Agile Spaces: #ISSedu Slowchat
If you've been part of our previous hour-long #ISSedu twitterchats, you know the thrill of being online at the same time as a world of educators, seeing their responses and stories pour into your feed, and sharing your own. But for November, we wanted to try a chat format that would encourage more deep-dives without the time pressure. Hence, the first #ISSedu slowchat!
Ready for an easy-paced #ISSedu conversation? Join our agile spaces twitter #slowchat! For a week, we'll release 1 question a day to dive into. Explore how educators are understanding, using & reinventing #agilespaces in schools — first prompt out Nov 7, 8AM China Standard Time! pic.twitter.com/E7Vt0mIoFW
— International Schools Services (ISS) (@ISSCommunity) October 29, 2018
This week, every 24 hours, we've posed a question about agile spaces to our twitter community. We love the diverse thoughts shared about learning spaces, and seeing educators build off ideas across time zones reminds us of what makes this community amazing. Keep an eye on #ISSedu and the official ISS page to find the prompts and responses. Of course, even when the chat is officially over, we invite everyone to continue to respond and dialogue.
From practical low-cost tips to learning pedagogies, enjoy highlights of the slowchat resources and reflections shared:
What pedagogies, learning theories, or wellness considerations drive the need for agility in your classroom? I.e., Why #agilespaces?
A1: to be able to move between #steam #constructivist science Classroom full of #collaboration, rapid modeling and #hands-on but more traditional sci Lab. Made us look at the layout and structure of our spaces at #sisrocks. Also small space req usability by multiple diff groups
— Peter Hennigar (@petehennigar) November 7, 2018
A1 #agilespaces #issedu #learningspaces #slowchat because students should be able to sense the different experiences and tones we are trying to construct AND they should be able to shape that tone physically as needed within the course of the lesson and day.
— Tricia Friedman (@FriedEnglish101) November 7, 2018
A1. teachers flow in one day through contemporary practices & pedagogies- #PBL #inquiry #STEAM #STEM #Harkness #SocraticSeminar #learningexchanges all require agile space. Teaching & learning influence space but vice versa too! Space can shift thinking!
— LEVEL 5 (@TheLevel5) November 7, 2018
Hi Stephanie! #Makerspaces are an excellent way to engage your students with #creation! #agilespaces can be changed to meet the needs of any type of learning. A makerspace could be one part of an agiles pace. Great short read describing agile spaces: https://t.co/1aqUyCnLBi.
— Luke Meinen (@Mr_Lmeinen) November 8, 2018
A2 #designthinking has lots of powerful tools for engaging kids in the design of their learning spaces. See https://t.co/i9vTUv4zZO for a super useful and accessible toolkit #issedu #ideo https://t.co/wlr2xMUA4k
— Liz Duffy (@DuffyLiz) November 8, 2018
A2 2/2: Asking Ss to design the space both digitally and physically will help build #ownership. https://t.co/svd2nbWvOA is an easy digital tool for students to use to design spaces. Ss helping with physical retrofitting of furniture or space is also fun and impactful. #issedu pic.twitter.com/V3Gm4HsuoN
— Luke Meinen (@Mr_Lmeinen) November 8, 2018
A2 Flexible Seating, is perhaps one way of doing it. Let students decide where
and how they’ll sit to learn- not learn to sit!! I think this can be managed well at all grade levels if planned out carefully with Ss needs in mind #ISSedu #agilespaces #learningspaces #slowchat— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) November 8, 2018
A3: Love this. Recycled materials can spark so much creativity. #issedu.
— john burns (@j0hnburns) November 9, 2018
A3: Ask students to help you design the classroom/environment. They always have terrific ideas & this practice leads to more ownership. Big believer in garage sales/2nd hand stores to make room feel comfy/inviting comfortable? #ISSedu #agilespaces #slowchat
— Laura Benson (@LBopenbook) November 9, 2018
A3: In my room last year, I used inexpensive laminated MDF to make agile tables using existing legs. Added tennis balls to make them agile. Added caters to used furniture. Last, an MDF whiteboard wall and stools rather than chairs. All low cost solutions. Ss helped make! #issedu pic.twitter.com/G9n9k9YeVz
— Luke Meinen (@Mr_Lmeinen) November 9, 2018
Q4: What spaces do you designate for #creativity rather than productivity? Where are the places to #play in your classroom or school? #issedu
A4: I have no whiteboard space in my classroom. As a solution, I created laminated, poster-sized Rocketbook pages so students can brainstorm and share ideas. #issedu #agilespaces #slowchat pic.twitter.com/ApWm1oMiOo
— Callie BushMiller (@SciGeeksRule) November 10, 2018
A4:I think Ss end up defining the spaces – they may go over to a corner b/c it’s quiet or decide they are going to work on their activity on the carpet.#slowchat
— Tama Trotti, Ed.S. (@tamatrotti) November 10, 2018
A4: A Makercart can be a great way to turn near any part of your classroom into a creative space. #issedu pic.twitter.com/aI3i0ON12t
— john burns (@j0hnburns) November 10, 2018
#agilespaces A4 @j0hnburns the makercart is a great idea. My classroom is a bit small; work and play happen in the same places at designated times. A makercart + mobile tables might be ideal. I'm rethinking the KC maker phenomenon as I type this. #issedu #iNCIC
— Brian McCoubrey (@mccoubrey43) November 10, 2018
#ISSedu #slowchat https://t.co/ldTGyVzN7l
— Amanda Blankenship (@ablank1231) November 11, 2018
#playiseverywhere #jkarainbowbutterflies #myclassroom #issedu #slowchat #agilespaces #play pic.twitter.com/fsoFOYRDHS
— AlejandraCruzMilano (@TeacherMsAle) November 11, 2018
Q5: In your learning environment, how do you bring the "outside" inside?
Using #VR is one way of bringing the outside, inside. Every year our wonderful history teacher @msmkwang takes her Ss on a virtual trip to the Taj Mahal . Ss are captivated every time. This year she also had some related artifacts from India which enhanced their experience . https://t.co/7LzaYBTQ4f
— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) November 11, 2018
A5 my #APES Ss will be building #ecocolumns to demonstrate how nutrient cycling impacts all layers of an ecosystem. They will be growing plants, adding decomposers and aquatic organisms to different chambers to investigate this phenomenon. #agilespaces #ISSedu #pulaoproud
— Aaron Foster (@Foster012) November 11, 2018
A5: Science topics are often an easy win to interchange your learning environment and use both inside and outside. Getting students outside to #inspect, #discover, and just #play with nature is a great way to learn! #agilespaces #issedu #slowchat #discovery pic.twitter.com/rYHVHAQ3Ux
— Luke Meinen (@Mr_Lmeinen) November 11, 2018
Corny as it may sound to some, class pets are still one of my favorites (honoring any allergies first, of course) #ISSedu
— Laura Benson (@LBopenbook) November 11, 2018
Q6: Share an example of an inspirational learning space!
We're encouraging shoutouts to peer teachers, educator heroes, pinterest favs, shameless pride in your own classroom and students, etc. Pictures more than welcome! #ISSedu #slowchat
#ISSedu #slowchat many ideas shared from @TheLevel5. Water and gas moved to the outside of the room on countertops. Lrg periodic tables at standing height 1mx 1.2mx1.65m writable glass tops doc with water & gas. Maker area, loads of storage behind white boards and bright decor. pic.twitter.com/AzRZU4NiFR
— Peter Hennigar (@petehennigar) November 12, 2018
A6 – even office spaces can be ##agilespaces and foster learning and collaboration. At #issedu, we’re also big fans of the beemer to allow our remote colleagues to visit the office and fully participate pic.twitter.com/TwQL7lmsCw
— Liz Duffy (@DuffyLiz) November 12, 2018
So the #learningspace I love is obviously @TheLevel5 #ISSedu Because it can be transformed into anything the user imagines.. unlimited capacity for change! pic.twitter.com/SKM8oL3Yqa
— Tosca Killoran (@ToscaKilloran) November 12, 2018
A6 A big shout-out to Stewart Pinkerton @RVISLibrary for transforming our library into a Learning Commons where Ss,teachers and parents-all are welcome to come and use a variety of #learningspaces set up to meet their needs. #issedu #slowchat #RVISionaries pic.twitter.com/NkWFKTaMch
— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) November 13, 2018
#ISSedu #agilelearningspaces #slowchat pic.twitter.com/lYfuTvIpJn
— Amanda Blankenship (@ablank1231) November 12, 2018
A shout out to our Pre-K team who is letting #studentvoice drive the #design of their rooms! It is always changing and is now a gym for tumbling and movement. What a great way to build #studentagency and to have an #agile and #adaptable learning space. #issedu #rvisionaries pic.twitter.com/GWU0Sw0yNF
— Luke Meinen (@luke_meinen_) November 12, 2018
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Q7: When you've encountered challenges in your classroom (#agilespaces-related or otherwise), what has helped you stay inspired and flexible?
A7 – though it seems trite to say, it’s the Ss who inspired and energized me. To be even a small part of someone’s growth and learning is inspirational. Great colleagues help too! #issedu https://t.co/1agiox4A0y
— Liz Duffy (@DuffyLiz) November 13, 2018
A7: ultimately it’s the Ss needs and my ability to meet them. #KidsDeserveIt. Resources and outside support is also something I thrive on. #ISSedu
— Amanda Blankenship (@ablank1231) November 13, 2018
A7 Agility can be tricky. I know one teacher who placed visuals on the walls of her classroom to assist students in reconfiguring the space. She could just say, "A, B, C of D" and everyone understood what was required. Smart #issedu #learningspaces #slowchat
— john burns (@j0hnburns) November 13, 2018
A7 #agilespaces Empathy. I try to put myself in my students' place and imagine what it's like for them to be in my classroom. This brings student voice and choice into decision making. Some of those challenging days might have happened because I didn't follow this #issedu #iNCIC
— Brian McCoubrey (@mccoubrey43) November 13, 2018
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And that brings us to the close of the #ISSedu slowchat! Thank you all for sharing Let’s go forward equipping each other with resources, connections, and encouragement