Thursday, October 17, 2019
Students as Designers
As someone who is very much a Type A personality, it scares me to let go of the reins and let students soar. I need to remember that there is no one way, best way, or optimal solution. I need to scaffold for my students in order for them to design. I do not need to set strict parameters, it is important for students to show their creativity. I want my students to use their imagination and feel as though they are learning through their own design and creation. If we do not allow students to design at a young age, it will be a foreign concept to them as they get older. What have you done in your classroom to allow your students to be designers?
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Students in my class are given choices in their learning. Everyone learns differently and by giving choices students are more engaged in their learning. They are excited to use new tools to guide them in their designs. Last week I used Flip Grid with students to work on fluency in their reading. They listened to themselves read and practiced at home. We will use Flip Grid again with the same story to hopefully see improvement in reading orally.
ReplyDeleteVery good insight that there is not one best way - that can be hard to grasp and let the kids just go. That part is growing for me especially this year as I am exploring STEAM centers. The students really need this opportunity to design and create and let go that there is no one answer or way to do things. I have seen first hand that it is harder as they get older because they are looking for that right answer. I read a story last January "how to catch a snowman" and then the students had to design a trap. They all had the same supplies and some of the designs were amazing - I did it with the young classes (1st & 2nd) and had one 4th grade class do it. The 4th graders really struggled. So this year I have several centers where they just create and it fun it see what they come up with.
ReplyDeleteLet me answer your question about what I have done to allow my students be designers: I have let them talk and build a product from scratch using a rubric I have given them in the past. Was it fun, and creative? YES! Can it be improved? DEFINITELY! I think teaching is a long design process, and every year we discover something that speaks to us, and if we can "translate it" successfully to the kids, it is a great day!
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