It’s Okay to Do That Same Epic Project Next Year Blog Post
It was twelve years ago when I sat down with a journal and began debriefing my first full year of going project-based. I had a list of what went well, what went poorly, and what things I wanted to try out the next year. As…
The Case for More Recess Blog Post
We tend to view recess as a break from learning. However, free play is actually a vital part of the learning process. Play boosts divergent thinking, flexible thinking, and creativity. It helps students learn critical social-emotional skills. Unfortunately, in many schools, students are losing recess…
Eight Ways to Appreciate Teachers Blog Post
Subscribe to YouTube Channel A few years ago, my daughter entered kindergarten. She came in knowing letters but that was about it. By the end of the year, she could put together entire words. She viewed language as a playground and reading as a chance…
Making Is Magic Blog Post
This article is part of a longer series on design thinking, a flexible framework for empathy-driven creative work. The Power of Prototyping A few days ago, I got the opportunity to do a keynote in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. One of my highlights was the student display area,…
Moving from Recipes to Projects Blog Post
This article is part of a longer series on design thinking, a flexible framework for empathy-driven creative work. You might want to check out other articles in the series first. Students begin with a state of awareness in the Look, Listen, and Learn phase. Next, they move…
Join the Launch Book Club Blog Post
If you’ve been enjoying this design thinking series, you might want to take a deeper dive by checking out Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student. You might also be interested in joining a Launch book club. I’m a…
Great Design Can Begin Anywhere (6 Starting Places for Design Thinking) Blog Post
A few years ago, our yard was canvased by a thick sheet of snow — well, thick for a southwestern guy who has just moved to the northwest. I’m pretty sure my friends in Michigan would have called it a “dusting.” However, my kids spent…
The Future Belongs to the Makers Blog Post
This is the first in a month-long series on design thinking. This is an elaboration of an article I wrote in 2015. My Maker Journey When I was in the eighth grade, my entire goal was to go unnoticed. Fly under the radar. Keep away…