There are so many great things happening in education right now.
What I have been reflecting on and appreciating recently are the priorities of
student-centered education and pursuing a deeper level of understanding. In
Alberta our Ministerial Order on Student Learning informs us that all decisions
regarding a child's education must have their best interest as the primary
consideration. Inquiry and discovery are emphasized and technology to support
learning is nonnegotiable. Taking risks is encouraged.
Walls are beginning to be torn down. Conversations around
authentic, meaningful assessment, eliminating traditional final exams,
providing a time for students to take ownership of their learning, to
inquire, to explore, to create and to tinker through methods including
PBL, makerspaces, genius hour, flex time the new Career Technology Foundations
(CTF) program are creeping into daily discussions.
Educators are taking ownership of their learning too. Teachers are directing, initiating and driving their own professional development: ed
camps/unconferences, empowering teacher learners, administrators shifting
focus to creating a culture of learners. All good stuff.
I’ll admit there are days when my head starts to spin and I need
to take a step back and regroup and wonder if I can keep up, but then a
colleague pushes my thinking, questions the “why,” forwards me another tweet,
blog, article or invites me to come and see something new and innovative in
their classroom and I’m reminded of how exciting things are in education right
now and how incredibly fortunate I am to be doing what I'm doing.
No comments:
Post a Comment