How might we build resiliency in students to take ownership of their learning journey?
Oh, how true are the words “Someday is not a day on the calendar….” I am experiencing some real external pressure that steers me from the question that has taken me to the Meca that is Toronto twice. This alone is the largest consideration that I need to take into account, actually DOING THE WORK to facilitate this design thinking process. To exemplify my ingenious mindset, “at the 11th hour” I will work through a series of 5 How might I questions to truly dive into my considerations.
How might I truly do the work required to test my questions?
One of the major considerations I have taken is designing unit plans with corrections and learning moments being focal points. As they work through different steps of a project/portfolio,etc, making sure there is feedback taking place?
How might I expand this model to make it a part of the culture?
Adding valuable peer feedback to the process is key. I already implement presentation feedback so that the students are engaged, but adding questions to ask instead of the vanilla” You spoke good”.
How might I integrate the material I cover in Discovery 9 and 10 into creating this culture of feedback and questioning to improve?
Discovery 9 slogan: “Discovery yourself”, D10 slogan ” Discover your place in the world”. These classes are the main reason I am booking flights and hotels to attend the beautiful meeting of the mind. I must take into consideration how I go about molding these courses, leading with my Question.
How might I facilitate the development of the other teachers teaching Discovery 9 and 10?
As it stands right now, I am the constant in the Discovery teaching wheel, while Associate faculty are assigned to teach discovery 9 and 10. Next year there may be 2 new teachers that I have to teach the material to. I have had good success so far this year, as I encourage the new teachers to bring new aspects to the course and one has taught me about true lesson planning and the finer details while the other about going with the flow to get the most out of the students.
How might I take advantage of the next 2 sessions to truly refine my question and build a process that is both rewarding and renewing?
As I advance in my career, I have taken the approach of an eager clerk working a busy front desk. Taking on all questions and carrying all the luggage I can find so that I can gain experience and prove my worth. I feel now that although I still want to put in the work to run a successful Hotel of learning, I wish to be able to take a step back and select what I put my time and energy into to fulfill my career and truly help students make a difference in their lives with what I have been responsible for.
Thank you for sharing the depths of your cohort and larger experience @bpineau , and thank you for inviting us in. It is so exciting that you are at a point in your journey of slowing down, reducing and focusing. Your Discovery course is sounding very much like a quest. Many experiences will comprise it, and the feedback cycle will work to support it, offering direction and refinement. I wonder if you’ve explored presenting Discovery in that manner – transforming your slogans into questions, keeping them highly visible and continually returning to them. What if the culmination of the quest was to in some way respond to the question, drawing from the many experiences along the way: ‘What have you discovered about yourself”. You could use the design protocols you’re interacting with through cohort to facilitate student design of culmination. Can’t wait to follow this journey Brett!
@jmedved
@gnichols
@lbettencourt
Thanks for this Brett – I love the Hotel analogy. It speaks to you taking into account your own sustainability, and ability to step back. Seeing the larger picture is critical in understanding how the systems and structures of school work and how they shape the lives experience of students and faculty.
Hi @bpineau! Your blog post had made me curious about what Discovery 9 and 10 is! I’m assuming they are courses, but I’m not familiar with this terminology. Either way, I think Brendan Black (it’s not letting me tag him!) is who you want to connect with tomorrow. He has done some inspiring work around authentic student assessment and their involvement in that process.