Making the Road by Walking…What concepts, tools, and research are the network using?

In an effort to embody the lessons we outlined in our first post, the network continues to engage with research, content experts, and carefully designed frameworks to support our knowledge and work. So we can better practice these principles MDC has engaged with experts from partner organizations so we can continue to learn and better serve the network through these principles by perspective taking, creating safe learning space, and creating multiple ways for learners to engage. Staff and the network have worked with CAST to better understand how humans learn, Tilde to ensure comfortable participation in multiple languages, and A Visual Approach to help us visualize our work in different ways.

Please find examples below:

• Disability Justice
• Racial Justice (Implicit Bias and Speak Up Workshops from we are)
• Universal Design for Learning
• The Science of How Humans Learn (Learning Sciences)
• School Hardening Policies and Student Belonging

A variety of tools can be utilized to better understand the needs of students, families, caregivers, and educators. One example used by the network is a Journey Map. Journey mapping helps to visualize the discrete activities one needs to complete to achieve a goal and the emotional journey as one works towards a goal. After outlining the tasks and emotional journey, you can glean insights into where someone may experience barriers or need support in completing the task. The process of creating a map fosters empathy, highlights pain points, and builds ownership in creating flexible learning environments.

This map outlines the experience of the network as they work towards creating online modules. The main sections include the tools and actions needed to create the modules, the emotions associated with those actions, the pain points in the process, and possible solutions and insights.

Tools and Actions

To reach the goal of creating accessible online modules, the network will need to attend network meetings, engage in network meetings, and complete administrative activities for the network.  All of that before they even begin the brainstorming and creation process for the modules.

For each of these steps members need tools like computers, internet access, online repositories, office space, childcare, time, as well as various types of support from MDC staff.

One way this tool is useful is to consider what seems like one task actually requires a large number of smaller steps and many tools to complete. Tools like this can give the team and the Network perspective into the experiences of our intended audience.

Emotions

As members try to be available to attend meetings they may not feel excitement, but as they become engaged in the meetings their moods elevate. The whole process is full of highs and lows: while more administrative duties can feel burdensome, the ideation and brainstorming process is dynamic and members enjoy working together to identify the needs of participants despite the emotional drain of grappling with the systemic barriers communities face. As members begin drafting the module contents they feel more energized by knowledge sharing and creating content.

Pain Points

It seems that most of the pain points here are around making the time for the administrative duties, balancing other work duties with network session, or the difficult work of confronting the systemic barriers faced by community members.

Solutions and Insights

The solutions and insights we gleaned from this process center around how MDC staff can support network members in their work. This includes carefully budgeting network time to ensure members have time to complete network work and build relationships. This also means that MDC staff should work to reduce the administrative load members carry. Members have invaluable experience and insights to share with the wider community and with appropriate support from MDC staff, the network can create a valuable and informative resource.

What can we learn from this tool?

Journey Maps allow for an immersive experience with learners. It opens the door to truly share power with learners allowing them to willingly invite you into their mental, emotional, and physical worlds. It reminds us that the act and intention to learn with and from others is consensual and also not always linear. The journey mapping technique encompasses visualization and storytelling in an effort to support understanding a person’s experience over time. With this understanding we can practice becoming expert learners. We invite you to consider utilizing tools like this for your personal and professional practice!

The LENS team at MDC has worked with partners across sectors to help us build understanding in how to utilize tools like this, build our skills in perspective-taking, and share best practices for creating impactful learning experiences. In our next blog, we will share more about our partners and how they support network learning and skill building.