X & Moonshot Thinking

X?  What's that?

During a conversation with a colleague today, I was reintroduced to 'Moonshot Thinking' - something that I remember sharing with some of my students in a previous school to illustrate how people  around the world are exploring ways to solve big problems.  

Link to video:  https://youtu.be/pEr4j8kgwOk

Moonshot Thinking is an important element to have in today's learning environments.  At OrmPS it is evident during our iExplore time.  This is a time at the beginning of the day where the learners are encouraged to identify a problem - either in their own community, nation-wide or global.  Once the learner (or group of learners) have identify a problem, they then follow a set of steps to empathise with the user, question (5 whys) and through an activity called 'Crazy 8s', explore possible solutions from the basic to abstract.   This is where the OrmPS version of 'Moonshot Thinking' comes into fruition.  Astro Teller (the head of X, formerly Google X), mentions in the video below that they have a mantra at X and it is,

Sometimes shifting your perspective is more powerful than being smart. 

I hope X doesn't mind if I 'steal' this manta and use it within our learning environment.  I feel that it is an important consideration while planning a prototype, or following testing and feedback of a prototype.  At times it can be difficult for a learner to admit that their idea is just not going to work, and that a tweak and adjustment will result in a much better product.   

The above mantra could also be applied to other areas of learning, e.g. writing.  When writing, I've seen many learners intent on making their first draft the final copy - reluctant to make changes, or even show changes and/or additions to their original idea.  As an educator, it is heartbreaking (exaggeration of an emotion here) to not be able to see what a learner has changed because the original idea has been rubbed out, twinked or scribbled into oblivion by pen.

I want to see all the thinking that has taken place and be able to celebrate all Moonshot Thinking - whether it is to make a change in the world or on a smaller scale within the covers of an exercise book.

P.S.  Just added 'visit X' to my bucket list.

Design Thinking & Preparing for the Real World

Revamping iExplore

If you have been reading my previous posts, you may have noticed a trend towards developing the curiosity and innovative thinking within our learners.   Over the past few months, I have been ideating my own exploration through the vast range of online resources that are currently available in:

• Design Thinking
• Problem Solving
• STEM & STEAM
• Maker Movement

The following TEDx video of Co Barry illustrates very clearly how educators may not be challenging and extending every learner in the classroom.  This is where design thinking comes in.  It's exciting to think about providing complex and challenging experiences for my learners with opportunities to be problem solvers, innovators, designers, collaborators - and all the other catch-phrases that we use when considering the 21st-century learner. 

Watch the video and reflect on your learners.   Are you catering for their real-world needs?

Towards the end of Term 2, I visited Nick Pattison at Kauri Flats School.  This is a newly opened school which is still in its development stages.  Nick (formerly with Rongomai School) is spearheading design thinking (and learning) at Kauri Flats with amazing authentic projects such as breeding flounder and placing locator chips on wheelie bins.  This is powerful learning - working directly with an industry in the real world.

I was blown away by the level of learning that was taking place - under Nick's guidance and obviously as a result of his connections with various industries.   The learners (at many age levels) could articulate their thinking and were excited to share how they progressed through the 'design thinking' pathway.   I could clearly see that many of the learners were designing their own learning and taking ownership of their education.

Learners valuing and leading their learning would be my utopia learning environment.  We aren't there yet, but the path is becoming clearer.