Preparing for Design Experience 4

Overview

In this step, you will prepare to lead Design Experience 4. You will adapt session materials, internalize objectives, and coordinate logistics, such as printing team artifacts or materials. You’ll also prepare for key facilitation moves that elevate student voice and deepen connections to the XQ Design Principles. With thoughtful preparation, you will set the stage for a powerful session where teams advance from a single Learning Experience to a coherent, student-centered vision.

Outputs

Facilitator agenda or run-of-show
Customized & finalized slide decks
Printed materials and protocols
School-specific facilitation notes
Logistics confirmed and prepared

Goal
Be fully prepared to facilitate a meaningful, well-coordinated Design Experience that is grounded in the session goals, responsive to team needs, and aligned with the Design Experience Principles.

Owner(s)
Facilitation partner

Contributor(s)
District transformation team
All facilitators

Resources

Design Experience 4 Facilitator Guide
A Step-by-step facilitation guide for leading teams through Design Experience 4.

Design Experience 4 Slide Deck A
Day 1 slide deck guiding students and adults in exploring enabling conditions, elevating youth voice, and drafting student experience artifacts.

Design Experience 4 Slide Deck B
Day 2 slide deck supporting teams in revising Bold School Concept artifacts and completing a Conditions Reflection.

Bold School Concept Artifacts
Overview of the essential outputs from this Design Experience and how they connect to the broader Bold School Concept.

Design Experience Scope and Sequence
Outlines the full arc of the Design Experiences—showing how each experience builds toward a cohesive school design.

Student Experience Examples
Examples of coherent Student Experiences (Day/Week in the Life & Four-Year Progression) to help facilitators calibrate what strong output can look like.

Anchor your preparation in the Design Experience Principles:

Design Experiences lead participants towards all the parts of the Bold School Concept.
Participants leave Design Experiences clear on the next steps and the artifacts they will draft before the next Design Experience.
Design Experience content is centered around XQ Design Principles and informed by XQ in a Box.
Design Experiences provide participants with the “just right” amount of support (participants will not be experts but will have enough understanding & exposure to lead a redesign process that enables them to ideate and conceptualize what learning will look like in their school) and integrated work time for a balance of depth & breadth.
Design Experiences have a felt experience rooted in Magic & Joy, Dreaming + Action, Connection & Community, Rigorous Learning for All, & “Seeing is believing”

Putting It Into Practice

Align with the district team:

Confirm timing, goals, and shared responsibilities for the session—including communication and reminders for school teams. Review session plans with the district transformation lead and revise as needed to reflect the local context.

Customize your facilitation plan:

Familiarize yourself with the information teams are bringing to the convening to tailor discussions and support their work. Adapt your approach to match each team’s dynamics and entry points. Plan facilitation moves that uplift student voice, support authentic reflection, and create space for meaningful engagement from all participants.

Prep your facilitation team:

Clarify roles and delegate responsibilities. Support all facilitators in internalizing the Design Experience 4 Facilitator Guide and slide decks—ensuring everyone understands the key activities, pacing, and objectives across both days.

Ensure all logistics are covered:

Confirm that space, materials, posters, name tags, supplies, food, and more are prepped and ready. Work with your operations partner to ensure all logistics align with Design Experience Design Principles.

Ground your facilitation team in the outputs:

Review strong examples of the Student Experience (Day/Week in the life and 4-Year Progressions) to provide relevant guidance and inspiration before facilitating the session.

Go to Next Step

Checking in With School Teams on Pre-Work for Design Experience 4

Let's go →