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Let’s redesign the experience of school | Cale Birk | TEDxLangleyED


I’d like you to think about an

I’d like you to think about an experience that you’ve had in the last

experience that you’ve had in the last

experience that you’ve had in the last year that was truly amazing for you

year that was truly amazing for you

year that was truly amazing for you maybe it was at a restaurant where you

maybe it was at a restaurant where you

maybe it was at a restaurant where you have that meal that just hit every one

have that meal that just hit every one

have that meal that just hit every one of your tastebuds and you had that

of your tastebuds and you had that

of your tastebuds and you had that energetic server that that met every one

energetic server that that met every one

energetic server that that met every one of your needs that night or maybe it was

of your needs that night or maybe it was

of your needs that night or maybe it was for the first time in mechanical history

for the first time in mechanical history

for the first time in mechanical history that you got a car repair bill back that

that you got a car repair bill back that

that you got a car repair bill back that was actually less than you thought but

was actually less than you thought but

was actually less than you thought but not only that when the mechanic realized

not only that when the mechanic realized

not only that when the mechanic realized that you were going to be late they

that you were going to be late they

that you were going to be late they drove you to work in their own personal

drove you to work in their own personal

drove you to work in their own personal vehicle they went that extra mile for me

vehicle they went that extra mile for me

vehicle they went that extra mile for me this is it check out this beauty the

this is it check out this beauty the

this is it check out this beauty the shelf I bought from Costco so I’m not

shelf I bought from Costco so I’m not

shelf I bought from Costco so I’m not the handiest of people and I don’t

the handiest of people and I don’t

the handiest of people and I don’t really have any tools so when people go

really have any tools so when people go

really have any tools so when people go to buy a shelf they might look at the

to buy a shelf they might look at the

to buy a shelf they might look at the dimensions or what it’s made of maybe

dimensions or what it’s made of maybe

dimensions or what it’s made of maybe even how it articulates with the wall I

even how it articulates with the wall I

even how it articulates with the wall I didn’t care about any of that it needed

didn’t care about any of that it needed

didn’t care about any of that it needed to just say two things on the box which

to just say two things on the box which

to just say two things on the box which was easy and no tools required so I got

was easy and no tools required so I got

was easy and no tools required so I got this baby home I cracked open the box

this baby home I cracked open the box

this baby home I cracked open the box and the instructions actually looked

and the instructions actually looked

and the instructions actually looked like the parts that were in there and

like the parts that were in there and

like the parts that were in there and within 20 minutes I had made this thing

within 20 minutes I had made this thing

within 20 minutes I had made this thing it was miraculous most times when I put

it was miraculous most times when I put

it was miraculous most times when I put things together there’s not one or two

things together there’s not one or two

things together there’s not one or two things left over there’s sort of 12 or

things left over there’s sort of 12 or

things left over there’s sort of 12 or 13 things in a drawer and somehow the

13 things in a drawer and somehow the

13 things in a drawer and somehow the thing is still standing so this was a

thing is still standing so this was a

thing is still standing so this was a miracle for me but now I want you to

miracle for me but now I want you to

miracle for me but now I want you to think about that experience that you had

think about that experience that you had

think about that experience that you had in the last year and think about what is

in the last year and think about what is

in the last year and think about what is the one word that you would use to

the one word that you would use to

the one word that you would use to describe that experience maybe it was

describe that experience maybe it was

describe that experience maybe it was one of these personalized magic

one of these personalized magic

one of these personalized magic astounding amazing or miraculous like me

astounding amazing or miraculous like me

astounding amazing or miraculous like me well I work in schools and a couple of

well I work in schools and a couple of

well I work in schools and a couple of years ago as a principal I started to

years ago as a principal I started to

years ago as a principal I started to think I wonder if when kids leave their

think I wonder if when kids leave their

think I wonder if when kids leave their math class they’re saying words like

math class they’re saying words like

math class they’re saying words like this about their experience were they

this about their experience were they

this about their experience were they saying that it was amazing inspirational

saying that it was amazing inspirational

saying that it was amazing inspirational sick I don’t even know what that means

sick I don’t even know what that means

sick I don’t even know what that means actually but I’ve heard that that’s a

actually but I’ve heard that that’s a

actually but I’ve heard that that’s a good thing

good thing

good thing but not just that what about our parents

but not just that what about our parents

but not just that what about our parents what about our parents who come to our

what about our parents who come to our

what about our parents who come to our websites what about our parents that

websites what about our parents that

websites what about our parents that that come for registration and come to

that come for registration and come to

that come for registration and come to the office are they saying that was

the office are they saying that was

the office are they saying that was personalized it was amazing it was

personalized it was amazing it was

personalized it was amazing it was inspirational and not just that our

inspirational and not just that our

inspirational and not just that our educators as well our teachers and our

educators as well our teachers and our

educators as well our teachers and our principals as a former high school

principals as a former high school

principals as a former high school principal I feel really bad for some of

principal I feel really bad for some of

principal I feel really bad for some of my staff that had to endure my staff

my staff that had to endure my staff

my staff that had to endure my staff meetings which was sort of a slow

meetings which was sort of a slow

meetings which was sort of a slow transition to the afterlife

transition to the afterlife

transition to the afterlife but I can guarantee that they probably

but I can guarantee that they probably

but I can guarantee that they probably weren’t using some of these words and so

weren’t using some of these words and so

weren’t using some of these words and so I started to think about that and what I

I started to think about that and what I

I started to think about that and what I realized is that in our digital era it’s

realized is that in our digital era it’s

realized is that in our digital era it’s all about the review and corporations

all about the review and corporations

all about the review and corporations and companies all over the planet they

and companies all over the planet they

and companies all over the planet they want us to become their unpaid

want us to become their unpaid

want us to become their unpaid advertisers and they want to make sure

advertisers and they want to make sure

advertisers and they want to make sure that they get that five-star review

that they get that five-star review

that they get that five-star review because what we all know is that a good

because what we all know is that a good

because what we all know is that a good review travels fast but a bad review

review travels fast but a bad review

review travels fast but a bad review travels even faster so I wanted to do a

travels even faster so I wanted to do a

travels even faster so I wanted to do a little bit of research and digging into

little bit of research and digging into

little bit of research and digging into these companies and products and

these companies and products and

these companies and products and services that really did get these sorts

services that really did get these sorts

services that really did get these sorts of reviews and what I found is that many

of reviews and what I found is that many

of reviews and what I found is that many of them used a model called human

of them used a model called human

of them used a model called human centered design and in human centered

centered design and in human centered

centered design and in human centered design what you do is you really connect

design what you do is you really connect

design what you do is you really connect deeply with the people that are going to

deeply with the people that are going to

deeply with the people that are going to be using your product or experiencing

be using your product or experiencing

be using your product or experiencing your service and you get to understand

your service and you get to understand

your service and you get to understand and empathize with them and then you

and empathize with them and then you

and empathize with them and then you design the experience through their eyes

design the experience through their eyes

design the experience through their eyes and I started to think about this and

and I started to think about this and

and I started to think about this and think well in schools we have humans and

think well in schools we have humans and

think well in schools we have humans and we want them to have that five-star

we want them to have that five-star

we want them to have that five-star experience so what if we adopted a

experience so what if we adopted a

experience so what if we adopted a mindset called learner centered design

mindset called learner centered design

mindset called learner centered design where we put the learner experience at

where we put the learner experience at

where we put the learner experience at the center of everything that we do and

the center of everything that we do and

the center of everything that we do and the learners not only the students in

the learners not only the students in

the learners not only the students in our classrooms but it’s our educators

our classrooms but it’s our educators

our classrooms but it’s our educators and our parents and our entire school

and our parents and our entire school

and our parents and our entire school community and I believe that if we take

community and I believe that if we take

community and I believe that if we take this stance and we follow four basic

this stance and we follow four basic

this stance and we follow four basic steps which are to be slow to do things

steps which are to be slow to do things

steps which are to be slow to do things to ask silly questions to wear bifocals

to ask silly questions to wear bifocals

to ask silly questions to wear bifocals and to have a huge appetite I think

and to have a huge appetite I think

and to have a huge appetite I think together we can change the experience

together we can change the experience

together we can change the experience school now of course when I showed my

school now of course when I showed my

school now of course when I showed my wife these she thought that I was kind

wife these she thought that I was kind

wife these she thought that I was kind of doing one of two things either

of doing one of two things either

of doing one of two things either describing my mother-in-law or perhaps

describing my mother-in-law or perhaps

describing my mother-in-law or perhaps validating my plans for retirement but

validating my plans for retirement but

validating my plans for retirement but bear with me let’s see if we can change

bear with me let’s see if we can change

bear with me let’s see if we can change this experience together in 1994 Procter

this experience together in 1994 Procter

this experience together in 1994 Procter & Gamble the large multinational

& Gamble the large multinational

& Gamble the large multinational corporation in the United States was

corporation in the United States was

corporation in the United States was experiencing a lull in there cleaning

experiencing a lull in there cleaning

experiencing a lull in there cleaning division nothing was really going on it

division nothing was really going on it

division nothing was really going on it wasn’t going well it wasn’t going badly

wasn’t going well it wasn’t going badly

wasn’t going well it wasn’t going badly it was just kind of dead and so they did

it was just kind of dead and so they did

it was just kind of dead and so they did something interesting they hired a

something interesting they hired a

something interesting they hired a design firm called continuum to inject

design firm called continuum to inject

design firm called continuum to inject some life into this sort of listless

some life into this sort of listless

some life into this sort of listless part of their organization

part of their organization

part of their organization now continuum could have went fast they

now continuum could have went fast they

now continuum could have went fast they could have jumped quickly to a solution

could have jumped quickly to a solution

could have jumped quickly to a solution they could have sat with the executives

they could have sat with the executives

they could have sat with the executives behind a closed door and you know

behind a closed door and you know

behind a closed door and you know proposed some neon-colored cleaning

proposed some neon-colored cleaning

proposed some neon-colored cleaning solution or aerodynamic broom handle but

solution or aerodynamic broom handle but

solution or aerodynamic broom handle but they did something really unique

they did something really unique

they did something really unique something I think that we can all learn

something I think that we can all learn

something I think that we can all learn from rather than try and make a solution

from rather than try and make a solution

from rather than try and make a solution they actually went and watched people

they actually went and watched people

they actually went and watched people clean they went into their houses

clean they went into their houses

clean they went into their houses they’re invited just want to say that

they’re invited just want to say that

they’re invited just want to say that but they went into their houses and they

but they went into their houses and they

but they went into their houses and they watched people clean they talked to them

watched people clean they talked to them

watched people clean they talked to them they listened to them they tried what

they listened to them they tried what

they listened to them they tried what they were doing and they really

they were doing and they really

they were doing and they really developed a close connection to those

developed a close connection to those

developed a close connection to those that were experiencing this solution and

that were experiencing this solution and

that were experiencing this solution and as a result of that unique work they

as a result of that unique work they

as a result of that unique work they developed a 500 million dollar a year

developed a 500 million dollar a year

developed a 500 million dollar a year product for Procter & Gamble something

product for Procter & Gamble something

product for Procter & Gamble something that many of you might have in your

that many of you might have in your

that many of you might have in your household the Swiffer and look at how

household the Swiffer and look at how

household the Swiffer and look at how much fun my daughter is having she just

much fun my daughter is having she just

much fun my daughter is having she just didn’t want me to take that picture I

didn’t want me to take that picture I

didn’t want me to take that picture I did anyways and it’s all because they

did anyways and it’s all because they

did anyways and it’s all because they avoided the dreaded solution itis and

avoided the dreaded solution itis and

avoided the dreaded solution itis and this is something that we get an

this is something that we get an

this is something that we get an education quite often it’s when

education quite often it’s when

education quite often it’s when well-meaning people move rapidly from

well-meaning people move rapidly from

well-meaning people move rapidly from problem to solution without ever

problem to solution without ever

problem to solution without ever considering those that are going to have

considering those that are going to have

considering those that are going to have to be impacted or implement that

to be impacted or implement that

to be impacted or implement that solution I can tell you as a principal I

solution I can tell you as a principal I

solution I can tell you as a principal I was pretty bad for this as well summer

was pretty bad for this as well summer

was pretty bad for this as well summer would be coming and the kids would start

would be coming and the kids would start

would be coming and the kids would start to wear their summer clothing and you’d

to wear their summer clothing and you’d

to wear their summer clothing and you’d see people with spaghetti straps and all

see people with spaghetti straps and all

see people with spaghetti straps and all that sort of stuff so what would I do

that sort of stuff so what would I do

that sort of stuff so what would I do I’d I’d slap a dress code on them and

I’d I’d slap a dress code on them and

I’d I’d slap a dress code on them and that

that

that change the behavior at all no it

change the behavior at all no it

change the behavior at all no it actually just made kids become pasta

actually just made kids become pasta

actually just made kids become pasta experts so instead of spaghetti straps

experts so instead of spaghetti straps

experts so instead of spaghetti straps it was linguini straps or fettuccine

it was linguini straps or fettuccine

it was linguini straps or fettuccine straps they figured out the way around

straps they figured out the way around

straps they figured out the way around it like they always would why because i

it like they always would why because i

it like they always would why because i jumped quickly from problem to solution

jumped quickly from problem to solution

jumped quickly from problem to solution without ever having them involved in

without ever having them involved in

without ever having them involved in that process and it’s something that we

that process and it’s something that we

that process and it’s something that we need to change the second thing that we

need to change the second thing that we

need to change the second thing that we need to do is we need to ask silly

need to do is we need to ask silly

need to do is we need to ask silly questions how many people in here have a

questions how many people in here have a

questions how many people in here have a child under the age of five or have had

child under the age of five or have had

child under the age of five or have had a child under the age of five yeah lots

a child under the age of five yeah lots

a child under the age of five yeah lots so it won’t surprise you to know that in

so it won’t surprise you to know that in

so it won’t surprise you to know that in a study in 2013 in the United Kingdom it

a study in 2013 in the United Kingdom it

a study in 2013 in the United Kingdom it was found that children can ask as many

was found that children can ask as many

was found that children can ask as many as 390 questions per day of their mums

as 390 questions per day of their mums

as 390 questions per day of their mums and dads and we all know this mums and

and dads and we all know this mums and

and dads and we all know this mums and dads don’t we this is why I bought the

dads don’t we this is why I bought the

dads don’t we this is why I bought the Google home actually and what I realized

Google home actually and what I realized

Google home actually and what I realized is is this wasn’t made by engineers this

is is this wasn’t made by engineers this

is is this wasn’t made by engineers this was made by a couple of mums and dads

was made by a couple of mums and dads

was made by a couple of mums and dads that said we need some help with some of

that said we need some help with some of

that said we need some help with some of these questions these are pretty hard

these questions these are pretty hard

these questions these are pretty hard but we need to really in our schools we

but we need to really in our schools we

but we need to really in our schools we need to really encourage these why

need to really encourage these why

need to really encourage these why questions in 1943 Edwin land was walking

questions in 1943 Edwin land was walking

questions in 1943 Edwin land was walking near Santa Fe New Mexico with his

near Santa Fe New Mexico with his

near Santa Fe New Mexico with his daughter Jennifer and Jennifer and his

daughter Jennifer and Jennifer and his

daughter Jennifer and Jennifer and his de and her dad were walking around and

de and her dad were walking around and

de and her dad were walking around and and Edwin was doing what any good dad

and Edwin was doing what any good dad

and Edwin was doing what any good dad would do he was taking pictures of his

would do he was taking pictures of his

would do he was taking pictures of his daughter and his daughter of course said

daughter and his daughter of course said

daughter and his daughter of course said to him dad why do we have to wait for

to him dad why do we have to wait for

to him dad why do we have to wait for the picture now most people who are

the picture now most people who are

the picture now most people who are younger today don’t know what we had to

younger today don’t know what we had to

younger today don’t know what we had to endure as older people with pictures

endure as older people with pictures

endure as older people with pictures where he sent them away for three weeks

where he sent them away for three weeks

where he sent them away for three weeks to some faraway land and they came back

to some faraway land and they came back

to some faraway land and they came back half of them had red eyes and the family

half of them had red eyes and the family

half of them had red eyes and the family photo had everyone’s head cut off she

photo had everyone’s head cut off she

photo had everyone’s head cut off she didn’t know that so she asked that

didn’t know that so she asked that

didn’t know that so she asked that question and as you saw Edwin

question and as you saw Edwin

question and as you saw Edwin when he thought about that question and

when he thought about that question and

when he thought about that question and thought more about it he thought why

thought more about it he thought why

thought more about it he thought why indeed and that led to the creation of

indeed and that led to the creation of

indeed and that led to the creation of the instant camera all because of a

the instant camera all because of a

the instant camera all because of a silly question and so in our systems and

silly question and so in our systems and

silly question and so in our systems and in our schools we need to ask and

in our schools we need to ask and

in our schools we need to ask and encourage those silly questions and

encourage those silly questions and

encourage those silly questions and again as a teacher and a principal I was

again as a teacher and a principal I was

again as a teacher and a principal I was kind of scared of some of these because

kind of scared of some of these because

kind of scared of some of these because what if I didn’t know the answer

what if I didn’t know the answer

what if I didn’t know the answer questions like why do our classrooms

questions like why do our classrooms

questions like why do our classrooms look the way that they do and you know

look the way that they do and you know

look the way that they do and you know it is an interesting one especially when

it is an interesting one especially when

it is an interesting one especially when we know that students learn in

we know that students learn in

we know that students learn in cooperative environments where they get

cooperative environments where they get

cooperative environments where they get to work together where they get to do

to work together where they get to do

to work together where they get to do something that’s meaningful in an

something that’s meaningful in an

something that’s meaningful in an authentic environment that actually

authentic environment that actually

authentic environment that actually resembles what they’re going to be going

resembles what they’re going to be going

resembles what they’re going to be going into in the real world well as we know

into in the real world well as we know

into in the real world well as we know the only real-world environment that a

the only real-world environment that a

the only real-world environment that a classroom tends to represent is another

classroom tends to represent is another

classroom tends to represent is another classroom and we have all these other

classroom and we have all these other

classroom and we have all these other opportunities outside of us but we need

opportunities outside of us but we need

opportunities outside of us but we need to ask and encourage those silly

to ask and encourage those silly

to ask and encourage those silly questions questions like this why can’t

questions questions like this why can’t

questions questions like this why can’t school improvement plans be community

school improvement plans be community

school improvement plans be community improvement plans and you know it’s

improvement plans and you know it’s

improvement plans and you know it’s interesting because I have nearly 15,000

interesting because I have nearly 15,000

interesting because I have nearly 15,000 students in my district spread over 40

students in my district spread over 40

students in my district spread over 40 schools imagine if each one of those

schools imagine if each one of those

schools imagine if each one of those schools every year worked on just one

schools every year worked on just one

schools every year worked on just one community problem fifteen thousand

community problem fifteen thousand

community problem fifteen thousand people a year working on 40 community

people a year working on 40 community

people a year working on 40 community problems what would that community look

problems what would that community look

problems what would that community look like after a year or five or ten years

like after a year or five or ten years

like after a year or five or ten years why can’t school improvement plans be

why can’t school improvement plans be

why can’t school improvement plans be community improvement plans and if the

community improvement plans and if the

community improvement plans and if the answer is is that we’ve always done it

answer is is that we’ve always done it

answer is is that we’ve always done it this way I think the moment that we hear

this way I think the moment that we hear

this way I think the moment that we hear those words cross our lips we need to

those words cross our lips we need to

those words cross our lips we need to see that as an opportunity to do

see that as an opportunity to do

see that as an opportunity to do something different we need to ask and

something different we need to ask and

something different we need to ask and encourage silly questions the third

encourage silly questions the third

encourage silly questions the third thing that we need to do is we need to

thing that we need to do is we need to

thing that we need to do is we need to wear bifocals how many people here have

wear bifocals how many people here have

wear bifocals how many people here have had an MRI before anyone yes a couple

had an MRI before anyone yes a couple

had an MRI before anyone yes a couple one of the most important things that

one of the most important things that

one of the most important things that you have to do in an MRI is you need to

you have to do in an MRI is you need to

you have to do in an MRI is you need to stay still and what our children not

stay still and what our children not

stay still and what our children not very good at staying still and I know

very good at staying still and I know

very good at staying still and I know this because we we had something sad

this because we we had something sad

this because we we had something sad happened to us a couple of years ago

happened to us a couple of years ago

happened to us a couple of years ago something that no parent ever wants our

something that no parent ever wants our

something that no parent ever wants our daughter broke her arm she fell

daughter broke her arm she fell

daughter broke her arm she fell backwards off a coach and put her hands

backwards off a coach and put her hands

backwards off a coach and put her hands back to break her fall and instead broke

back to break her fall and instead broke

back to break her fall and instead broke her elbow so I had to take her to the

her elbow so I had to take her to the

her elbow so I had to take her to the hospital to get x-rays and let me tell

hospital to get x-rays and let me tell

hospital to get x-rays and let me tell you it was not a great experience for

you it was not a great experience for

you it was not a great experience for either of us we had to sit her there for

either of us we had to sit her there for

either of us we had to sit her there for about 15 minutes and get shot after shot

about 15 minutes and get shot after shot

about 15 minutes and get shot after shot because she couldn’t stay still who knew

because she couldn’t stay still who knew

because she couldn’t stay still who knew how strong a little two-year-old was but

how strong a little two-year-old was but

how strong a little two-year-old was but I can’t even

I can’t even

I can’t even Hajin what it would have been like if

Hajin what it would have been like if

Hajin what it would have been like if she would have had to stay still for a

she would have had to stay still for a

she would have had to stay still for a machine like this but what if we put on

machine like this but what if we put on

machine like this but what if we put on those bifocals those innovative bifocals

those bifocals those innovative bifocals

those bifocals those innovative bifocals and we looked closely at the problem

and we looked closely at the problem

and we looked closely at the problem that we had but then started to look

that we had but then started to look

that we had but then started to look outside and see where we could borrow

outside and see where we could borrow

outside and see where we could borrow different ideas from when you think

different ideas from when you think

different ideas from when you think about this if we just jumped to solution

about this if we just jumped to solution

about this if we just jumped to solution itis we could put up a big sign that

itis we could put up a big sign that

itis we could put up a big sign that says stop wriggling kids and hope that

says stop wriggling kids and hope that

says stop wriggling kids and hope that worked

worked

worked or we could blur our vision just a

or we could blur our vision just a

or we could blur our vision just a little bit and say it kind of looks like

little bit and say it kind of looks like

little bit and say it kind of looks like a tunnel and where the kids like to go

a tunnel and where the kids like to go

a tunnel and where the kids like to go in tunnels for any of us parents that

in tunnels for any of us parents that

in tunnels for any of us parents that have been stuck in those tubes at a

have been stuck in those tubes at a

have been stuck in those tubes at a McDonald’s play place we know that kids

McDonald’s play place we know that kids

McDonald’s play place we know that kids like to go in tunnels so if we blur our

like to go in tunnels so if we blur our

like to go in tunnels so if we blur our vision and use our bifocals and look

vision and use our bifocals and look

vision and use our bifocals and look outside of our own situation what can we

outside of our own situation what can we

outside of our own situation what can we come up with what can we come up with

come up with what can we come up with

come up with what can we come up with that makes kids not have to stay still

that makes kids not have to stay still

that makes kids not have to stay still but makes them want to stay still

but makes them want to stay still

but makes them want to stay still because it’s part of an exciting

because it’s part of an exciting

because it’s part of an exciting adventure for them all because we can

adventure for them all because we can

adventure for them all because we can start to look outside and see the best

start to look outside and see the best

start to look outside and see the best bits that we can bring back inside to

bits that we can bring back inside to

bits that we can bring back inside to our schools if you look at this picture

our schools if you look at this picture

our schools if you look at this picture we might see just a parking lot filled

we might see just a parking lot filled

we might see just a parking lot filled with cars Robin chase the founder of

with cars Robin chase the founder of

with cars Robin chase the founder of Zipcar saw unused capacity what do we

Zipcar saw unused capacity what do we

Zipcar saw unused capacity what do we see here do we see chairs and desks and

see here do we see chairs and desks and

see here do we see chairs and desks and the kids that might fill them or do we

the kids that might fill them or do we

the kids that might fill them or do we see unused capacity and potential that

see unused capacity and potential that

see unused capacity and potential that we need to unleash or maybe when we’re

we need to unleash or maybe when we’re

we need to unleash or maybe when we’re going to Ikea later today and we wonder

going to Ikea later today and we wonder

going to Ikea later today and we wonder how people can go through and for two

how people can go through and for two

how people can go through and for two hours and afterwards only buy napkins we

hours and afterwards only buy napkins we

hours and afterwards only buy napkins we can look at it we can look at it as IKEA

can look at it we can look at it as IKEA

can look at it we can look at it as IKEA or as schools we can look at it as a

or as schools we can look at it as a

or as schools we can look at it as a unique way to provide self-guided school

unique way to provide self-guided school

unique way to provide self-guided school tours what can we learn if we just look

tours what can we learn if we just look

tours what can we learn if we just look at things a little bit differently and

at things a little bit differently and

at things a little bit differently and what about our unexpected experts that

what about our unexpected experts that

what about our unexpected experts that we have in our schools we have children

we have in our schools we have children

we have in our schools we have children parents our community our teachers that

parents our community our teachers that

parents our community our teachers that have a diversity of experiences do we

have a diversity of experiences do we

have a diversity of experiences do we look at a parent that maybe works as a

look at a parent that maybe works as a

look at a parent that maybe works as a flight attendant at WestJet as a flight

flight attendant at WestJet as a flight

flight attendant at WestJet as a flight attendant or do we see them as someone

attendant or do we see them as someone

attendant or do we see them as someone that has to deal with anxiety and people

that has to deal with anxiety and people

that has to deal with anxiety and people being nervous right before flying and

being nervous right before flying and

being nervous right before flying and think about where do we have kids

think about where do we have kids

think about where do we have kids nervous just before they have to take

nervous just before they have to take

nervous just before they have to take flight maybe just before an exam

flight maybe just before an exam

flight maybe just before an exam what can we learn from that person

what can we learn from that person

what can we learn from that person that’s a little bit different what about

that’s a little bit different what about

that’s a little bit different what about our students that work in high-pressure

our students that work in high-pressure

our students that work in high-pressure jobs and yes they do right after school

jobs and yes they do right after school

jobs and yes they do right after school where they’re having to deal with things

where they’re having to deal with things

where they’re having to deal with things coming at them rapidly what can we learn

coming at them rapidly what can we learn

coming at them rapidly what can we learn from them about time management about

from them about time management about

from them about time management about resiliency or even getting things to

resiliency or even getting things to

resiliency or even getting things to people in an efficient manner who are

people in an efficient manner who are

people in an efficient manner who are really busy like what our parents come

really busy like what our parents come

really busy like what our parents come to pick up report cards how can we

to pick up report cards how can we

to pick up report cards how can we empower our students and what about our

empower our students and what about our

empower our students and what about our First Nations community what can we

First Nations community what can we

First Nations community what can we learn from them about the power of

learn from them about the power of

learn from them about the power of storytelling the power of family or

storytelling the power of family or

storytelling the power of family or sustainability all these opportunities

sustainability all these opportunities

sustainability all these opportunities are there if we just look and we wear

are there if we just look and we wear

are there if we just look and we wear those innovative bifocals and the last

those innovative bifocals and the last

those innovative bifocals and the last thing that we need to do is we need to

thing that we need to do is we need to

thing that we need to do is we need to have a huge appetite for feedback how

have a huge appetite for feedback how

have a huge appetite for feedback how many of us have read through went

many of us have read through went

many of us have read through went through this dreadful scenario where

through this dreadful scenario where

through this dreadful scenario where we’ve forgotten our password you’ve

we’ve forgotten our password you’ve

we’ve forgotten our password you’ve entered it five times you’ve been locked

entered it five times you’ve been locked

entered it five times you’ve been locked out and it sends it to some email that

out and it sends it to some email that

out and it sends it to some email that you can’t remember and not just that

you can’t remember and not just that

you can’t remember and not just that when you get it back you have to come up

when you get it back you have to come up

when you get it back you have to come up with twelve letters numbers up case down

with twelve letters numbers up case down

with twelve letters numbers up case down case a Russian Cyrillic something like

case a Russian Cyrillic something like

case a Russian Cyrillic something like that and you end up putting your

that and you end up putting your

that and you end up putting your password right on your computer anyways

password right on your computer anyways

password right on your computer anyways don’t we all say the same thing

don’t we all say the same thing

don’t we all say the same thing afterwards don’t we all say did this

afterwards don’t we all say did this

afterwards don’t we all say did this person ever test this solution did they

person ever test this solution did they

person ever test this solution did they ever try it did they ever test it with

ever try it did they ever test it with

ever try it did they ever test it with someone like me that was actually going

someone like me that was actually going

someone like me that was actually going to use it and this is something that’s

to use it and this is something that’s

to use it and this is something that’s very important for us in our schools if

very important for us in our schools if

very important for us in our schools if we have a new curriculum like we do we

we have a new curriculum like we do we

we have a new curriculum like we do we need to test it with the people that are

need to test it with the people that are

need to test it with the people that are going to experience and implement it our

going to experience and implement it our

going to experience and implement it our teachers and our students if we have a

teachers and our students if we have a

teachers and our students if we have a new website that’s there to serve our

new website that’s there to serve our

new website that’s there to serve our parents or maybe a new parent teacher

parents or maybe a new parent teacher

parents or maybe a new parent teacher format why can’t we test it first rather

format why can’t we test it first rather

format why can’t we test it first rather than place in a moveable stake in the

than place in a moveable stake in the

than place in a moveable stake in the ground and as we know anyone who is over

ground and as we know anyone who is over

ground and as we know anyone who is over the age of 21 as old to children so why

the age of 21 as old to children so why

the age of 21 as old to children so why can’t we just ask kids if we put a

can’t we just ask kids if we put a

can’t we just ask kids if we put a snowboard in a math equation does it

snowboard in a math equation does it

snowboard in a math equation does it engage you any more than it normally

engage you any more than it normally

engage you any more than it normally would test the solutions with those who

would test the solutions with those who

would test the solutions with those who are having the challenge one of the

are having the challenge one of the

are having the challenge one of the traps that we can fall into is we can

traps that we can fall into is we can

traps that we can fall into is we can say that they don’t know what they don’t

say that they don’t know what they don’t

say that they don’t know what they don’t know how can we ask someone they don’t

know how can we ask someone they don’t

know how can we ask someone they don’t really know

really know

really know how can we ask our parents they might

how can we ask our parents they might

how can we ask our parents they might not know enough about this but the one

not know enough about this but the one

not know enough about this but the one thing I do know about every student

thing I do know about every student

thing I do know about every student every staff member and every parent is

every staff member and every parent is

every staff member and every parent is they are an expert on their own learning

they are an expert on their own learning

they are an expert on their own learning experience and so we have to become the

experience and so we have to become the

experience and so we have to become the ones who discover those experiences for

ones who discover those experiences for

ones who discover those experiences for them one might argue that despite the

them one might argue that despite the

them one might argue that despite the hard work of so many different people

hard work of so many different people

hard work of so many different people that the classroom experience hasn’t

that the classroom experience hasn’t

that the classroom experience hasn’t really changed all that much and I

really changed all that much and I

really changed all that much and I understand that but I think I can see

understand that but I think I can see

understand that but I think I can see this a little bit differently now I see

this a little bit differently now I see

this a little bit differently now I see that change is not only an opportunity

that change is not only an opportunity

that change is not only an opportunity to make better solutions with people

to make better solutions with people

to make better solutions with people it’s an opportunity to empathize and

it’s an opportunity to empathize and

it’s an opportunity to empathize and connect deeply with the people that we

connect deeply with the people that we

connect deeply with the people that we serve that’s the real secret sauce

serve that’s the real secret sauce

serve that’s the real secret sauce change is an opportunity to connect to

change is an opportunity to connect to

change is an opportunity to connect to our community at the start of my

our community at the start of my

our community at the start of my conversation today I asked you to

conversation today I asked you to

conversation today I asked you to consider that amazing experience outside

consider that amazing experience outside

consider that amazing experience outside of schools now I’d like you to think

of schools now I’d like you to think

of schools now I’d like you to think about what was that one amazing

about what was that one amazing

about what was that one amazing experience that you had inside of a

experience that you had inside of a

experience that you had inside of a school with a project that you did or

school with a project that you did or

school with a project that you did or maybe a teacher that just inspired you

maybe a teacher that just inspired you

maybe a teacher that just inspired you in a way that you’ll always remember if

in a way that you’ll always remember if

in a way that you’ll always remember if you can remember that then you know that

you can remember that then you know that

you can remember that then you know that it’s possible you know that it’s

it’s possible you know that it’s

it’s possible you know that it’s possible to change the experience of

possible to change the experience of

possible to change the experience of school and I believe that if we follow

school and I believe that if we follow

school and I believe that if we follow these four steps and we adopt an

these four steps and we adopt an

these four steps and we adopt an approach that is learner centered design

approach that is learner centered design

approach that is learner centered design that together we can change the

that together we can change the

that together we can change the experience of school thank you

”

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