“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” - Maya Angelou.
My students and colleagues deserve my best. As I have traversed through the Digital Leading and Learning program, I have lived COVA + CSLE, but it has been a journey. A journey like no other.
From the beginning, I understood that I had the freedom and responsibility to choose and take ownership of learning through authentic projects, however, it is difficult to adapt to this way of learning. Educational norms consist of being told what to learn, memorize a ton of information, and answer questions. COVA (choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities) and CSLE (creates a significant learning environment) combine to create a learner-centered approach to education (Harapnuik, Thibodeaux, & Cummings, 2018) allowing students to take control of their learning.
It took me months to adjust to this style of learning. In the beginning, turning in every project caused nerve-racking worry. I hit the enter button quickly when turning in assignments before more doubt raised its head. Work was returned by professors and feedback was sometimes difficult to hear, but listening to every piece of advice, researching ideas, and brainstorming with colleagues helped develop ideas and skills far beyond my expectations. Choosing to not accept feedback, is choosing to not grow. Acting on any advice is an option, but listening and considering the advice is not. To adjust to this style of learning takes time. Building self-confidence and a growth mindset does not happen overnight. Going back, I wish I would have had an open mind coming into the program instead of the preconceive notions from previous educational experiences. Knowing that this learning experience would be like no other I have ever seen may have prepared me more, but the struggles I faced were necessary for growth.
As a mathematics instructional coach, I have been in a leadership position for several years. Researching, creating, and implementing a Professional Learning Plan, has increased my confidence and effectiveness as a leader. During the 2019-2020 school year, I began implementing my Innovation Plan. There is still much work to be done, but I believe using blended learning with middle school students will pave the road for digital learning in high school and college.
My learning philosophy is from the constructivist point of view. The COVA concept shares this view. Students will understand and remember concepts if the concept can be connected to the student’s life. By using authentic learning experiences, students have the opportunity to not only connect concepts to their lives but also choose how to make that connection which leads to deeper understanding.
When I began teaching over 20 years ago, my math classes contained many hands-on real-life experiences. As time progressed, I watched education change; focusing on test scores instead of students. The way we teach must change to prepare students for the future. We no longer live in the industrial age where knowing facts is all we need. We must focus on applications, helping students understand how and why they can apply a concept in their lives.
Implementing the COVA approach in the classroom will take time, however, this approach shows true mastery of a concept and will help students retain the information. I have created one complete Instructional Plan for the Geometry unit. Plans for other units are in development and will be ready for implementation soon. I meet with my mathematics team at least three times a week. We have conversations about student learning. We agree that students need to connect concepts to their lives to make connections. As we implement these lessons, tweaks and make changes will occur as we see issues, but having open conversions with our students and with each other will help us develop the best learning environment for our students.
I look forward to the next school year and I am excited to share my knowledge with others. When I began the Digital Learning and Leading master’s program, I was not sure where my journey would take me. I have learned how to make a difference in my classroom, school, district, and beyond. This is just the beginning. The journey continues.
Resources:
A quote by Maya Angelou. (n.d.). Retrieved June 13, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7273813-do-the-best-you-can-until-you-know-better-then
Harapnuik, D. K., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Cummings, C. D. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7
From the beginning, I understood that I had the freedom and responsibility to choose and take ownership of learning through authentic projects, however, it is difficult to adapt to this way of learning. Educational norms consist of being told what to learn, memorize a ton of information, and answer questions. COVA (choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities) and CSLE (creates a significant learning environment) combine to create a learner-centered approach to education (Harapnuik, Thibodeaux, & Cummings, 2018) allowing students to take control of their learning.
It took me months to adjust to this style of learning. In the beginning, turning in every project caused nerve-racking worry. I hit the enter button quickly when turning in assignments before more doubt raised its head. Work was returned by professors and feedback was sometimes difficult to hear, but listening to every piece of advice, researching ideas, and brainstorming with colleagues helped develop ideas and skills far beyond my expectations. Choosing to not accept feedback, is choosing to not grow. Acting on any advice is an option, but listening and considering the advice is not. To adjust to this style of learning takes time. Building self-confidence and a growth mindset does not happen overnight. Going back, I wish I would have had an open mind coming into the program instead of the preconceive notions from previous educational experiences. Knowing that this learning experience would be like no other I have ever seen may have prepared me more, but the struggles I faced were necessary for growth.
As a mathematics instructional coach, I have been in a leadership position for several years. Researching, creating, and implementing a Professional Learning Plan, has increased my confidence and effectiveness as a leader. During the 2019-2020 school year, I began implementing my Innovation Plan. There is still much work to be done, but I believe using blended learning with middle school students will pave the road for digital learning in high school and college.
My learning philosophy is from the constructivist point of view. The COVA concept shares this view. Students will understand and remember concepts if the concept can be connected to the student’s life. By using authentic learning experiences, students have the opportunity to not only connect concepts to their lives but also choose how to make that connection which leads to deeper understanding.
When I began teaching over 20 years ago, my math classes contained many hands-on real-life experiences. As time progressed, I watched education change; focusing on test scores instead of students. The way we teach must change to prepare students for the future. We no longer live in the industrial age where knowing facts is all we need. We must focus on applications, helping students understand how and why they can apply a concept in their lives.
Implementing the COVA approach in the classroom will take time, however, this approach shows true mastery of a concept and will help students retain the information. I have created one complete Instructional Plan for the Geometry unit. Plans for other units are in development and will be ready for implementation soon. I meet with my mathematics team at least three times a week. We have conversations about student learning. We agree that students need to connect concepts to their lives to make connections. As we implement these lessons, tweaks and make changes will occur as we see issues, but having open conversions with our students and with each other will help us develop the best learning environment for our students.
I look forward to the next school year and I am excited to share my knowledge with others. When I began the Digital Learning and Leading master’s program, I was not sure where my journey would take me. I have learned how to make a difference in my classroom, school, district, and beyond. This is just the beginning. The journey continues.
Resources:
A quote by Maya Angelou. (n.d.). Retrieved June 13, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7273813-do-the-best-you-can-until-you-know-better-then
Harapnuik, D. K., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Cummings, C. D. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7