Our Glossary

A

Active Listening def. Is a communication technique, which requires the listener to feed back what they hear to the speaker, by way of re-stating or paraphrasing what they have heard in their own words, to confirm what they have heard and moreover, to confirm the understanding of both parties.

Adaptive Schools def. Adaptive Schools is a part of Thinking Collaborative which provides individuals and organizations strategies, skills, and concepts to establish and sustain structures for thinking and collaborating that result in increased performance and resourcefulness.

C

Campfire def. An Instructional Setting; one of four. This is an informational space where we get information from experts. It is one-directional. In early cultures, this was the role of the storyteller, or shaman. In our world it is any situation where information is coming at us and we just listen. This includes television, lectures, reading, listening, video, etc.

Cave def. An Instructional Setting; one of four. Caves are conceptual spaces where we go to reflect, process, and create in private, in order to internalize our learning. In this space we take new information and conversations and think through what it means for us individually. This can be thinking, writing, sketching, etc. Whatever you need to do to make sense of the world happens here and often gives birth to new ideas.

The Chair def. The yellow chair in the Welcome Center. It represents all students. When making decisions about learning, we always focus on the chair.

Collaboration def. One of D39C’s Guiding Principles -  An explicitly taught and practiced skills in the classroom and through purposeful learning experiences, helping students develop strong interpersonal skills and confidence in contributing ideas. 

Collaboration Time def. Every morning, staff of D39C collaborate for 1 hour prior to students arriving at school.

Collaboratory def. A learning space in the classroom buildings that is open, has a polished concrete floor, some soft furniture, lots of natural lighting, and can be used by small to large groups of learners. These are flexible use spaces.

Courage def. One of D39C’s Guiding Principles - The mindset and willingness to embrace challenges, take thoughtful risks, and grow through effort, reflection, and learning from mistakes. In a psychologically safe and supportive community, learners (adults and kids) are encouraged to be vulnerable, persist through uncertainty, and view setbacks as opportunities for growth. 

Creative Confidence def. One of D39C’s Guiding Principles - The belief that all learners are capable of creativity and innovation. Students are empowered to explore ideas, take risks, and express understanding in ways that reflect their interests and strengths.

D

Design Studio def. Teacher collaboration spaces in the classroom buildings.

Design Thinking def. An end-user-centric process of creation and innovation where the focus is on solving a problem while focusing solely on the needs of those it will serve. Key to the success of the product is being deeply empathetic with the end-user. Further, the design process is a flexible and cyclical process where testing data dictate whether the project moves forward to the next phase, or back to any of the previous steps. The Design Process the D39C is currently using has the following steps: Empathy, Research, Define,  Ideate & Brainstorm, Model & Prototype, Test & Evaluate, Publish & Produce.

Deep Dive / Workshop def. This is a dedicated time for learners to extend on their passions and explore more about their interests. These classes generally take place over many weeks and allow for deeper study of a topic.

E

Everything Speaks def. “The importance of the guest experience can be summed up in two words: everything speaks." The thought behind the quote is simple, service is manifested everywhere your organization touches the customer. Those touch points might include the cleanliness of your storefront, the friendliness of your staff, even the smell your customer associates with your organization will affect their perception of your brand. So, how do you make sure each touch point is inherent to the level of service you wish to provide? Understand that exceptional service requires meticulous planning.

Exploration def. A time/class in the afternoon when kids can choose to try out or explore a type of learning, skill, or experience such as a specific art skill, a musical instrument, a computer skill, etc. In some cases, this can develop into a longer Deep Dive class.

G

Gallery def. An amphitheater style gather place used for large group presentations and gatherings, includes stadium stair seating, large screen projection, TV screens, and audio system.

Grade Span def. A group of grades that may work and/or plan together (2-3 is a grade span).

Growth Mindset def. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities. Book: Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

GTT (Gateway to Technology) def. Project Lead the Way curriculum that provides engineering and biomedical science curriculum for middle school students that challenges, inspires, and offers schools variety and flexibility. Students get rigorous and relevant experiences through activity-, project-, and problem-based learning. They use industry-leading technology to solve problems while gaining skills in communication, collaboration, critical-thinking, and creativity.

Guiding Principles def. We have 5 guiding principles that are at the heart of our design process at D39C. These guiding principles are our filter for when we are designing learning experiences.

I

Inquiry def. A student-centered approach to learning in which asking questions and seeking truth, information, and knowledge is at the heart of the educational experience.

Integrated Learning def. The idea that learning should blend more than one content area to allow kids to make rich, meaningful connections.

K

K-5 Launch def. Through the Project Lead the Way “Launch” program, our kindergarten through fifth grade students use structured approaches, like the engineering design process, and employ critical thinking. They apply STEM knowledge, skills, and habits of mind, learning that it is okay to take risks and make mistakes. As teachers and students learn and discover together, learning becomes far more engaging.

L

LEAP  - An acronym based on the book by author Steve Farber.

L is for LOVE 💕

E is for ENERGY⚡

A is for AUDACITY 👊

P is for PROOF ⭐

LED def. Learning Experience Designer (i.e. teacher)

Learner Agency def. One of D39C’s Guiding Principles - Emphasizes student ownership, voice, choice, and responsibility in learning, a balance of structure and content with autonomy and choice to help learners develop academic confidence and self-advocacy. Students are expected to own their learning by making connections, reflecting, and sharing their progress. 

Life def. An Instructional Setting; one of four. Life is the context of learning. It is how you apply what you have learned and discovered. Learning happens here and it is relevant and engaging. When learning happens in this way, it has meaning beyond the lesson. “In the contextual space of life, learning takes place just in time to be used, not just in case it will be needed later.”

Loft def. D39C’s version of a library where some books may live.

Looping def. The same LED and learners stay together for two years to develop strong relationships and reduce time getting to know each other, thus increasing learning.

M

Makery def. A dedicated learning space designated as a space where students can prototype designs, reverse engineer technologies, design and build products and technology, create and fabricate. Specialized tools and materials are available for learner usage.

MiM (Minds in Motion) def. A period of time devoted to the exploration and development of physically active skills. Students have the opportunity to select a form of physical activity that they would like to learn or participate in that leads to challenge and a good cardio workout. 

N

NGSS - New Generation Science Standards def. Next Generation Science Standards for Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Workforce: Through a collaborative, state-led process managed by Achieve, new K–12 science standards have been developed that are rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education. The NGSS is based on the Framework for K–12 Science Education developed by the National Research Council.

P

PLTW - Project Lead The Way def. Project Lead The Way is the nation's leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Through world-class K-12 curriculum, high-quality teacher professional development, and outstanding partnerships, PLTW is helping students develop the skills needed to succeed in the global economy.

Promenade def. The outdoor space between classroom building B and classroom building C. This space is used for gatherings, outdoor learning opportunities, and special events.

Prototype def. Prototyping is a rough and rapid portion of the design process. A prototype can be a sketch, model, or a cardboard box. It is a way to convey an idea quickly. Students learn that it is better to fail early and often as they create prototypes.

R

Relevant Learning def. One of D39C’s Guiding Principles - Learning is integrated and rooted in authentic contexts, helping students understand the purpose and impact of what they learn. These experiences are continually revisited and refined based on learners, evolving needs, and emerging contexts, ensuring learning remains current and responsive.

S

Shared Leadership def. A system that allows all stakeholders who are involved in the decision to be part of the process, with an eye toward what is in the best interest of kids.

Student-Centered def. Students are at the heart of the learning experience and are in control of their own learning experiences. This is the viewpoint of constructivist thinking.

Studio def. Small rooms on campus dedicated for specific tasks.

W

Watering Hole def. An Instructional Setting; one of four. This is an informational space where people gather together to talk as in coffee shops, the water cooler, at the copy machine, texting, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. These are conversational spaces we go to in order to share what we have learned or experienced with our peers.

Welcome Center def. D39C’s version of an “Administration” or “Office” building. 

Y

“Yet!” def. The phrase denotes that the speaker recognizes that they have the ability to learn.