO shares directions for “Get Visual,” a visual brainstorming activity.
February 4, 2021
Article: How to: Run a Crazy Eights Exercise to Generate Design Ideas
When brainstorming potential solutions to a problem of practice, a structured brainstorming activity can help ignite creative thinking. This guide from “I Am Not My Pixels” shares directions for “Crazy Eights,” a structured brainstorming activity.
February 4, 2021
IDEO: 7 Simple Rules of Brainstorming
When brainstorming potential solutions to a problem of practice, it is important to think outside the box. These rules from IDEO help set the stage for a successful brainstorming session.
February 4, 2021
Getting Started Guides
When brainstorming potential solutions to a district problem of practice, it can often be helpful to look to others for inspiration. This set of introductory guides shares research and examples related to common problems of practice in education.
February 4, 2021