Time to update ourselves    Note: english is not my native language.     Challenge:

I am in charge of the Teacher Development Dpt, specifically their academic development and how  that is seen in the classroom, at a K-12 private school in Guatemala. The staff includes 56  professionals. Some teachers have been working for more than 15 years in same  grade/subject/school, and using same tools. But there also are new fresh teacher, mentally young  with many great ideas.  So the challenge we have is to find a way in which “old school” teachers  could start using in class the school methodology (based in teamwork, creatvity and self building  concepts), by chaging their teaching themselves. And the “new fresh” teachers keep doing it  without being scared or contaminated by other teachers.

Selection:

As we had only few days to be able to develop a project that can help us to reach and solve our  challenge, I decided to use the mind mapping as a starter tool. I know I will need to continue this  after rthe course ends, and will probably add some other tools. The mind mapping will let the  memebers of the school community organize their ideas in a collaborative way to start reating  from that.

Application:

We started with our challenge a week ago, so we are still in process. But during the past week, we  did some big movements as school. We opened a special online class for the teachers. In this class,  and as part of their assignments, they were asked to post each day 1 thing, situation or idea they  were struggling with (only teaching related). They were also asked to post 1 thing they consider  creative or “new” to use in class instead of and old one. Beside this each teacher was part of a  smaller team were each member was selected randomly. Teams needed to place each post in an  specific category, according to their own criteria. No more than 4 categories, one in charge of a  member. So at the end of the workday, teachers were asked to ad done of the positive posts  under the category it belongs, the idea is to create a mental organization of collaborative ideas.  This was done this week, and the next 2 steps we planned include the following: Next week they  will choose an idea from positive lists and take them to their practice in class. At the end of the  day they will add their experience reflection as a public comment. Peer interaction as fórum will  be asked. And the last step in 2 weeks will be to create a manual of implementation of the school  methodology throw the chooseb and practiced posts.

Insight and approach:

As we havent finish the process, I am expecting big things by the end of the following 2 weeks.  What I can share today about what we had experienced is that some of the “old school” teachers  opened themselves to new suggestions, they even choose some unexpected ideas to take to their

classes. Some new ones were asked by the others many “how” questions, and this allowed the  new teachers to act as mentors. But the most impressive thing was to hear in a class observation  the conversation between students and 2 of them realizing that XX teacher was making a  change  in class. If I were able to start this again, I would have left more time for this first step. The used of  the mind mapping helped the teachers to work with others at the same level, accepting some  suggestions better than when they come from authorities. I also think that i would have started  with a previous work of more design thinking activities before planning the application.


Time to update ourselves Note : english is not my native language . Challenge : I am in charge of the Teacher Development Dpt , specifically their academic development and how that is seen in the classroom , at a K-12 private school in Guatemala . The staff includes 56 professionals . Some teachers have been working for more than 15 years in same grade / subject / school , and using same tools . But there also are new fresh teacher , mentally young with many great ideas . So the challenge we have is to find a way in which “ old school ” teachers could start using in class the school methodology ( based in teamwork , creatvity and self building concepts ) , by chaging their teaching themselves . And the “ new fresh ” teachers keep doing it without being scared or contaminated by other teachers . Selection : As we had only few days to be able to develop a project that can help us to reach and solve our challenge , I decided to use the mind mapping as a starter tool . I know I will need to continue this after rthe course ends , and will probably add some other tools . The mind mapping will let the memebers of the school community organize their ideas in a collaborative way to start reating from that . Application : We started with our challenge a week ago , so we are still in process . But during the past week , we did some big movements as school . We opened a special online class for the teachers . In this class , and as part of their assignments , they were asked to post each day 1 thing , situation or idea they were struggling with ( only teaching related ) . They were also asked to post 1 thing they consider creative or “ new ” to use in class instead of and old one . Beside this each teacher was part of a smaller team were each member was selected randomly . Teams needed to place each post in an specific category , according to their own criteria . No more than 4 categories , one in charge of a member . So at the end of the workday , teachers were asked to ad done of the positive posts under the category it belongs , the idea is to create a mental organization of collaborative ideas . This was done this week , and the next 2 steps we planned include the following : Next week they will choose an idea from positive lists and take them to their practice in class . At the end of the day they will add their experience reflection as a public comment . Peer interaction as fórum will be asked . And the last step in 2 weeks will be to create a manual of implementation of the school methodology throw the chooseb and practiced posts . Insight and approach : As we have nt finish the process , I am expecting big things by the end of the following 2 weeks . What I can share today about what we had experienced is that some of the “ old school ” teachers opened themselves to new suggestions , they even choose some unexpected ideas to take to their classes . Some new ones were asked by the others many “ how ” questions , and this allowed the new teachers to act as mentors . But the most impressive thing was to hear in a class observation the conversation between students and 2 of them realizing that XX teacher was making a change in class . If I were able to start this again , I would have left more time for this first step . The used of the mind mapping helped the teachers to work with others at the same level , accepting some suggestions better than when they come from authorities . I also think that i would have started with a previous work of more design thinking activities before planning the application .