The current educational system in the US isn't built by or for people of color. Founded in 2003, HFLI's work is rooted in creating schools and transforming the education system. Deeper Learning by Doing® is HFLI's design and delivery approach for teaching developed over 20+ years. It centers the learner and creates a space for all to succeed, an environment of belonging and meaningful learning.
When HFLI set out to develop schools in underserved communities, we determined that in addition to U. of Michigan's high leverage instructional practices and our authentic project-driven learning by doing, we needed a methodology to develop students as critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. In 2007, HFLI worked with Stanford's d.school to refine design thinking for K12 education and bring it into our educational model. As US emphasis on testing increased - so did HFLI’s resolve to advance progressive learning competencies from Hewlett Foundation, P21 and others. Armed with an extensive library of tools for educator use and inspiration, we expanded professional development beyond our schools. In 2018, we explicitly paired methods from design thinking with culturally responsive principles from Z. Hammond, C. Emdin, G. Muhammad, J. Dugan, S. Safir, and others to directly address the need for connection and belonging in today's dynamic learning environments.
As educators in HFLI learning engagements become familiar with and try out the tools, methods, and mindsets of Deeper Learning by Doing® to apply in their own learning community, they also experience it as learners. We are spreading this progressive instructional design and delivery approach (in-person and remote) through not only our schools, but also open enrollment summer workshops, consulting projects, conference sessions, professional development series for schools, districts, and other educational organizations. Curricula, videos, tools and other resources are available free of charge to educators through our learning management system, HFLI Studio at learn.hfli.org.
97% of participants in HFLI workshops would recommend the experience to a colleague. Interested educators should attend an open enrollment summer workshop, engage HFLI to come to their school, district or learning community, check out HFLI Studio, or contact us at designthinking@hfli.org.
