July 24, 2023
In a rapidly evolving world, the need for an adaptive and future-ready educational system has become more crucial than ever. Enter Agile, a dynamic framework that has gained significant traction across various industries for its ability to foster collaboration, innovation, and flexibility. As educators, it’s essential to understand that Agile is not a full curriculum or set of provided lessons but rather a transformative way of working that empowers students and reduces stress on teachers.
It is essential to clarify what Agile means in education and how it can revolutionize the learning experience for students and teachers alike.
Agile: A New Way of Working
Agile was created in the field of software development. Work was not efficient, did not meet its purpose, and was ignoring the needs of customers. Instead of developing a heavily rigid way of working by standardizing and boxing in creativity, Agile was adopted as a lean adaptive framework based on the needs of the developers and the customers.
Agile is a flexible framework based on how humans work together. The values and principles highlight the need for clear communication, open collaboration, high levels of reflection, and completing work in small increments, all in the service of flexibility. But Agile’s impact is not limited to the tech industry. The same principles that have revolutionized software development can be effectively applied to education, fostering an environment where students and educators can thrive.
The Agile Way of Working in Education
At its heart, Agile in education emphasizes student engagement, collaboration, and self-directed learning. Rather than relying solely on traditional teaching methods, Agile encourages teachers to facilitate a more dynamic learning environment where students take an active role in their education. Agile is not a set of strict rules or a complete curriculum. It is a framework that builds a culture of learning and adapting. The teachers gain the autonomy they deserve and the students are empowered to personalize their learning.
Agile classrooms are highly adaptive to the needs of the school, the teacher, and most importantly, the students. Some teachers slowly introduce elements of Agile, while others jump in head first. There is not a one size fits all approach to Agile, which is what makes it unique. The Agile framework is based on the needs of humans working and learning together.
It’s important to clarify that Agile does not replace the teacher’s expertise or responsibility to provide the curriculum and resources. Instead, Agile enhances the teacher’s role as a guide, mentor, and facilitator of learning. By adopting Agile practices, teachers can better tailor their approach to suit the diverse needs of their students, ensuring a more inclusive and effective educational experience.
Key Elements of an Agile Classroom
Three main elements of Agile classrooms engage learners, but add the structure necessary for an effective learning environment. Some teachers pick up one element at a time, playing with it until they are comfortable and then moving forward. Others choose to learn all of the elements at the same time. There is no “right” approach, only the one that works best for you and your students.
Wide-Open Questions: Agile classrooms are engaging for students because they frame their learning in real-life situations. Students are never left to wonder, “Why am I learning this?” The beginning of every unit starts with a Wide-Open Question. These are different from Essential questions because there is no one answer. It is a question that begins with “How”, or “Why”, but is not biased. The students should be encouraged to learn the material in each lesson and try to figure out how to answer the Wide-Open Questions with that new knowledge.
This means that students have opportunities to “play” with new knowledge, trying to fit it together like a puzzle to solve the question. Since there is no one answer, students have the freedom to propose different solutions as long as they can justify them with the content and skills from the class. The Wide-Open Questions provide space for the personalization of learning and for students’ unique personalities and interests to be embraced in the classroom.
Collaborative Teamwork: In Agile classrooms students work in diverse teams. One of the first lessons of an Agile unit is how to value each other for our unique ways of working. Many Agile teachers let students pick their teams, not by friends or by who gets the best grades, but in an anonymous challenge where group leaders pick teammates based on their self-described skills and talents. Students learn the important lesson of valuing people for their different strengths and supporting each other to build on weaknesses.
Once teams are built, the students work together through the rest of the unit. They must prioritize work together, share research and insights, compromise when making decisions, and develop effective communication skills. Working in teams not only helps students learn the content better, but they develop the interpersonal AI-Proof skills that will continue to serve them throughout their future.
Kanban Boards: A Kanban Board is a visual tracking tool that communicates the flow of work at a glance. At its base, it is four lanes that track work. In group projects, a Kanban Board becomes essential for teachers and students to constantly communicate because it makes work transparent. Student teams must prioritize work and make decisions together to move work across the board. This means that each class starts and ends with the group assessing what work must get done and how much work has been done in that class time. No longer can students claim they don’t know what others in the group are doing because the team must move work across the board together. There are no excuses for late work because the team must refine their work before it is turned in. The Kanban board ensures that the teams are always communicating about the flow of work.
For teachers, Kanban Boards help them easily track each group’s progress. From a glance at the boards, a teacher can tell which groups are stuck, which may need help, and which need enrichment opportunities. The Kanban Boards allow teachers to constantly monitor the flow of work which frees up their time to meet with small groups, create unique learning opportunities, and differentiate work based on student needs. In Agile classrooms, teachers have the time and autonomy to engage with students, have authentic conversations, and scaffold real “lightbulb” moments.
Embracing Agile for a Future-Ready Education System
The world is evolving rapidly, and the skills required to thrive in the 21st century are changing with it. Agile offers a forward-looking approach that equips students with essential skills, including adaptability, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving—skills that will be invaluable in their future careers.
As educators, we must embrace this transformative way of working to create an education system that fosters innovation, creativity, and resilience. Agile provides a roadmap for building an engaging and empowering learning environment that prepares students for the challenges of the future. It is not a rigid curriculum or way to work, but a lightweight system that encourages personalization and flexibility. Agile embraces the way human beings work and learn together, which is never in a one-size-fits-all box.
Agile is not just a buzzword; it is a powerful approach to learning that encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and self-directed growth. By adopting Agile principles, educators can reduce stress, create a more student-centric learning environment, and prepare their students for a successful future.
You may also be interested in reading more articles written by Jessica Cavallaro for Intrepid Ed News.
