Chopped Challenge! Learn.Blend.Lead
As an educator, I see the need for my students to have an authentic audience for their work. Although I may expect that for my students, I don't always find myself posting what I'm learning and reflecting on throughout the school year. This will be a place where I can express what resonates with me as a teacher.
For the course I'm taking with Michigan Virtual, Learn.Blend.Lead, we were asked to express what blended learning means to us only using the materials from our, as seen on TV, "Chopped basket".
The contents of the "Mystery Basket":
Legos
a Police Car
three crayons- green orange, and red
a pencil
an envelope
After some thought, being an English teacher, I decided that these mystery items could all be wrapped up in the metaphorical envelope to explain my thoughts on blended learning.
The Legos represent the work of teachers. The most important is a strong base, our classroom environment and the level of trust between all of the learners in the room, myself included. We layer on our students' prior knowledge, our standards, and the delivery of our content (blended learning being not just using technology- but it's the way of integrating technology to deepen learning).
The crayons and pencil represent the way students learn. We don't all learn with a traditional pencil. Some students need to be learning with the green crayon or the red crayon or the orange crayon. Learning looks different for every learner. You can help meet the needs of your students when you blend and differentiate learning for your students whether it's through remediation, instruction, or to accelerate our learners. Blended Learning allows us to color in a variety of ways. We can use technology to meet our students where they are at.
The police car might represent what it feels like when you let go of the reigns in your classroom and give your students voice and choice through blended learning. Students can represent their learning in a variety of ways with blended learning, and you might feel like you're speeding after a racing car at times, but that's ok! Give your students room to breathe, explore, and engage with the content at their own pace.
Deanna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your post. I loved the metaphorical envelope and thinking about how you can wrap up your thoughts on blended learning. I also thought your use of the crayons was right on, every student learns differently and as the teacher you have an understanding of how to meet their needs. While giving choice can feel a bit out of control or letting go of the reigns in the end that is what forces not only our students to grow, but us as educators as well. Great post!
It appears that Stacey and I pick out the same favorite lines in everyone's post! I, too, love your reference to the crayons and pencils. Learning looks different for every student - and for teachers as students. Love your metaphors! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat great metaphors! Letting go of the reins was the hardest part for me initially, but once I did, the ride was exhilarating! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what you were going to do with that police car...I love it! We need to give kids the opportunity to "breathe, explore, and engage with the content at their own pace."
ReplyDelete~Val