Design Thinking - Reinventing our math classroom

What our classrooms were like. 

It was interesting how over the generation of teachers within our room today how much education has changed. The learning environments, teaching equipment and approaches from teacher dictation model to facilitating a community of learners. It was a privilege to hear about the positives and negatives within the room of experiences of being in the classroom prior to becoming a teacher. 

What could our classroom look like... 

Seeing something through someone else’s eyes creates a totally new perspective

We went seeking inspiration of new ways of thinking about maths….
We asked a guru!

Madonna

changes her image regularly		reflects on how to engage her market and get noticed by her audience
dances		choreographs elements to get noticed and have impact considering movement, balance and inclusion
sings		layering of elements to gain best effect
concerts		uses lighting effectively to highlight and motivate success
number 1		hangs out with stars who represent quality
fashion		Knows what is trending at the moment in math education - or bends the trend
raunchy		trying something new and different that works and gets attention of her audience

Dora the Explorer

 

bilingual		children sharing their knowledge in their own language and learning math language Teachers deliver message in different ways
musical		children express their ideas and learning in different ways
fashion sense		colourful teaching resources and visuals Makes math appealing to all.
problem solver		relating maths to real life Sequenced order working from known to new knowledge.
adventurous		thinks outside the box, approaches problems from different angles,
explorer		takes risks, trying new ways, investigating questioning, making choices,

 Brad Pitt

Adaptive - marriage		reflective on current / past lessons and practice
Spunk / Sexy / Naughty		keep lessons interesting with flair. Always changing and growing
Trend Setter		meeting needs of students challenging the norm trying new things.
Multi cultural / culturally sensitive - (Adopting children)		accepting each and every child. Being holistic
Adaptive professionally		changing roles within the classroom

 The Queen 

Decorum / Elegance		knowledge, principals and behaviour
Power		is able to work with others and build on others strengths
Pawn		seeking leaders with initiative for learning
money		financial literacy
sterile (emotionless)		reading emotional status of learners and changing to meet it.

Rod Stewart

 

reinvents		teaching same knowledge in different ways
fashion		grabbing your attention and changing it.
quality music		providing quality - the best you can do
personality		relationships children / parents / teachers
enduring		consistently looking for the best and being the best

 Spongebob Squarepants

happy and positive		creating a happy and positive learning environment
accepting of everybody		safe environment accepting and celebrating of diversity - differentiation
Cook		understanding of math in practical contexts
Loves life and his job		brings experiences and passions into the classroom
Tries new things		tries something new and different that works and gets attention

 Flight of the Concords 

Creative		bucks trends to engage students
Humour		engagement, enjoying the classroom environment
Succinct		simplicity breaks conformity, complicated ideas broken down, snappy
Self depreciating		teachers as learners
Entertaining		their ideas stick innovative keep their audience wanting more

Walt Disney

 

Creativity		hooks, engages children into problems out of the box lessons be ready to try new ideas and approach design thinking to capture audience reflective
Visuals / artistic		innovative ways to present learning children can come up with own suggestions and learning interpretations creative imagination to inspire
Engaging storylines		word problems to motivate and provide meaningful experience active learning everyone involved everyone wanting more
Magical / Fun		Games / teaching approach learning to engage and motivate challenging resources
Humour / entertaining		active learning everyone involved
Good communicator		interacting, collaborating, all people involved creating experts though collaborative learning opportunities seeking advice, questioning, critical thinking, metacognitive
Loved children / large audience		fun, enjoy teaching and being at school network with other professionals research, learn from colleagues experiences share the learning with whanau

Ronald McDonald

 

visually appealing		quickly and effectively engages audience
unique style		point of difference which makes it memorable grabs attention from the start
marketing skills		knows how to sell message and inspire engaging and fun
helps others		identifies a need within the community and provides support and opportunities to move forward relates to real life situations meaningful
Fulfils a need / desire		recognised need to capture and maintain interest
Big Shoes		requires a solid foundation of knowledge
Empathy		cares about each individual child's learning differentiating learning

This was such a fun activity that really got the creativity flowing about what the best math classroom needs to be what our market are looking for. 

We then watched this video which brought many of us to tears. 

Rita Pierson - Every Kid Needs a Champion

Our new design for our math classroom criteria now includes:

Inspire passion by .... 

• developing risk takers 
• make things fun and interesting
• bring things into the classroom
• help children to enjoy maths
• make connections with each student
• provide choice of learning activities
• feeling of being valued
• provide a safe zone
• authentic meaningful contexts
• discovery of concepts themselves
• celebrate success - big or small
• share learning journeys

Teacher Skills ... 

• knowledge of every child as a learner
• exude passion, excitement, enthusiasm for learning and math
• apply a variety of approaches
• diversity valued
• empathy for learning challenges and stages
• create problems for multi levels
• be reflective on practice and its effectiveness
• BELIEVE in your learners
• PERSERVERE with difficult learners
• Be a mentor 
• accept a variety of ways to get answer
• Know exactly what they are doing and where they are to present next learning step
• precise questioning
• provide reflection time
• know how and when to scaffold
• have clear expectations
• model trying new things and failing
• prising mistakes as learning opportunities 

Environment for diversity...

• flexible learning environment
• multi faceted tools and equipment
• integrate technology
• make it physical
• hands on learning
• learn from each other 
• wet areas to learn in different ways
• correct materials used in different ways
• provide a choice of learning environment

WOW! I love our new classroom design. What do you think? 

We have been on a journey of reflection and discovery viewing our maths programme from several different perspectives. What would you do? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.