Together, we met via Google Hangouts for about two hours. We reviewed the feedback from the Google Form surveys and through Blackboard. Then we highlighted the questions or comments that we felt needed to be addressed and/or could be useful in the evolutionary phase. For this portion, David and Monica made comments on the DT Document itself in the margins while I highlighted portions on the document and asked questions orally. Then, we each were given revision assignments, which David would combine into one unified piece.
My individual contribution was in giving feedback and asking a lot of questions. Since we are focusing on high school EL students and my teaching background is exclusively with adult ELs, there are some gaps in my understanding. Fortunately, my teammates are well-informed, good communicators, and have Job-like patience. We had a couple challenges from the beginning because we had to solicit feedback from other Cohort members. Of course, feedback was a mandatory component to move on to evolution. We needed their feedback, especially since we don’t currently have access to actual end-users over the summer. From the survey answers, we were able to pull out some helpful points, which are being incorporated into the refined prototype. Reflection on a design is an important step. Even if you have a strong prototype to begin with, there is no guarantee that it will meet the needs of the end-user. As I stated in a previous reflection, our Student Council is in the process of being revamped. So, while I have ideas on what I “think” Student Council should look like. It is critical to get input from other adult students, since they are the actual end-users. Effective communication, whether asynchronous or synchronous, is clear. It is a give and take. A challenge with email (asynchronous) is that sometimes you “hear” something that is not there or read something between the lines, which wasn’t intended. While the convenience of text and email communication is valuable, it is not always the best when dealing with dense topics. I have found Google Hangouts to be an excellent tool for virtual collaboration/communication. However, in our group, we have used a mixture of methods (email, text, phone) because sometimes you need to be expedient and sometimes you need uninterrupted, more focused communication. I was not familiar with Design Thinking at the beginning of this course. Now, I understand the phases, the steps involved, and most importantly the reasoning behind it. One video we watched, summarized how end-users are not considered in US schools: “It’s crazy that in a system that is meant to teach and help the youth there is no voice from the youth at all.” Tony Wagner states that innovators are creative problem solvers, that make mistakes and fail (and learn from their mistakes). Wagner states that our current school culture is “fundamentally at odds” against learning how to be an innovator. It is woefully apparent that our entire school system needs to be revamped if we are going to meet the needs of 21st century learners and prepare them to be successful, contributing members of society. Resources: If students designed their own schools... (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2016, from https://youtu.be/RElUmGI5gLc Reinventing Education for the 21st Century : Tony Wagner at (co)lab summit 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2016, from https://youtu.be/54gzmxlPbsA Four Cs Memes: creativity, critical thinking, communication, & collaboration
1 Comment
Sandra Leu
7/2/2016 04:36:42 pm
Great teamwork process. Sometimes speaking through the revisions and detail are the most time-consuming aspects. Do you think that over the period of a few days this could have been completed asynchronously or do you feel that the process was more effective in real-time?
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Sheila L. DavisPassionate Adult ESL Instructor and TOSA at Grossmont Adult School. Current Adjunct at San Diego Community College District. Seeking the best ways to utilize technology in the classroom and in professional life. ArchivesCategories |