I am in the process of reading Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities by Harapnuik, Thibodeaux, and Cummings. They define learning as “coming to know by making meaningful connections” (2018, p. 17).  This quote makes me think about the teenagers I teach. They thirst to make connections, and the connections they seek the most often are social connections.  They learn from each other; they learn from the Internet; they learn from complete strangers.  Additionally, they are more willing to work hard and seek solutions if there is a social element to the learning process.  With few exceptions, this generation of students works best when they work collaboratively, and many of them already have an Internet presence and voice.  They publish videos that they make and poems or short stories that they write.

As I reflect upon my readings about CSLE+COVA, I am beginning to change my mindset about when and how students learn. Instead of lecturing students that they need to put their phones away or close their Chromebooks, why not encourage them to use their devices in a positive way that promotes true learning?  As Harapnuik says in his post “Why Use an ePortfolio?” grades do not reflect a learner’s true skills and abilities.  A number shows how much of something a student knew on a particular day.  By harnessing the power of ePortfolios, learners are able to show no only what they have know, but what they are able to do.  They are able to reflect upon their learning and how to improve.  EPortfolios also allow for easier collaboration student-to-student and teacher-to-student.  We, as educators, should take advantage of students’ drive to make connections and help them to make meaningful connections so that they learn  more deeply. The ePortfolio is a tool that can assist us in that goal.

Reference

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning.

I just finished watching a TED Talk by Margaret Heffernan entitled Why It’s Time To Forget about Pecking Order at Work. She is an engaging speaker who shares her thoughts in a concrete and logical way. At one point she stated, “Bringing out the best in others is how they found the best in themselves.” Doesn’t that statement encapsulate what teaching is at its core? Although Heffernan was speaking about the business world, her words are equally applicable to the field of teaching and learning. Regardless of whether we are pre-K teachers or college professors, each and every educator should seek to help their students become their best selves, and in doing so, we become better teachers and, I believe, better people. A few years ago I received an award for teaching. As nice as it was to receive that award, my enthusiasm over that etched piece of glass that gathers dust on my shelf pales in comparison to the moments that I recall where my students were truly successful. Helping my students to find success, especially in an area where they thought they were incapable, is why I love what I do. I am humbled to have been allowed to do what I love for so many years.

Reference

TED Talks. (2015, June 16). Why it’s time to forget about pecking order at work [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Vyn_xLrtZaY