Madison Public Schools Announces World Cafe Discussion Results

Madison Public Schools hosted three World Café discussions in February to engage school community members and give them an opportunity to share their thoughts on the Madison school experience.

According to the results of the World Cafés, approximately 100 people attended the event and discussed the following four questions:

• In a perfect world, how would you best describe what the Madison school learning experience stands for?
• What skills and knowledge should all of our students posses upon graduation?
• Contemplating our current practices, what should we keep doing, what should we start doing, and what should we stop doing?
• How should the developing digital world impact our practices in school (classroom, curriculum, technology, etc)?

According to the summary of findings, the results to the first question saw 29 percent of participants say personalized learning that meets unique needs of all students. Followed up by balanced, well-rounded program with 24 percent, focus on quality and excellent at 18 percent, safe and supportive learning environment at 15 percent and preparing global citizens of the future at 12 percent.

In response to question two, 27 percent of responses fell under the theme of balanced, well-rounded skills essential for the future, followed by learning and innovation skills at 25 percent. Communication and collaboration skills, global perspective and character, and confidence and sense of self rounded out the top five with 15 percent, 13 percent and 12 percent, respectively, according to the summary of findings.

Question three asked participants what practices should be continued, started and stopped. When asked what practices should be continued, 26 percent of participants said support and transition practices. Additionally, 26 percent of respondents said the school district should expand curricular programs, when asked what practices should be started, and finally, 22 percent said the emphasis on athletics should stop.

The final question of the World Café asked how a developing digital world should impact school practices. The top theme emerging from the question was “planned in a balanced, thoughtful manner” with 18 percent, followed by enhancing student learning with 16 percent, impact on curriculum and impact on pedagogy both at 14 percent, and importance of digital responsibility, the results said.

For more information about the World Café regarding the Madison school experience, read the entire summary report at the Madison Public Schools website.