Visible Classroom
Coffee On The Brain Podcast Interviews John Miller
John Miller, the founder of Agile Classrooms, recently joined Aaron Maurer on the “Coffee For The Brain” podcast to discuss the benefits of using Agile principles in education. TOPICS WE EXPLORE TAKEAWAYS One of the key takeaways from the podcast was the power of the word “permission” in creating a culture of learning and growth.…
Read MoreHeads Up Display
In our Agile Classrooms workshop hosted by NewBoCo and supported by Scrum Alliance, we released our new Heads Up Display concept for learning teams. Needs We wanted something that was: 1. Modular – allowing classrooms to customize their setup. Adding 2. Easy – to minimize time to set up and break down. 3. Accessible – the board…
Read MoreA New Learning Canvas Prototype
In observing many Agile Classrooms in action, I have noticed a few issues that pop up frequently. In accordance with the principle of making the learning visible in order to support the student’s self-direction, I created an updated Learning Canvas to help. Problem 1: At times, students and teachers have trouble following or forget key parts of the…
Read MoreElement 1: The Visible Classroom
The Visible Classroom is the first element, and often the first step, in implementing an Agile Classroom. The Visible Classroom designs the learning environment for clarity, transparency, accountability, feedback, and adaptability. It gives a classroom a set of highly visible and dynamic artifacts called Learning Radiators that support and mediate learning. Once learning and expectations…
Read MoreBuilding an Agile Classroom
Agile at King Chavez School
2 Teachers and a Big Idea Room 14 King Chavez Community High School Meet Alicia and Megan, teachers at King Chavez Community High School in San Diego. Alicia teaches Algebra 2 and Megan teaches English Language Arts. They had a bold idea. What if they shared a classroom together with students choosing which subject to…
Read MoreThe Power of Clarity
We are surrounded by noise and bids for our attention everywhere. We are constantly interrupted and being pulled from what we know we should be focused on. This happens in the classroom also. Engagement requires focus. Focus means amping up the signals of what students should be focusing on, and dampening everything else. Clarity is…
Read MoreThe Learning Canvas
We all want to see our students tackling the complex challenges of their own. But, for many of our students, they have never had to do this before. So, they feel overwhelmed and confused, and they flounder rather than flourish. And you are pulled back into the traditional mode of telling them what and to…
Read MoreStudent Progress Tool
Self-tracking Proficiency Rik Rowe, an inspiring high school Mathematics teacher (and yes, you should follow him on Twitter @WHSRowe), shared a great example of a student proficiency-tracking tool from “Knowing What Students Know” . Access to information and Student Agency are 2 of the 4 cornerstones of empowerment (see the Unpacking Empowerment Infographic). This is an effective way…
Read MoreA GPS For Learning
Student Drivers Wanted We all want our students to take the drivers seat of their own learning. And, many of us have tried, only to hear, “Can you just tell me what to do?”. Or when we ask what THEY want to do, you are met with, “I don’t know”. Yet, many of us unknowingly…
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