Finding Connections with Wipebook Flipcharts

 

 

 "Looking to re-vamp our round robin style of reporting out in order to look for connections, we utilized the Wipebook Flipchart."

 

 

“Teamwork makes the dream work” is commonly quoted in business, sports, and schools, but our team wanted to ensure that understanding the dream is what is important. Our schools office is undergoing a revision of the strategic plan, looking beyond today and thinking about the future of our schools.  How can we ensure that we are delivering on our mission in five years?

 

 

 
whiteboard_VNPS_thinkingclassroom_Teachers

 

 

Prior to the pandemic, our offices were filled with chatter at the communal candy dish, collaboration on the fly, and swapping stories at lunch.  Always knowing what our co-workers were tasked with, and being able to share some advice, lend a hand, or give space as needed.  This sense of community in our schools office was our normal.  We had grown accustomed to regular round robin meetings.  At these meetings, we would share, one by one, what tasks we were currently working on and if we needed any help from our colleagues.  When we switched to remote offices the routine changed, while we still participated in round robins on zoom, the daily contact was missing.

 

 

Finally able to meet in person again, our schools office broke down our mission statement and began pondering our vision, or the aspiration destination for our schools office to reach over the long term. Our schools office is divided into five different areas: catholic identify, academics, enrolment, governance, and strategic planning.  Each area working individually to achieve the dream.   Looking to re-vamp our round robin style of reporting out in order to look for connections, we utilized the Wipebook flipchart.

 

 

 
whiteboard_VNPS_Thinkingclassroom_teachers_PD

 

 

Placing five pieces of chart paper randomly around the room, all members of our schools office thought of five different tasks or projects that they were currently working on.  Armed with a black dry erase marker, these items were written on each flipchart. One item on each paper.  After all members recorded their tasks down on each paper, the schools office was asked to divide into their groups.  Academic members at one paper, governance at another, and so on.  Groups then read all of the items listed on their paper and given colored dry erase markers to create a mind map of connections.  How are all of these tasks related to my area?  Finding connections and discussing how our individual daily tasks are all related helped us grasp the bigger mission of our office, the dream.

 

 

 Vicky McCann, Educator, Archdiocese of Washington.

 

 

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