Authentic Learning Experiences with Technology in K-5

Like most teachers, I believe connected experiences help students find meaning in what they learn. I want kids to think deeply and understand why learning matters. As a K–5 public school technology teacher who teaches every student, I often face a challenge: creating relevant, engaging lessons that feel real. What does authentic learning with technology look like? My experience teaching …

MYP Design Project Ideas from Science

Get started with MYP Design! If you have a science or STEAM background and are new to MYP Design, this post should help you understand how to develop MYP design project ideas from science. The information targets upper elementary and middle school teachers, but higher grade levels can benefit as well. Many teachers who teach MYP Design for the first …

MYP Design Criterion D – Evaluating

Welcome to the last Criterion in the MYP Design Cycle, Criterion D – Evaluating. If you’ve been following my posts about the MYP Design criteria, I have been focusing on my teaching and learning experiences with Year 1 (grade 6) students in the IB’s MYP Design Program. What is Criterion D in MYP Design? After completing MYP Design Criterion C …

MYP Design Criterion C – Creating the Solution

The MYP Design Cycle’s Criterion C In MYP Design Criterion C – Creating the Solution, students make their design to solve the problem defined in Criterion A. Criterion C is usually the favorite part because students actually make their designs. Their ideas and creativity come to life. The research in Criterion A and the idea development in Criterion B have …

MYP Design Criterion B – Developing Ideas

Introduction to MYP Design Criterion B The focus of this post targets Year 1 (grade 6) designers. The MYP Design Criterion B information below can be applied to other grades as well. Year 1 students are those new to MYP Design. They start the school year as 11-year olds and finish as 12-year olds. If you’re here and didn’t come …

MYP Design Criterion A – Inquiring and Analyzing

MYP Design Criterion A – Introduction Before we take a look at MYP Design Criterion A (the first phase), a review of the most official perspective on MYP Design might be helpful. The Middle Years Programme Design Guide from the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Program is the resource for MYP Design teachers. For a slightly different perspective of MYP Design (with …

5 Short and Helpful Design Thinking Videos for Students

Getting started in MYP Design? Need a few short and helpful videos to support or direct your students’ human-centered, problem-solving thinking? You may be beginning a project-based STEAM lesson and need to prime your students into design thinking mode. Actually, there are more than five videos about design and the design process. Enjoy! Why Use Short Videos? Human learning theory …

Water Tank Engineering with Newspaper, Part 2

MYP Design Subject Overview In the prequel to this follow-up post, I began to reflect on my first experiences in MYP Design with Year 1 students (grade six). I chose this topic because I thought that the information would be helpful for MYP Design teachers–especially those new to MYP like I was. Also, if you teach STEM/STEAM, I believe there …

Water Tank Engineering with Newspaper, Part 1

MYP Design Cycle – Getting Started In July 2015, I introduced my sixth-grade students to their first design unit: engineering a water tank from newspaper. Middle school design teachers and colleagues Jessie M. and Angie U. created the first version of the unit. This hands-on challenge served as an engaging introduction to the MYP Design Cycle and emphasized problem-solving through …