Bryan Innovation Lab Week

Steward faculty regularly engage in professional development to keep up with best practices and trends, meet peers in their fields, and bring fresh ideas back to the classroom. During Bryan Innovation Lab (BIL) Week, which took place in early August, Steward faculty representing all divisions gathered to exchange ideas and think about innovative ways to inspire their students. BIL Week was facilitated by Upper School Bryan Lab Liaison Lexi Bach, Lower School Innovation Specialist Suzanne Casey, Middle School Bryan Lab Liaison Janell Kauffman, and Bryan Innovation Lab Program Specialist Amy Nobile. 

This year’s BIL Week featured faculty talks on teaching methods that can be used in all divisions; these methods highlight facets of Steward’s strategic plan, including civil discourse, expanding the BIL’s impact, and preparing students to lead symposia. BIL Week also included ideas for integrating Steward’s 2026-27 schoolwide theme, Stewardship of Nature, into lessons, projects, and beyond-the-classroom experiences. 

Discussion Strategies: The Harkness Method 

Humanities Teacher Trevor Smith kicked off the week with a presentation on the Harkness method, which incorporates student-led discussions and encourages “conversational intelligence”: active listening, empathetic communication, and asking powerful questions.

“Harkness discussions align perfectly with Steward's commitment to promoting engagement through student choice and leadership, allowing the class as a whole to take their investigation of the material in whatever directions they find to be the most thought-provoking and rewarding,” said Mr. Smith.

In her talk about the Socratic method, a form of dialogue in which a study guide supports student-led discussion, Ms. Casey emphasized that “asking questions and being open to different ideas leads to deeper learning.” In her Lower School lessons, Ms. Casey has students read a short text such as a picture or data set, “anything we want students to think deeply about,” she shared, and she then places desks for half of the class in a circle. Students fill those seats as silent observers. The other students sit on the floor in an inner circle and discuss the text they’ve read by examining key ideas, asking open-ended questions, and choosing a quote that they think best reflects the text. Those in the outer circle observe and take notes.

“The students jotting down notes are encouraged to give ‘glows’ —  positive feedback on the dialogue they’ve heard,” said Ms. Casey. The BIL Week group participated in a Socratic circle discussion using an excerpt from “Braiding Sweetgrass,” a book by Robin Wall Kimmerer that blends poetry, memoir, and philosophy. 

“This was a great way to illustrate the Socratic method,” noted Ms. Casey. “Teachers in all divisions can use it, and it aligns beautifully with Steward’s core values of care & respect, civil discourse, and individuality.” 

  
Project-Based Learning 

Mrs. Nobile presented a talk on project-based learning, in which students develop skills and confidence by developing practical solutions to real-world problems. Participants were led through examples of project-based learning and brainstormed about their own project ideas.

“Project-based learning is vital to the Steward experience because it brings our mission and vision to life by empowering students to think deeply, solve real-world problems, and see themselves capable of shaping the future,” said Ms. Nobile.

The BIL Week group also welcomed special guest Michael Smart, sustainability manager for the RVA Green Office of Sustainability, who shared the mission of RVAGreen2050 and its efforts to reforest Richmond City and educate the public about the progress in mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

Mrs. Bach spoke to the group about sustainability at Steward, citing a student-led initiative to reintroduce composting to the Steward community. BIL Week attendees then participated in a design-thinking workshop addressing other opportunities on campus for stewardship projects. Prototypes included recycling education, pollinator gardens, rain barrels, and increasing tree canopy coverage throughout campus.

Participants also familiarized themselves with the Bryan Lab’s resources (such as the Glowforge 3D laser printer, Makerspace, flexible learning spaces, wellness studio, and state-of-the-art kitchen). Each day, they ventured outside to explore the Bryan Lab’s outdoor spaces and gardens and learn about the sustainable practices built into the building’s design. Mrs. Kauffman led a session dedicated to outdoor learning and introduced teachers to various ways to connect their curriculum to nature. She also showed faculty the various spaces around campus that can be used for outdoor learning.