Wheelock School Principal Holli Caulfield led a presentation called ‘Tik-Tok You Don’t Stop’ with tips for using the social media platform Tik-Tok during Design Your Learning Day. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Wheelock teacher Nicole Sheehan (left) shows off the final product from a session called ‘¡Empanadas Excelentes!,’ led by Blake teacher Kristin Manning during Design Your Learning Day. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
From left: Blake Middle School teachers Tracy Allen, Kristin Manning, Ann Marie Fratolillo and Susie Boulos learned how to play Pickleball during Design Your Learning Day. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Medfield High School students Molly Donovan and Zoe Zilinski served as student social media ambassadors for Design Your Learning Day. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Jed Stefanowicz of the Walpole Public Schools presents to Design Your Learning Day attendees about bringing Augmented Reality learning experiences to the classroom. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Sarah Boyle of the Milford Public Schools presents to Design Your Learning Day attendees about finding the best tools to support English Learning students and all students. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Kerry Gallagher, Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at St. John’s Prep, presents to Design Your Learning Day attendees about digital wellness and strategies for promoting positive, healthy uses of technology and mitigating unhealthy habits. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools) 
Design Your Learning Day attendees participate in a stretching program led by Certified Personal Trainer Paul Connolly. (Photo courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to share the success of this year’s annual Design Your Learning Day.
Design Your Learning Day (DLD) is an opportunity for educators to share best practices and collaborate with educators from surrounding districts. The professional development event aims to provide learning opportunities that are created by educators and designed for educators. Attendees were able to choose from a wide variety of sessions allowing them to choose the learning path that is most suitable for them.
This year’s DLD was the 10th annual event. It was attended by about 400 Medfield staff and about 80 non-Medfield teachers, technology staff and administrators representing 30 different districts from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. DLD took place at Medfield High School on March 25.
The theme for DLD was “Celebrate YOU!” The theme was chosen to celebrate educators and the 10th anniversary of DLD. At the event, Superintendent Marsden welcomed attendees and there was a brief keynote and video highlighting the development of DLD over the last 10 years.
During five different session times throughout the day, attendees chose which unique learning opportunities to participate in. Each timeframe featured over 20 different session choices. Sessions focused on a wide range of topics such as: social-emotional learning, neurodiversity, health and wellness, civic engagement, pedagogy, information literacy, technology tools, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Some sessions also highlighted other educators’ hobbies and skills such as cooking, yoga, pickleball, fly fishing and candle-making.
The session offerings were meant to provide a wide representation of what teachers are passionate about and where they want to expand their practice.
“Design Your Learning Day is a unique event that both personalizes professional development by empowering attendees to learn about what they’re interested in or where they would like to build their skills, and gives educators the opportunity to learn from other educators,” Superintendent Marsden said. “We were excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DLD with staff from many different districts and I would like to thank everyone who presented, coordinated and volunteered, helping to make the day engaging and inspiring.”
The day was planned by the DLD Committee, which is comprised of Director of Instruction and Innovation Christine Power, Technology Integration specialists Joe Ahern, Marissa Foley, Diane Horvath and Neal Sonnenberg, and K-12 Library Department Chair Kerry Cowell. A total of 20 Medfield students also volunteered at the event by providing technology support, assisting with lunch, running the Medfield Design Your Learning Day Twitter account and managing the raffles, games and logistics.
Park Street Books, Blue Moon Bakery, Medfield Outreach, Roche Brothers and the Medfield Public Library also provided support to the event.
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