Sprints in Education
Sprints are an excellent tool for learning. The UK Center for Next Generation Leadership is collaborating with What School Could Be on the WSCB Academy, using the sprint format for excellent results. Ben Sheridan is a key collaborator from the What School Could Be side and feels that sprints offer a, “flexible format and content to allow for session fine tuning to meet participant needs. All participants contribute to learning; a safe and collaborative space is created for participants to share knowledge, experiences, and insights.” Ben is the owner of 407Learning and UK is proud to claim him as a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership Studies program.
The partnership with What School Could Be brings the insights and leadership of the University of Kentucky faculty to a global audience. Dr. Justin Bathon leads the design and development of the Academy, which has attracted participants from locales as far away as Qatar and Belgium, around the US, and of course, Kentucky. Janelle Field of Swift, MN is a participant this spring. She shared that, “The Sprint format brings home to me how important being human-centric in learning is, especially in this time when AI is at the forefront of our conversations. It takes the humans to effectively use the tools.” Leadership truly makes a difference. This collaboration has resulted in several academies and sprints focused on the Science of Learning, Blending College in High School, Learning Structures for Deeper Learning, and Leadership for Deeper Learning. The community is free and engages education minds worldwide.
Sprints are a popular agile project management technique used in software development, but their benefits extend beyond the tech industry. Sprints can be an effective approach to learning in education as well. Short, intense bursts of learning can be potent.
What are education sprints?
Sprint is a short, focused period when a team works on a specific project or task. Sprints are fast-paced and flexible, allowing participants and teams to adapt to changes and apply concepts in real time. They also encourage collaboration and communication between team members, which can lead to better outcomes. Sprints usually last for a few weeks, focusing on intense learning.
Learning is a lifelong process that doesn't stop when you become an adult. As an adult, you may find that your learning needs and preferences had changed from when you were a child or a student. Sprints support the type of deeper learning schools need to move towards to prepare students for today's workforce needs.
Sprints can be used for learning and are an effective way to manage change implementation. Putting short-term bursts of focus on a particular topic can break through the doldrums of the day-to-day and focus on meaningful change.
Benefits include:
Increased efficiency: Sprints can help teams complete projects or learn about a topic more efficiently by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Better communication: Sprints encourage regular communication among team members, leading to better outcomes and fewer misunderstandings.
Improved collaboration: Sprints promote collaboration among participating members, which can lead to better teamwork and more creative solutions.
Increased accountability: Sprints can require team members to report on their progress regularly, which can increase accountability and help ensure that the project stays on track.
The Sprint format can benefit busy school leaders:
Increased engagement: Adults tend to have short attention spans. A sprint format can help keep them engaged by breaking up the material into manageable chunks they can easily digest.
Improved retention: By focusing on one topic or concept at a time, learners are more likely to remember the information presented in a sprint format. Additionally, repeated exposure to the material during the sprint reinforces the concepts in their memory.
Greater flexibility: The sprint format allows for greater flexibility in lesson planning and delivery, as educators can easily adjust the pace and content to meet the needs of the learners.
Enhanced collaboration: The sprint format often involves working in small groups, which can foster a sense of community and encourage learners to share ideas and perspectives.
Faster feedback: Because sprints are typically shorter in duration, educators can provide feedback more frequently, which allows learners to adjust their understanding and improve their performance quickly.
Better motivation: The sense of accomplishment that learners feel after completing a sprint can motivate them to continue their learning journey.
Practical application: Adults like to learn in a way relevant to their lives and work. They want to see the practical application of what they are learning. For example, an adult learning a new language may wish to focus on vocabulary and phrases relevant to their job or travel plans.
Sprints can be adapted for students to enhance learning outcomes. It has the potential for cross-curricular learning and prepares them using formats successfully used in business.
So, whether you want to learn a new process, understand a topic like Deeper Learning, or work to manage change effectively, Sprints are a great option.