The Friyay Mindset - Issue #4

January 29, 2021

Happy Friday!

The weekend couldn’t come too soon for us this week – we bet you’re the same. We’ve got some good stuff to share with you this week – we hope you’ll find it useful!

For the last few weeks we’ve been sharing some descriptors you can use in a departmental setting. The idea of these is that you might be able to use them as a starting point for auditing where a team or department might be up to with regards to supporting vision, effort, systems and so on. This week is the turn of systems.

Here’s Something to Try…

Where are you up to with supporting systems?

Departments who develop students’ organisation of resources and time might be doing some of the following activities:

· Chunking their course in student-friendly language. “There are basically twenty-five topics you need to know this year. Here’s a list.”

· Checking files and folders. Having a short period for catching up and tidying up. “It’s crucial we have the correct course material. Here’s a list of what we’ve covered so far, let’s take some time to check we’ve not lost anything.”

· Rewarding process not product. “This half term, I’m looking for effective time management and organised resources. For everyone who hits the next three deadlines and has neat and organised folders when I check them, I’ve got a letter ready that will be sent home.”

· Making regular references – perhaps at the same time each week – to the time management challenges ahead. “Next week you’ll need to be on the ball because on Monday…”

· Modelling systems. “Here’s my to-do list. Any advice on how I get this covered?” Encouraging scheduling. “Here’s the three things you need to have done by Friday. Find some spare study periods and attach each of these activities to them.”

· Exploring checklists. “Let’s design a Sunday-night checklist so that you’ve got everything you need with you when you arrive with me on Monday.”

· Keeping up a class awareness of the importance of systems. Changing systems isn’t a bad thing – trying new methods is to be encouraged.

Possible coaching questions to ask about systems:

If you could change one aspect about the way you work – what would it be and how would you change it? How do you prioritise what needs to be done? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself in terms of organisation? Do you still work in the same ways as you used to? What is good about these ways? What isn’t working and why? How do you record H/W tasks?

Here's Something We’ve Been Reading…

We were inspired to explore this book after watching a Youtuber talking about her school experience using an activity from it. Bill Burnett, a professor of engineering and design, and his colleague Dave Evans (who also co-founded the games company Electronic Arts) run a course at Stanford University called Designing Your Life. It’s a class you can take by choice but it’s hugely popular and oversubscribed. The class helps students develop their vision, and the accompanying book gives a clear, helpful account of pretty much everything Burnett and Evans teach.

We’ve really enjoyed it – check it out.

Buy Designing Your Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work by Burnett, Bill, Evans, Dave (ISBN: 9781784742805) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Here’s our latest offer…

We’re still banging on about our Think, Choose, Act series on twitter. These are going out every school day between now and half-term. We’ve put them all as downloadable links in both English and Welsh. There’s still two weeks left – ten more activities to come!

Constructive feedback would be super-helpful so if there’s anything you’d like to see more or less of in the TCAs, feel free to let us know!

Have a great weekend,

Steve & Martin