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
Tag: Visioning
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
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
Monterey Peninsula: Problem of Practice on Belonging and Connection
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) interviewed a range of teachers and students to identify opportunities to improve teaching and learning. From those conversations, they identified the need to increase students’ sense of belonging at school and personalized support for students’ academic development. After reviewing themes from the interviews, the team summarized a key problem of practice: “How might we increase flexibility and personalization to build a sense of belonging and connection within the context of our labor and policy constraints?”
This problem statement challenged the team to find solutions that met the academic and social-emotional needs of each student. The problem statement also required the team to think about those things it could adapt and change, even amid constraints.
February 4, 2021
Stanford d.School: “How Might We” Questions
When designing change in a district, it is essential that leaders hear directly from students, families, teachers, and classified staff (i.e., those most impacted by teaching and learning). This guide from Stanford d.school will help you translate feedback into a clear problem your design team will address by framing problems as “How Might We?” questions.
February 4, 2021