Since I started my career, I have been fascinated with master schedules. I know it is not the most glamorous part of school, but I see the potential in a master schedule to serve so many purposes in a school. The math of it all is a nice little challenge, trying to take the priorities of a school and match that up with their full time teacher allotment, finding possibilities for common prep – all of these factors are interesting to me. Economy, efficiency, balance, equity were all considerations in the dance of getting the master to ‘make’. One of the underlying assumptions of every master schedule I have ever helped to craft is that the classroom is the organizing object.
I’ve been working with some schools in Henry County, Georgia and we have started trying to craft a master schedule that uses the student as the organizing object. As I was sitting around the table with the team of teachers and admin, it occurred to me that the organizing object of the master schedule is another one of those structures that needs to be re-evaluated in modern schools, not just a rethink of the minutes and blocks of time.
This weekend I am going to lead a conversation at EduCon 2.7 titled, Personalized, not Individualized. I plan to spend a bit of time around this idea of the organizing object of schools as a part of that conversation. I think there are such interesting ways to make our schools and the learning more personal to the students. Can’t wait to kick off the conversation!
Living the Dream 
YES! someone else who sees the huge value in a master schedule! I know you’re traveling, but when you have a chance could you share your materials from your Personalized Learning session? I couldn’t around everywhere I wanted this weekend. Thanks!
Hi Diana,
Your TEDx talk was shared with me through a masters class I am taking (http://www.coetail.com/queencole/) and it led me to poking around on your blog. I am really interested in hearing more about your ideas of personalizing schedules? Is this something you are looking at for Middle School and High School, or do you think this is something that is doable in Elementary School as well?
I currently live in Dubai and work at the American School of Dubai. (http://www.asdubai.org/) I would be really interested to hear more about your ideas if you are willing to share.
Thanks, Kara
My original foray into this was in middle and high school, but will start working with elementary schools next week as well. I think that all levels of school have the capacity to be as flexible as they choose, it does however, require some reconsidering of the goals and getting creative about how to meet them.
Dear Ms. Laufenburg: We just viewed you Ted Talk in one of my grad classes last night. As a 50 year old – new – teacher of alternative education students, my heart and passion is similar to yours with regards to authentic experiences for learning. IT is the only way to engage my students. To that end, wondering if you could forward me any information or lesson outlines for the video project you did on genocide?
Thanks,
Victoria
You can find the resources here – https://laufenberg.wordpress.com/the-power-of-one/ – please let me know if I can be helpful in any other way!