After reading about Josh Stumpenhorst work, I was truly inspired. His Innovation Day got me thinking. I loved the idea of students being self directed for an entire day, learning about topics of importance to them. I had to do it. I needed huge buy in to pull it off with 130 students. To be honest, last year I pitched the idea, you could hear crickets chirping in our school improvement team meeting. I knew I wasn't doing justice in the explanation. So this year, I put on a full court press on my sixth grade team. They are a wonderful group of passionate educators. I came prepared this time. I pulled out all the stops. I played video of Daniel Pink and his work on motivation. I showed examples from other schools. I gave examples of Fed-Ex Days, Identity Day, Google 80/20, and the importance of creativity in school. The clincher... I told them to trust me... I would do all the preparation and take all the blame if it was an epic fail.
As soon as my colleagues agreed to proceed, I circulated a timeline of events, a parent letter (there was no backing out now), student planning sheets and more. Truly, I think the vision still only resided in my head due to my inadequate attempts to communicate my idea. I wanted this day to turn school as we know it upside down, and I needed my fellow teachers to be optimistic. I even enlisted the help of Kid President to motivate the students.
I had several obstacles to overcome as I am sure most would. First, we do not have wi-fi throughout our building. Second, we do not allow students to bring their own devices. Third, we do not have enough devices for 130 students all in one day. Fourth, I didn't want 'grading' to enter into the equation.
I worked with our tech guy. I promise to return every cable, hub, extension cord, and any other miscellaneous contraptions we would need. I promised my principal that each and every student would be engaged for a full day of learning if he would allow them to bring their own laptops (it didn't hurt that we had already invited all the parents to not only join us for our Innovation Showcase but to help out during the day as well).
Knowing that with the few Ipads we had, the two computer labs, and some of our sixth graders bringing their laptops we would still be short computers, I contacted our Michigan Works! organization to see how we might partner up. To my surprise, they offered to bring out their mobile tech lab for free. The lab was a bus with 12 computer stations, air conditioning, and a Smartboard. They assured me they would hook up to or school internet and they would be up and running in minutes. Really, I had no idea how you 'hook up' a bus to the school internet, but with a 100' cable and an open window, we had the bus running in minutes. It was amazing!
Both teachers and students were a bit skeptical when I told them that the products wouldn't be graded at all. Adults thought that the kids wouldn't do anything (I prayed they would). Kids thought I was nuts. They asked how they would be graded. I explained that there would be no grades. Inevitably a perplexed student in each class would ask, "Then why are we doing it?" How sad that learning must be reduced to a grade. My response each time was, "It is going to be so awesome why wouldn't want to?"
I wanted all parents to be able to help in some way. Knowing that most parents can't give up a day of work or afford to get sitters for small children, I offered them many options: assist at anytime during the day, attend the Showcase at the end of the day, provide supplies for a student in need, or deliver healthy snacks during the day. Our parents were amazing. They were down on the floor assisting children. Food was delivered every hour of the day, and we had a hallway full of supplies. It was magical.
The following day, I asked students to reflect on how the day was for them. I was blown away. Kids who wouldn't write all year were writing pages of reflective and insightful responses. Some reoccurring themes:
- ... It was one of the most fun days in 6th grade. We should do more hands on activities.
- ... I learned more on Innovation day that on a regular school day.
- ... The best part of the day was my family coming to see my hard work.
- ... I liked being able to teach the adults on this day.
- ... I wish we had more than one day on our topics.
- ... I liked listening to what other kids learned.
- ... It was a HUGE HIT and super fun!
- ... I liked having the freedom to move around, get something to eat, and help others.
- ... This should totally happen next year because we got to learn at our own pace and use our imaginations!
- ... The best part was being able to learn without waiting on the teachers to teach.
- Innovation Day should last longer
- All middle school students should participate
- We need more time to visit other students' projects
I would love to hear about how other schools do similar things.
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