We Learn better together — EnRusk brings Design Thinking to Victorian schools

A groundbreaking partnership with the Department of Education Victoria, Tech Schools, and The Bastow Institute.

Context

In a time where the whole concept of education is being revolutionised by the need for physical distancing, the rise of new approaches to learning, and the new skill sets required in the job market, it’s important to recognise the need for people in the education world that can walk schools through these changes successfully.

And when the Department of Education — Tech Schools recognised this need, they partnered with us and the Bastow Institute to embark on a groundbreaking Professional Learning Program for Victorian schools.

The goal

We set out to use the “Design to Innovate” professional learning program to train a group of leaders and turn them into fully competent facilitators that use Design Thinking to help schools innovate, create rich units of work and navigate change.

How we did it

Workshops.

We planned for a series of workshops, design sprints and other activities throughout several weeks.

In these activities, we helped facilitators understand the Design Thinking process and grow confidence in using a wide range of tools to apply Design Thinking to their organisation. They developed an understanding of how each phase of the DT process is woven together, and how it might impact teaching and learning within their specific context. They also unpacked many issues related to the design and delivery of the PL in their settings.

“The best modeling of an empathetic human-centered learning experience I have had the privilege to be a part of”

Practical application.

We challenged the participants to plan and design how they might adapt the approach shown by EnRusk back in their Tech Schools as facilitators and teachers. We were so happy to see participants showing a high level of critical thinking, regularly challenging their assumptions throughout the course. They left feeling a deeper understanding of the “human-centred” nature of Design Thinking.

Involving leaders.

We also made it a point to work with the Tech School Directors and branch-level members: it’s important that they deepen their understanding of Design Thinking too. We co-designed with them innovative solutions to some of the problems unique to their role. The ultimate goal was to ensure they are better equipped to support and promote their teachers to effectively lead the ‘Design to Innovate’ courses.

“An excellent job in this area of encouraging participation and collaboration and helping to build a strong sense of bonding and community amongst the participants”

Personal investment.

As we always do, we encouraged participants to demonstrate empathy and vulnerability for both themselves and the others. Learning is a process and staying humble and open is key to success.

Celebrating accomplishments.

All participants, regardless of their role and experience, showed a strong desire to embrace ambiguity, vulnerability, a ‘prototyping’ and “co-learner” mindset, key to EnRusk’s philosophy. The teachers are excited to begin facilitating their own “Design to Innovate” courses later in the year and into early 2021.

What we’re most proud of

One of the underlying ambitions and successes was the bond and commitment to each other created amongst all who participated. They are now functioning as a thriving Community of Practice. We ‘learn better together’ is a value statement core to all our work.

“I really loved the way you encouraged us to participate and collaborate. This was a very powerful program in terms of the way it got us to work together with our peers from other Tech Schools, and share our ideas and experiences”

The feedback from the course was extremely positive and suggested that despite the frustrations and limitations placed on the program by Covid19, EnRusk were able to deliver a highly engaging online program. This modelling helped participants to understand how they might also improve their online teaching practices using a wide range of new technologies.

“EnRusk did an amazing job in the online space, and I feel like my theoretical knowledge of Design Thinking has expanded tremendously. You all did this without that lecture feeling, and that is a skill that I want to develop further. I really liked the way that you made us feel listened to and that the PL wasn’t a cookie-cutter approach”.

For more information on how we can do the same for your school or business visit www.enrusk.com or contact us at info@enrusk.com