Teachers as designers, quite a concept. With all the information that we are expected to get across to students we as teachers have been become routine in our teaching, checking off all of the boxes. I've learned, that even with the high expectations and volume of content we are expected to cover, there still needs to be room for design. Teachers need to design opportunities for students to thrive, have choice, and be in charge of their learning. I typically hold a pretty tight grasp on my students when I want them to learn through exploration because I am afraid of failing them, that they aren't going to learn what is required. Through reading the article this week, I need to become open to uncertainty and failure. If a design I have created doesn't work for my group of students, I can revise it, make it better, or even toss it out, THAT'S OKAY! I need to remind myself of that. It is okay to try new things, that is what we want our students to do anyway!
In my classroom I like to have my students participate in project based learning. I design an essential question that I want the students to solve. Typically, I have it pretty scaffolded, however, I need to let the students do the learning. I do not need to be the person always feeding them information. I need to design opportunities to investigate and come to their own understanding and conclusion. It is definitely a different mindset that will take time getting used to, but it is truly for the benefit of my students. I need to be adventurous, take risks, and allow myself to be a DESIGNER!
Jordyn,
ReplyDeleteIt's like you wrote my assignment for me! I have expressed those same thoughts of fear of letting students down and fear of letting go so many times in other reflections! Giving yourself the freedom to let go is so hard! I continue to battle it -- and it takes time. I just keep telling myself "small steps" -- introduce one new thing a quarter or semester depending on the "size" of that project/problem.
You talk of students "com[ing] to their own understanding and conclusion." I am looking for ways to assess their understanding and conclusions (that isn't overly time consuming) and yet still checks the boxes on the knowledge they are supposed to glean. Let me know is there is something you've found that works for you.
FYI...this is Brandi. I didn't realize it would post "Unknown"...apparently I have to change my profile.
DeleteJordyn,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it changes much either as a young student or an adult - it is hard to take risks and who wants to fail?! I think we put so much pressure on our students even unknowingly that that must always get the answer right. Over the past year or so I have been observing students in STEAM activities - it goes much better with the K-2 grades but the older the student there is less risk and only trying to find the "correct" answer. Sometimes there is no correct answer and that just blows their minds. I think testing kind of ruins them - so it is great to see you giving your students challenges to think about. Even in our own practice of teaching we are trying things that don't always work but I am not sure our students understand that and can be ok with themselves if it doesn't work out the first time.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteI so relate to your thinking on allowing failure! With so much emphasis these days on accountability and test grades, it is pretty daunting to go to a CLT and have to face the "how many passed and how many failed" powerpoint of the SOLs, which stresses me out so much, and makes me take my eyes off the prize, which I see is not to pass a dang test, but to prepare them to be thinkers and problem solvers.
Hello Jordyn,
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking what Dawn said to us in our first class about design being messy at times and trying to let go and be more of a risk taker. Students can explore on their own and then we are there when they fail or things get messy to pull back, pick up the pieces and try again. It helps to take little steps and try new things with our students. I am glad I have administrators that are on board with trying new things. Also, I keep some of the old tricks in my pocket to pull out when I need them.
Life is all about failure at times and finding new things to continue on towards being successful.
Keep up the great work!