How can a learning activity encourage students to observe, interpret, and think in different ways? And how can we create more opportunities for students to take ownership of their own learning?
These were two key questions explored during the latest professional exchange between Connie White and Leah Hannon from Mount Vernon School (MVS) and the Dewey Tay Ho Tay team. Rather than covering a wide range of topics, the sessions focused on two workshops centred on designing meaningful learning experiences for students.
The first workshop explored Visual Thinking, looking at ways to encourage students to observe closely, articulate what they see, and connect different ideas and perspectives. These approaches give teachers more tools to design activities that help students look deeper into a question and gradually develop their own ways of thinking.
The second workshop focused on designing lessons that encourage greater student agency and independent learning. The team explored ways to give students more opportunities to make choices, set their own goals, experiment, and reflect on how they learn. These steps help students become more aware of their learning process and take greater responsibility for their choices.
Before the workshops, the MVS experts also met with students and observed classes at Dewey. Hearing TDSers share their thoughts on lessons, what they enjoy exploring, and how they engage in classroom activities gave Connie and Leah valuable perspectives directly from the learners themselves. Classroom observations also led to more specific conversations about how teachers facilitate activities, ask guiding questions, and create space for students to take the lead. By bringing MVS’s professional perspective together with Dewey’s classroom practice, the exchange offered the team new tools to further develop the learning experiences already taking place at school.
Ultimately, the value of the Dewey–MVS partnership lies in the opportunity to observe, exchange ideas, and reflect on learning from different perspectives. At the heart of this professional exchange is the everyday experience of students: creating more space in each lesson for them to observe, reason, connect ideas, experiment, and take an active role in finding their own answers.
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🏫 MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL (MVS) is a private school in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, serving students from Pre-K through Grade 12. MVS is known for its approach to education that emphasises Design Thinking, student agency, and learning experiences that encourage students to explore, create, and take ownership of their learning journey.
