Quick! Fire! Go!

Imagine your professor sends you out to create a representation with constraints and to be back in 30 mins with a concentrated review of your topic for presentation. You don’t have a clue what your topic will be, how it will come together and who you will have to present it to as your audience, but the experience is new, has you quickly thinking outside of the box and is electrifying. As educators, we have spent time polishing things and planning out lessons to perfection, often replicating the same ol’ boring lesson format. How do we understand the type of energy needed to create a lesson that is creatively delivered and that sparks learning?  

Quickfire is one method that demonstrates the level of energy and creativity needed to generate a lesson that engages students. Quickfire is a method to rapidly create a desired output within a given time constraint. The Quickfire method is structured to create an experience that challenges traditional forms of professional development. The end goal is for participants to rediscover and infuse the energy and creativity necessary for good curriculum development and delivery.   

How Do Quickfire Models Work?  

·      Constraints- One or more factors including time, information, resources are limited. This forces the participant to think differently. They may be surprised by their own creativity.  

·      Variety- No two Quickfires are the same or have the same results.  

·      Rapid Ideation- Forces participants to quickly put something together that will not be polished or fully thought out.  

·      Risk Taking- With limits on time and information, it forces the participant to take risks where otherwise they would not have under normal planning. This builds risk-taking tolerance. 

How Could You Use Quickfire? 

This was one of my favorite parts of my learning time in Ireland. Quickfires quickly came to be a space I felt comfortable in. I appreciated the challenge and the new conditions thrown at me every morning and looked forward to engaging in the process. Each time I was able to foster my skills and learn a new tool. I became a more experienced person. I am someone that likes to know all the requirements and usually take my time creating something, but this make that non-existent. Quickfires provided that vast change I needed. It kept me intrigued and anxiously awaiting the next one. It truly was a thrilling experience. These activities moved me so much, that I have begun to think of ways I could implement them into my classroom. Obviously at a 2nd grade level this will look different and may be hard initially. However, I think with a solid and consistent structure, these could be transformative for my students and would be a great way to incorporate the Makers Movement because our school is heavily curriculum based with little time for any enjoyment. 

Below are some of my favorite Quickfires I've created!