“Creatively
adapting to change on our path to life-long learning”
Identifying reoccurring themes that occurred throughout my research as well as
important terms I felt embodied the concept of “21st Century Learning” helped
build the foundation for my motto. This compilation of terms was combined to
create an image using the online program Tagxedo.
From there I pinpointed the terms I felt were the most important and developed
my motto from there.
I chose this motto because I believe one of the key skills a person needs in
order to successfully adjust to the 21st Century Learning is the
ability to adapt to change. The concept of change is an idea that I encountered
several times throughout my research. Adapting to change is also one of
the key components identified in the Partnership for 21st Century
Skills Framework (2009). Simply adapting to change isn’t enough, however, we
must do it in a way that is creative, innovative and in a way that prepares
students to be learners for life.
Several resources influenced the direction I took with my motto. One I
found that I would like to share is a PowerPoint by Kim Cofino that I believe
exemplifies precisely what a 21st Century Learner looks like.
The 21st Century Learner from Kim Cofino
Addition
resources that contributed include:
Technology Integration
For The New 21st Century Learner by Nancye Blair
Teach Like A
Pirate by Dave Burgess
How Do You
Define 21st-century learning? By Education Week
P21
Framework Definitions by Partnership for 21st Century Skills
21st-CenturyLearner by Mark
Stevens
A New Culture of
Learning by Thomas, D., & Seely Brown, J.
How do I adapt to change in my
environment?
“Enjoying success requires the ability
to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get
the most from your talent” –Nolan Ryan
Being able to adapt to change within
your environment is an essential skill to master according to the P21 Framework
(2009). Over the past few
years as a result of the shift in our education school systems, I’ve had
several different situations in which I’ve needed to respond/adapt to
change. One big change deals with
the increased need to include digital tools/program within the classroom. Due to this sudden change I’ve had learn
several tools/programs all at once. While overwhelming at first, I’ve learned
several strategies that I can use to cope with this demand. One strategy is to allow myself time to
just play with the technology.
Experience it for myself.
In addition to my own experiences, I know that I can also find useful
information about certain programs on the web. One website that I found, in
which I frequent a lot this year is called Atomic Learning. Atomic Learning is
an online training resource that offers thousands of tutorials on current
technology tools and programs that could be used within the classroom. I’ve used this site over a dozen times
already this year to help figure out how to use programs such as Prezi and
notebook, as well as how to perform specific tasks using my Smart Board.
Although I am not found of the time it takes to learn all these programs, I do
it because I know it will benefit my students in the long run. I know that by learning these tools I
will be better able to “engage students with real world data, tools and experts
they will encounter in college, on the job, and in life . . .” (P21, 2009).
Simply learning about different technology tools/programs is not enough
however, I must also figure out how I can use those tools to help facilitate my
students learning. Due to my
limited experience, I rely heavily on research I conduct online. In addition to research, which is
primarily one sided (me looking for the data), I am not beginning to engage
with my PLN more. I am using
technology tools such as blogging and twitter and expanding my Professional
Network to include people whom of which I’ve never met before. While this in itself doesn’t sound too
impressive to most, it’s a big step for me.
In addition to the strategies I noted
about, some other useful strategies I use to adapt to change include:
-Taking a
step back and re-evaluating the situation
Being
able to pause and reflect upon the success or failure of something is an act of
critical thinking.
-Be open
to new ideas
Change is
inevitable. By being open to new
ideas you are showing flexibility.
-Embrace
your mistakes
We all
make mistakes! Once we accept
that, it become possible to learn and make educated decisions on what we would
do differently next time.
-Ask for
help-collaborate
As much
as I would like to say I know all the answers, I know that I don’t. During change it’s important to be able
to ask for help if needed. It’s
also important to communicate/collaborate with others.
Resources that help with adapting to
change:
How do I support my students in
adapting to change?
In this section, describe the manner in
which you give your students practice and support which will assist them in
working in an ever-changing environment. If you are not yet using these
strategies, describe how you may begin to use them as you move forward helping
students adjust to 21st Century Learning and the 21st Century Economy.
A few of the
ways in which I help support my students in adapting to change are similar to
how I deal with it. More often than not, when students are learning about
a new program or technology tool I always build in time for them to *play* with
it first. By providing students with this opportunity I am embracing
their natural curiosities and allowing them a safe environment to experiment
and test the tool out before we use it. I found in the past that when I
didn't allow for this *play* time before hand, more student were off task and
those that did follow directions were less incline to take risks with a program
in fear that they would get in trouble. Once I started building in time for
exploration of the program before I taught it, I began noticing a larger
percentage of students were on task. I also discovered that students were
more willing to take risks and get creative with their assignments. Students
were beginning to have fun with not only the exploration of the tool, but the
process in which they would go through in order to complete the assignment.
They were engaged and as a result begun to produce more quality work.
One area that I
believe I could give my students practice and support in to help deal with
change could be in the area of collaboration. While I do have students
work in groups and pairs in class, collaboration and communication with others
outside of class is limited. I would like to somehow change this, but other
than using blogs (we've tried before...it was an utter failure), I am at a loss
of ideas...
References
21st Century Schools
Blair, N. (2012, January/February). Technology integration
for the new 21st century learner. Principal. Retrieved from http://www.naesp.org/sites/default/files/Blair_JF12.pdf
Burgess, D. (2012).
Teach like a pirate. San Deigo, CA:
Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
How do you define 21st-century learning?. (2010,
October 11). Education Week. 04(01),
32. Retrieved from
http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2010/10/12/01panel.h04.html
P21 Framework Definitions. (2009). Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf
Stevens, M. (2011, Summer). 21st-century learner.
NEA Today Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/46989.htm
Thomas, D., & Seely Brown, J. (2011). A new culture of learning cultivating the
imagination for a world of constant change.
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-a-PowerPoint-to-Blogger
Hi Amber. I like that you used wordle to come up with you motto. I was playing around with your motto and your wordle and came up with this: Collaboratively and creatively adapting to critical change to relevant learning. I used more of your larger words in wordle assuming that those words were important to your motto.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a couple of typo errors in your writing: "I am not found of the time" I think should be "fond." You wrote "I am not beginning to engage with my PLN more." I was confused by this. Do you mean you want to engage more? And finally, "directions were less incline," I think you meant inclined. Since it is a final paper, I thought you might want the editing remarks.
Amber - nice motto - I like the "creative" part especially, because it implies that just learning a software program, typing a document, or sending an email is nowhere near enough. To me it implies that students will need to use technology to enhance their creativity and to look for ways to innovate. This will surely help them adapt to change, and in all likelihood keep them in a job! :)
ReplyDeleteMy only suggestion is that you keep the focus on that. You stress (convincingly) the need for students to use technology creatively to adapt to change. How have creativity and innovation been a part of your ability to adapt? How can you work in that all-important creativity factor when teaching your students to adapt to change? I'd suggest weaving that in with what you have to keep your focus - it shows you "walk the talk".
Amber,
ReplyDeleteI like that you included a Power Point presentation, something I would not have thought of doing. I also liked you Tagxedo creation! I think it would be fun for my first graders to try! Your strategies for yourself can easily be shared by your students. Share your thinking out loud when you are applying strategies. Play first is what I do with my first graders. I always give them time to explore the manipulatives or tools before starting the lesson. With my fifth grade students that I tutor, I often just give them the site, and have them play with it. They quickly discover everything I would have taken them to anyway.
I really enjoyed your philosophy.
ReplyDeleteGood: It was wonderful how you talked about looking at research to identify best practices to be added to your learning.
Questions: Where do you generally go for your research? Where do you look these things up?
Suggestions: You mentioned that you need to give students time to explore. Maybe you could set a timer when you decide to do this, and just let them go. That way you actually do let them have all the time you planned on. I am a bad judge of time, and I would proobably short them.