The Opportunity to Dream: How an Early Learning Network Implemented the Liberatory Design Process
From January to December 2021, the Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative (PLLC) team supported five school districts who participated in The Innovation Project’s (TIP) Early Learning Network, an initiative that centers equity in addressing vulnerable children’s learning needs. PLLC staff members led district teams through the Liberatory Design Process—a seven step approach to centering equity in reimagining and redesigning educational interventions. These seven steps include: Notice, Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, and Reflect.
Researchers from the Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation sought to better understand (1) how the design process impacted district teams, and (2) the supports and barriers to design thinking and how to improve the design thinking process. Through case study methodology that incorporated focus group interviews, one-on-one interviews, and artifact analysis the researchers found that notions of accountability and intentionality, the awareness of self and others, and developing community partnerships were impactful for districts conducting this equity work. Further, intradistrict dynamics, the availability of resources, team-level dynamics, and non-linear processes frequently acted as supports and barriers to successful implementation of the Liberatory Design Process.
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Dr Callie Womble Edwards 
Dr Jessica Vandenberg
Dr Kevin WinnRelated Resources
From January-December 2021, five school districts participated in The Innovation Project’s (TIP) Early Learning Network, an initiative that centers equity in addressing vulnerable children’s learning needs. Participants on district teams underwent the Liberatory Design Process—a seven step approach to centering equity in reimagining and redesigning educational interventions. Researchers from the Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation sought to better understand (1) how the design process impacted district teams and (2) the supports and barriers to design thinking and how to improve the design thinking process. Through case study methodology that incorporated focus group interviews, one-on-one interviews and artifact analysis, the researchers found that notions of accountability and intentionality, the awareness of self and others, and the development of community partnerships were impactful for districts conducting this equity work. Further, intradistrict dynamics, the availability of resources, team-level dynamics and non-linear processes frequently acted as supports and barriers to successful implementation of the Liberatory Design Process.
Teams
Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative
Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group
Projects
The Innovation Project Early Learning Network (TIP ELN)
With a three-year grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, The Innovation Project (TIP) and its partners developed and supported an inter-district network focused on redesigning learning environments to better address the early learning needs of vulnerable children. In its first two years, the Early Learning Network (ELN) engaged school design teams and principals from 36 schools in 12 North Carolina districts in a cohort-based program defined by three interrelated activities that together enable transformative results: transformation through school design; coaching for entrepreneurial school leadership; and innovative district supports.
Published
December 21, 2021
Resource Type
Case Study
Published By
Friday Institute for Educational Innovation
Suggested Citation
Edwards, C.W., Winn, K., & Vandenberg, J. (2021). “The Opportunity to Dream” How an Early Learning Network Implemented the Liberatory Design Process. Raleigh, NC. Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at the NC State University College of Education. [friday.institute/10090]