Informed Social Awareness

Live Your Declaration

For those in our lives, we want their words and actions to match. When they don't, it feels tense or sticky, like a spiderweb stuck on your or a room you want to get out of. It's this same coherence that we are seeking in ourselves. Our GPS navigation can tell us how to reach a destination, but we still have to decide if we follow that route or if we know a shortcut or expect too much traffic. With our values/priorities in our head and our people by our side, we can use a design thinking approach to creatively innovate new vision and goals for any concern or problem, both internal and external to ourselves.

"It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities" -JK Rowling

How does it work?

Release Feelings & State Issue

As humans, the first step in decision making is releasing all of our feelings and emotions about the topic. Once these thoughts become real in the world, we have the ability to see multiple perspectives and work toward tangible next steps, after we define the problem, issue, or need.

Brainstorm Possible Ideas

It is natural for humans to innately think of one idea, usually the simplest or most logical, and then pursue that idea as the answer to the problem. Truth is, our first option is never our best one, and without others to collaborate with, our second or third option might not be the best either. Brainstorm multiple options, especially the ones that the logical side of your brain already has several reasons why it won't work. Write it down. Use dry erase. Don't rule anything out. Only after we complete this process can we choose one path (or prototype) to try...but don't worry, we'll come back, reevaluate and try again.

Bias to Action

Meaningful plans and goals matter to us and are well-intentioned, but a dream in our heads can't become reality if we don't take steps forward. Try something and fail forward. However, if we try several steps at once, we are setting ourselves up to not be successful. What is one small, actionable step forward? One of the most efficient ways a human learns is by trying new things so we must willing to try new things, including taking risks and testing boundaries set by others. When the path in front of you is blocked, ask what the purpose is. Is it an old rule that can be reframed? Give yourself permission to question and act- that's the only way to pursue and achieve.

"Values enable you to consider the way the world is, the way you wish to see it,
and what you can contribute to getting there, then develop a plan...to make your mark"
-Olatunde Sobomehin & Sam Seidel

What does it look like?

Students

Students are making decisions in alignment with their goals, resulting in less behavioral discipline referrals.
Students have choice in demonstration of their learning within the classroom.

Families

Families have a voice in the actionable steps toward school improvement planning.

Staff

Educators understand the vision behind continuous improvement plans.
Teachers are seeking opportunities for professional growth, both in school-based and division-level leadership positions.

Schools

Schools have successfully implemented continuous improvement plans.

What are the potential benefits?

Students

Reduction in discipline referrals and concerns
Increased investment and feelings of empowerment in the classroom

Families

Increased feelings of partnership with school
Increased satisfaction with feeling heard in school improvement

Staff

Higher retention and promotion
Increased levels of autonomy and associated ownership
Increased satisfaction with feeling heard in school improvement

Schools

Innovative instructional practices
Shared vision & continuous improvement goals/implementation plan

Hacks

Reframe behavior issues as decisions toward goals
When addressing student behavior, have them reflect on previous decisions and process through their future ones as next steps toward (or veering off track from) their goals.

Feedback from all stakeholders
Tip: Use an edtech tool for large groups
Allow all stakeholders to be heard. Use a QR, like flowcode, to link to a digital survey to allow easy collection of data in large groups.

Student choice in assessment options
Allow multiple options to show mastery of learning targets. A podcast, a filmed tedtalk, a written newspaper article, etc. may all be options to showcase the student's understanding of the same content.

Use dry erase to brainstorm and plan
The lack of permanence in dry erase allows the freedom to get started, try ideas, and make mistakes. Use large boards in groups or small sheets at desk. Place the sheets around the room and allow students to add ideas as they walk the room.

Student choice in summative deadlines
Students set goals and deadlines for themselves, in collaboration with teacher.

Templates & Links

Student Choice in Assessment Example

Flowcode to Receive Feedback

Examples

Classroom

Students as a Think Tank

In education, there are many times we need to solve problems and innovate solutions in order to move forward and create new and better experiences for both students and staff. Leadership teams seek input and perspective from a variety of stakeholders, including teachers and other educators, families, students, and research. Use students as a think tank to ideate actionable steps to improving stakeholder survey results and school processes, following the design thinking process of empathizing, defining, ideating, and prototyping. When given one question/problem and the current data behind it, students can empathize by voicing their feelings and reactions to the topic, then students can define the problem and brainstorm one actionable step (prototype) to complete within a specified timeframe. Then revisit how it turned out and adjust as needed

Examples

Have leadership classes or SCA student leaders give feedback on topics like student engagement, teacher burnout, and schedule change processes

School

Goals First Academic Advising

High school course selection should center around a student's interests and goals. How can we do any academic advising, infused with building skills of resilience, if we don't look at more than a single, desired outcome goal as a postsecondary pathway? Starting a conversation with who the individual student is, that builds on previous discovery that has occurred in classes, and looking forward at goals and actionable steps to get there, high school course selection becomes more meaningful.