Every day is a new opportunity to learn something new. Learning is not always easy, and can be challenging at times, but we should never give up. We should continue to have the opportunity to grow from our learning challenges and challenge the mindset we may have. As educators, we must not only have a plan for ourselves to grow and to join the slow and steady race of growing our growth mindset, but also have a plan to help our learners grow their growth mindset. Throughout the journey of conquering the course on creating a significant learning environment, I was able to think of myself and who I am as a learner. I was able to create learning philosophy, and out who I am as a learner through studying different learning theories and styles. I was able to read the book by Thomas and Brown (2011) called “A New Culture of Learning” where I was able to look pass the traditional classroom and explore what a classroom that allows learners to use their passion, imagination, and questioning may look like and how it can successfully change a student's perception and motivation on learning.
In my classroom setting I hope to improve critical literacy for all learners with the use of digital tools and hands on activities. My learners include students with vast abilities and talents that are ready to learn. This includes students with intellectual disabilities, autism, down syndrome, English learners, and many more. The one most amazing talent that all my students have is the ability to work, play, and dance together. Through my innovation project, I want to allow my students to be able to have choice, ownership, and voice in their own authentic presentations of their growth in learning. Being allowed to explore and create their new creations of their learning through writing books, telling stories, role-playing, and filming will allow their motivation and discovery flourish through critical literacy. During the course I was able to create my Finks 3-tier column table to align outcomes, assessments, and activities that aligns with a professional learning course that I am creating in another course that I am taking the semester. Lastly, was introduced to the Understanding by Design (UbD) Template, which can be used to design lesson plans, outcomes, and assessments with the end in mind. I was able to create my own UbD Template to go along with my professional learning course as well on using Book Creator to enhance critical literacy, differentiation, and technology in the classroom environment.
References Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of Success.Ballantine Books.
Fink, D. L. (2013). Creating significant learning experiences: An instructor's handbook (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Harapnuik, D. (n.d.). COVA vs traditional. it's about learning. from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7003
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, Ky, USA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). ASCD.
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