Tag: flipped classroom

Importance of Ownership

October 8th, 2022

Giving opportunities for learners to own their learning is vital to mastery. This is prefaced by also allowing for choice in that learning. Over the last 4 months, I have spent countless hours reflecting on how I can create a learning environment that will provide choice and ownership to my own students.

Choice and ownership look different in my classroom than in others. This is partly due to my responsibility to prepare my learners for a required state test. My focus is on giving my learners autonomy and choice. This has been a struggle these first weeks of school. Even with clear deadlines for assessments, my learners struggled to find the motivation to fulling immerses themselves in the learning. The consequences have been the failure to understand the concepts in these first 2 units of study. This may be a reflection of my implementation strategy.

My Innovation Project that I am working on through my graduate program is to see a full implementation of a flipped classroom, a blended learning strategy that is discussed by Horn et al. (2014). The students would watch lesson videos at home and the work that would traditionally be assigned as homework is completed in class with my support available. This would also allow for more time for inventions and extensions with my learners.

With the beginning of a new unit, I shifted my approach. I am structuring class time more purposely in hopes of having them see how to use their time most effectively. As I have reached the end of the first term, most of my learners have made progress and I have witnessed growth.

We still have work to do. And it starts with me. How can I continue to adjust and reflect on my practices for the benefit of my learners? How can I continue to better provide choice, ownership, and voice? Harapnuik et al. (2018) suggest it begins with me, the educator. I have to find a way to relinquish control of their learning. I must remember that I love my students and I care enough about them to let them learn through their struggles. It does no favor to eliminate those hardships.

References

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018, January). COVA (0.9) [EBook]. Creative Commons License. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7291

Horn, M. B., Staker, H., & Christensen, C. M. (2014). Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.

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Finding Success in the ADL Program

September 3rd, 2022

When I made the decision to return to school to pursue my graduate degree, I did a lot of research into online programs offered at universities across the country. I found myself also coming back to the Applied Digital Learning (ADL) program at Lamar University. My husband is a recent graduate of Lamar. His experience with his online Business Management program was a positive one. Many of my colleagues have received their master’s from Lamar. It seemed like an institution that would have a great deal to offer any learner seeking a graduate degree.

The ADL program is unique and appeals to my love of learning and technology. I was drawn to the fact that the knowledge was immediately applicable to my job. My classroom could be my laboratory. The more I explored the program, the more eager I was to get started. I found Dr. Harapunik’s ePortfolio and my excitement grew. As I read through posts and course tips and resources, I found what I was looking for.

The most appealing part of the ADL program is it looks very different for each learner. I did not have any idea about the opportunities to collaborate and learn from my peers that are outside of the world of public education. My network will expand with every course I take. I find myself exploring ideas and possibilities that could take me outside of the classroom. I see my goals and ambitions changing as I navigate each course. I see this as the key to my success in the ADL program.

Messy office desk by Markus Spiske is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

The passion I have for learning and teaching can lead me to a path that is different from the one I have traversed these last 12 years. One of the reasons that motivated me to get my master’s was the stress I have experienced over the last few years. I was hoping to find my “why.” The “why” that lead me to become a teacher. My realization is that I do want to teach and guide others to find their full capacity as a learner. What is now clear is that I can accomplish that in other settings and not just as a public school teacher. My future as an educator and a learner is more exciting than I had originally imagined.

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Implementation Outline

July 14th, 2022

Thank you for leaving your feedback and suggestions as comments to this blog post. Your assistance will help me be the best teacher for my future learners!

_Flipping the Script__ Implemetation Outline
I Am Change & a Sense of Urgency

July 14th, 2022
Words have a lasting impact. We often hear the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” Body language and tone of voice are just as impactful as words.

By creating a visual representation of my innovation proposal, I hope to convey the importance of changing our learning approach in our Algebra 1 classrooms. The goal is for my audience, my administrators, my department chair, and the school community, to realize my sincere intentions of providing the most beneficial classroom environment for our learners. The opportunity that a flipped classroom will afford the students to find their voice and ownership.

The point of view that I must take with my media plea is one of our community. Here are some questions I need to answer:
- Will the benefits go beyond our Algebra I classrooms?
- How can this model’s employment inspire educators in other subject and content areas?
- How will I support those joining in my vision?
- Where do my colleagues stand in their comfort level of technology in the classroom?
- What does the teacher’s role look like? What does the student’s role look like?
- How do we ensure the success of a blended learning model?
- Do we need to utilize other models and create a hybrid model of our own?
- What support do I need to implement and ensure the success of my innovation project?
I think my words and research will help me do this, but I have to convince my audience that I truly BELIEVE it is a necessary change for ultimately the whole of our school community. This is the most important piece of my proposal, my belief. With that mindset, I do not see how we can fail!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

References

Crucial Learning. (2015, January 5). How to change people who don’t want to change | The Behavioral Science Guys [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ACi-D5DI6A&feature=youtu.be

Words, P. O. (2010, February 23). The power of words [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&feature=youtu.be