Vrain Waves: Teaching Conversations with Minds Shaping Education

Solving Wicked Problems with Design Thinking

Episode Summary

Co-authors Alyssa Gallagher and Kami Thordarson stop by Vrain Waves to share the 5 elements of design-inspired leadership. Alyssa & Kami “believe that educators can solve the challenges that face our schools faster and more effectively than any policy, top down mandate, or expensive commercial solution.” Tune in as they explain how design, creativity, and observation can help us navigate and advocate for change.

Episode Notes

Episode 031: Design Thinking for School Leaders
Co-authors Alyssa Gallagher and Kami Thordarson stop by Vrain Waves to share the 5 elements of design-inspired leadership. Alyssa & Kami “believe that educators can solve the challenges that face our schools faster and more effectively than any policy, top down mandate, or expensive commercial solution.” Tune in as they explain how design, creativity, and observation can help us navigate and advocate for change.

Connect with Alyssa Gallagher & Kami Thordarson
Website: www.inprogress-consulting.com/ | Twitter: @am_gallagher; @kami_thor

Connect with Vrain Waves
Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb

Links & Show Notes

Visit Vrainwaves.com for full episodes, show notes, and more, and to give us feedback!
Episode w / Dr. Robert Dillon - Designing Learning Spaces
Episode w / The Tech Rabbi - Educated by Design
Design Thinking for School Leaders (01:27)
Episode w / Stephen Schedletsky
Intro to Alyssa & Kami (02:37)
Why should we think like designers? & Wicked Problems (03:32)
Powerlessness & Agency (05:21)
Everything around us has been designed, everything can be redesigned. (07:07)
Building Creative Confidence (07:53)
Remain curious
Accidental design (09:31)
Role of a school principal (10:20)
Building Empathy (11:57)
Shadow a Student (12:41)
Shadow a Teacher
Reading fiction to build empathy
Observation to build empathy (14:10)
Swiffer design story
Design-inspired leadership (18:57)
5 Roles: Opportunity Seeker (problem-finding), Experience Architect, Rule Breaker, Producer (Bias toward Action), Storyteller
Stitchfix story - delight your user (22:32)
“What if” sessions (25:11)
2 bucket challenge warm up (27:10)
Tina Seelig, Stanford professor
Experience Architect (30:43)
Colorado Education Initiative
Menlo park Superintendent - Erik Burmeister; community tour
Perspective matrix (34:53)
The End of Average (37:11)
Design toward the edges (37:21)
OXO - extreme design
Microsoft Inclusive Design
Mistake stories (39:24)
(HBR article about embarrassing story before brainstorming)
For more: Leadlikeadesigner.com
Takeaways (43:07)
IDEO - Teachers Guild - Design Thinking for Educators Toolkit
Teachers Guild newest collaboration: How might we strengthen communication and trust between families and teachers to better support students’ success?