Innovative Learning Spaces
The Innovative Learning Spaces Collaborative will develop school and community resources that support collaboration with out-of-school time and other learning partners to create new opportunities “to learn everywhere” and to create innovative learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and connection.
In July, a dynamically diverse group of students, educators, families, and community members gathered to build relationships, developed community considerations for how to work together, set intentions, and launched a learning and co-design journey. Members visited the Student Taskforce to learn more about students’ experiences. We met with elementary families, upper schoolers, and high schoolers to learn more about their learning experiences as well. These process-driven sessions designed to center the voices of those most impacted were co-facilitated by members of our collaborative. We then reviewed focus group data, district data, discussed north stars, and identified design principles for developing a platform and prototypes.
Currently, we are co-designing prototypes with elementary families, upper schoolers, and high schoolers to address two main design challenges.
How might we collaborate with out-of-school time and other learning partners to create new opportunities “to learn everywhere”?
How might we work with students to create more equitable and innovative learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and connection?
Website Designers
Lucy Cranton, 10th Grader, CRLS
Routh Derege, 12th Grader, CRLS
Cliff Freeman, Director of STEM Programs, Young People's Project
Vanessa Fisher, Director, Frisoli Youth Center; CPS Parent/Caregiver
Andrew Frishman, Co-Executive Director, Big Picture Learning; CPS Parent/Caregiver
Nettrice Gaskins, Assistant Director, STEAM Learning Lab, Lesley University
Keith Griffin, Family & Community Engagement, Math Talk; CPS Parent/Caregiver
Bethel Hineshim, 11th Grader, CRLS; Student Taskforce Member
Liz Hill, JK/K Teacher, Haggerty; CPS Parent/Caregiver
Rupal Jain, Learning Partnerships Manager, Lifelong Kindergarten- MIT Media Lab
Birikti Kahsai, 10th Grader, CRLS; Student Taskforce Member
Elijah Lee-Robinson, 10th Grader, CRLS
Sharon Lozada, STARs/Peer Mentors/AVID, CRLS; CPS Parent/Caregiver
Zinzi Milner, 12th Grader, CRLS
Donna Peruzzi, 8th Grade Science Teacher, Cambridge Street Upper School
James Pierre, Artist/Educator/Organizer, The Adius Arts Initiative
Naresa Raymond, 12th Grader, CCSC
Nuriel Vera-Degraff, 11th Grader, CRLS, School Committee Member
Jaden Washington, 12th Grader, CRLS
Points of Contact:
Angie UyHam, CPS District Design and Innovation Coach
Khari Milner, Co-Director for the Agenda for Children
More Information:
Our website is co-designed and we'd love to incorporate more feedback and ideas from students, educators, families and community members. If you're interested, please submit your thoughts here. Thanks!
Fun "Anytime + Anywhere" Challenges
Challenges:
Choose 6 objects and make something new. Take a picture and send it to 3 friends. Ask them what they think it could be used for. Then try out their suggestions. How did that go?
Shadow Play - Take any objects - sticks, cans, face masks, etc - and play with the light to create a shadow. Take a picture and post it on a social media platform. See if your friends can guess the materials that you used to make the shadow.
Physical challenge, such as: hold a plank position for as long as you (think you) can, and then hold it for 5 seconds longer.
Search for the letters of the alphabet in order on roadsigns, license plates, street art etc. How fast can you get from A-Z?
Grab the nearest object and find a new use for it. Try it out and see how effective it is.
Make up a "I Spy Game".
Make a paper airplane that flies in a circle so you can throw it and catch it 3 times.
Find berries, leaves, branches, and more to use as ink to draw on the ground and paper.
Create an obstacle course with stuff you find in nature.
Work with a friend to tell a story in words or writing. Each person can only tell one sentence.
Take a couple of random objects from wherever you are, and create a 1-minute skit, using the objects as characters and props.
Make up a word and use it with your friend until they can understand it without you explaining it to them.
For older learners explain a system, structure, or formula one sentence at a time.
Find the degrees of separation between people you know by listening to each other's growing up stories.
With five people, how can you find a way to have only four feet on the ground?
Do a photography scavenger hunts - find different shapes around your house/neighborhood, etc.
Use everyday objects to make something new like artist Jessie Bearden.
Play the game which of these does not belong and explain why (ocean, sky, cloud, sun) no wrong answers just a chance to talk and reason.
Make cards and other crafts for elderly folks.
Have a "cook off" with your friends or family and have someone be the judge of it. Each week have a new round.
Find something around the house in 30 seconds and explain what it means to you (over zoom).
Go on a nature walk or make up a science experiment. Create a science notebook to collect and reflect on your thoughts.
Create a "picture schedule" of how you'd like to spend your day.
Click on one of the One World Posters and have a conversation with someone about it.