Developing Learner Agency: Exploring Design, Complexity, and Systems Thinking

Details

This event is from Project Zero — confirm details there before registering.

Who it's for

Subjects

Topics

Sensitivity to design develops when young people and adults have opportunities to look closely and reflect on the design of objects and systems, explore the complexity of design, and understand themselves as designers of the systems that structure and shape the world.

Using PZ ideas from our Agency by Design project, learn about the core capacities necessary to facilitate and lead this kind of learning in your classroom. Try out some of the PZ thinking routines that support the development of those skills and consider how you can integrate these ideas into what you are already doing to enhance student learning.

Overview

• Consider how teaching that incorporates a sensitivity to design and how this can impact student learning across subjects and grade levels
• Explore these three capacities—looking closely, exploring complexity, and finding opportunity—as well as some of the learning activities for classrooms or other learning settings that help students develop these capacities
• In your own learning context, try out some of the PZ thinking routines that support these core capacities, reflecting on how their integration into what you are already doing can enhance student learning

Who Should Participate

• Teachers, teacher leaders, and school administrators and leaders (pre-K through to adult learning)
• Museum educators and educators working in informal learning environments
• Instructional coaches and other facilitators of pre-K to adult learning

Time Commitment

• Team Meeting: This 1-hour live, synchronous team meeting happens every week, scheduled and facilitated by the team members with PZ-designed agenda.
• Reading, Practice, and Assignments: Plan remaining time for reading and individual reflections/assignments. If you are not currently working in a school or educational organization, you will need a classroom context or a consistent group of students with whom you can try out/practice the ideas you are learning throughout the course.

Tuition, Discounts, and Financial Aid

• $355 for educators joining as part of a team (three to six members from the same organization)
• $385 for educators joining as part of a team of two (from the same organization) who will be placed on a virtual team with other teams of two (as attendance allows)
• $399 for educators joining as individuals to be placed on a virtual team

Questions?

Visit the FAQs page for more information on PZ online courses, or email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu.

Schedule

• Session 1 — Mon, Oct 26, 2026
• Session 2 — Mon, Nov 2, 2026
• Session 3 — Mon, Nov 9, 2026
• Session 4 — Mon, Nov 16, 2026