Lea Toornstra

Elementary School Teacher | Inclusion | ESL | Nature Immersion | Reconciliation

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@MountainEdu

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

New chalkboard drawing in Grade 5/6 at #Alpenglow #Canmore New units are #electricity and #aerodynamics #CRPS #MountainEDU https://t.co/BkKv2mTZZ7

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

New chalkboard drawing in Grade 5/6 at #Alpenglow #Canmore New units are #electricity and #aerodynamics #CRPS #MountainEDU https://t.co/BkKv2mTZZ7

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@GebersMyrna A: "Implementation implies a top-down approach. Implementation is well understood by most teachers, as it is the approach that teachers have been required to undertake under conventional approaches to teaching and learning"(Galileo, 2018). Design thinking is more immersed #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@GebersMyrna A: By being driving force to change top down teaching methods, and hopefully being supported by an open-minded administration. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

Design Story.
"Students are the reason for professionals to engage in learning and success in developing better engagement, learning and well-being is the mark of success of any intervention or innovation" (Timperley, 2011).
https://t.co/2ZQzXIotxw
#dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@Judith21148779 @ElsenMichele @TELUS_Spark Specific design task elements are that it is done "with people" & the teaching commences at a "foundational level of knowledge creation" through empathy-the learning is made meaningful to the individual & students often are provided with options. Hill, J. (2017) [video] #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@Judith21148779 @ElsenMichele @TELUS_Spark I am placed at a #Waldorf inspired school where the learning takes place with head, heart, and hands. Some lessons are very free and student-led, there are elements that remind me of design thinking, however I wouldn't say they design their learning themselves completely. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@dmscott73 @KorolErin @Jilby09 @jthill This question reminds me of the double diamond & its divergence part. Asking questions is a way to gather information & to become aware of other perspectives. If I am reminded of that, I am okay with something not sitting right with me or not knowing everything off the bat #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@MBates2019 A3: I think the empathy & engagement are key to design units this way. I totally believe the Carnegie Unit can be forgone if there is different proof of learning and students are taught to design their own learning working backwards from expectations and learning outcomes #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@Liza74508839 @MBates2019 I think this is a great start. I agree, the Carnegie Unit also prepares students for a job later, or higher education. Redesign thinking and student-led learning should be incorporated as much as possible within that frame though!

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@MBates2019 A3: One possibility is to have students create their own project plan and set a goal. It has to be well facilitated to help them define learner outcomes related to the curriculum, and break their learning down into small steps to stay focused. Regular student feedback is a must.

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@AnnetteMcCaff10 A2: Hopefully to a more adaptable, individual, and student-centred way of facilitating learning. It is a tool, which many people may underestimate. Being a change agent may be difficult at first and having administration on board to reach all stakeholders is crucial! #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@Liza74508839 Ideally teachers and all stakeholders realize that it truly can be used in all situations and therefore is a mindset rather than an expected practice or method. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@Liza74508839 It is important to make the design process less daunting and more concrete or applicable. It is as simple as reimagining the classroom through students' input (IDEO, 2013). It doesn't have to be a unit plan design or vast planning process by any means. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@DMcWilliam @CathySandul This is awesome. Visuals can't be underestimated. They give any stakeholder time to engage with the topic without it being forced on them. Despite that workshops and PD days seem like a good way to reach everyone to me. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@CathySandul A3: Empathy is key. It is important to show students the goal. Authentically walk them through the process, explain WHY we move forward the way we do. Besides, looping in student feedback, giving opportunities for questions throughout and breaking down the steps will help. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@24marshalee A4: It's making sure the design is tailored to the individual school and students' needs. Intentionality helps shape the design and maintains focus through iteration. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@jthill I wonder how much interdisciplinarity can help break the solely convergent teaching patterns. I know convergence is important in the end to come to fit solution, just as the double diamond suggests, however the divergent counterpart needs to be part of the process #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

Reflecting on your previous field experiences, did you encounter situations that allowed you to more fully understand the phases of divergent and convergent processing as described by the Double-Diamond Model of Design? If so, please share your experience and insight. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

@jthill Yes! Many innovations have been developed because of divergent thinking, esp. in Science. "Expanding the scope of the problem, diverging to examine all the fundamental issues (Norman, 2013, p. 220)" is an important part of learning and a crucial competency to develop. #dtk12

[Lea Toornstra @LeaToornstra]

Q2 #dtk12