This video about student’s projects is what I believe in. It can tell much more about the power of learning than any educator’s discourse…
I believe in
- the power of students’ creations
- learning by doing
- creating connections among students
- monitoring their work rather than pouring information
- the value of each one’s discoveries
- the sense of being able to produce something of value to one and to others
- personalizing information
- letting learners find hidden worlds and exploring their own worlds
- helping learners develop their multiliteracies skills that will enable you to solve life-long issues in their personal and professional lives
One day things changed. I was doing this project with the class in which they had to plan and present and advertisement to the group raising awareness to a certain social issue. It could be a Turn TV off day, whatever. Well, we didn’t finish the project in one class, and I told them that they could think over during the week and if they wanted to present something in any kind of media, I’d bring my laptop the following class. Surprise. The cool, couldn’t-care-less dude left his classmates in awe with his topic and presentation.
Lesson: learners are paying attention to you. Just let them do something that taps into their interest, that drives them that they will surface and surprise you!
Thanks Carla for this post and the video- In a perfect world, every classroom would be a “Student Inspiration Center”…. I’m out of the regular classroom for the first time this year as a tech integrator and miss working with a core group. I loved in the video how the students come back to assist in the center and also teach each other, community members and students outside the program. That’s how change and growth spreads- from a grassroots effort that turns heads and inspires.
Dear Nancy,
Just like you, I miss the interaction with a f2f class! I’m teaching online now, and though I just love it, the dynamics is totally different from being there f2f with students.
The video is a true inspiration and I thought like sharing it because it shows the impact on learning when you let it happen in different formats promoting creativity, letting inspiration exhale from so many brilliant minds and talents around us. Certainly, this is an ideal situation, but there little steps that we can start incorporating in our own teaching practices that can make a difference.
So, as a tech integrator, are you training teachers? What have you been doing to help them organize their own “student inspiration centers”? I’d love to know more about that because when I get back to Brazil I’ll keep on giving support to the teachers at my school in edtech issues.