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Design Thinking: One Bite at a Time
Today, my Design Engineering team, along with two 6th grade teachers, had the pleasure of engaging in a Google Hangout with Ellen Deutscher, co-founder of #DTK12Chat, inventor of Design Dot cards, and just an overall awesome Design Thinker, teacher, and human being. The original intent of the call was to discuss Design Dots. If you
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Naturally, Adults Are Trying to Stop Them
This news article published yesterday: Teenagers are running for governor in Kansas. Adults are trying to stop them In a state where the youth voting rate is even worse than the dismal national average, more than half a dozen Kansas teens are running for statewide office in 2018 — a sort of viral movement against apathy that could, in theory, make a high school student governor. Naturally,
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Empathy: Are We Walking the Walk?
This morning on Twitter, Sam Patterson posted: how do you teach kids empathy? by listening to what they say — Sam Patterson (@SamPatue) February 6, 2018 I responded, in the moment, with a quick tweet about the need for active listening and not just a passive head nod. But then it got me thinking… Why
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Bringing the Invention Cycle to Design Thinking
Imagination leads to creativity. Creativity leads to innovation. Innovation leads to entrepreneurship. ~ Tina Seelig Engaging in the Design Thinking process is a human-centered approach to creative problem solving. Regardless of what you call the stages of the process, or how you draw the progression, at its core is a belief that people can make the(ir)
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Don’t Sit On Grandma’s Couch: Contemplating the Pinterest Classroom
I remember going to my grandparents house often as a child. I loved being there. There was a pool with a slide and a jacuzzi; A pool house with a billiards table. A TV room with an awesome reclining chair (which was my grandpa’s chair, but I could sit in it when he wasn’t at
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Launching into Design Thinking
I read Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student when it first came out, but at the time, it wasn’t as relevant to the work I was doing as Director of Educational Technology. In that role, I was not able to fully immerse myself in transforming classroom learning
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What is your BIG opportunity for impact? #DesignCamp
Today I had the pleasure of attending #DesignCamp. This event is a participant-driven deep dive into all things related to Design Thinking! The big levers towards deeper learning and equity for all students are: pedagogy, culture, leadership, and innovator methods/mindsets with the goal of spreading more goodness on the world (website). It was my first time attending
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Bringing Industry to the Classroom
“Our two most precious commodities are our children and water.” Ronald Fay, Retired Hydrologist and Industry Expert honoree Last night, our school board recognized the contributions of the industry experts who have given their time and expertise to inspire our students to change the world. Each of the individuals honored has made a tangible difference
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Students’ Design Thinking Skills Sets Them Up for a Successful Future
Yesterday I received this email from three 6th grade students: Dear Dr. Spencer, As sixth grade students, we have been given the design challenge to enhance our school experience. There are problems ranging from balls left in the field to bathroom catastrophes. We thought that you would be a great person to interview because
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The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking
I have to admit, part of the reason I picked up this book at the library was to joke with my daughter. One of the things she will tell you about me is that I am anything but overly peppy or bubbly. It’s not that I am negative, or a “Debbie Downer.” I consider myself
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Commit to read more books
As you may have read, my one word for 2018 is COMMIT. One of my commitments is to read more. So it was only fitting that Daniel Pink would include an article about how to read more in his most recent Pink newsletter. (I sware he included it just for me!) Five steps to read
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The Sky is Blue. It’s Always Blue.
How many times have we been so consumed by the grayness of the clouds that we fail to remember the sky is still blue?
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Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. 