In the Ted Talk "The Key to Success? Grit," Angela Lee Duckworth discusses understanding student learning from a motivational and psychological perspective (Duckworth, 2013). As a former 7th grade teacher she was convinced that all of her students could learn, regardless of skill or IQ. She went to graduate school to study Psychology and her research led her to find, over many domains, that one critical trait that was present in all subjects who were overall successful was "grit." She defined this term as passion and perseverance for very long-term goals (Duckworth, 2013). The difficulty she found was how to actually teach grit, and assist someone in developing their work ethic. It’s not easy and the closest thing she found related to developing this skill was research done at Stanford by Carol Dweck, known as “Growth Mindset.” This is the idea that your ability to learn is not fixed, but can change over time. I strongly agree with this concept and would like to work on integrating it into the curriculum I teach. One thing I have noticed in my class is that some students have an immediate need for help with an assignment, or quiz, before they even look at it. They haven’t given themselves an opportunity to sit with it, struggle with it, and think about it. These are the skills that transcend academia, that are applicable to “real-world” problems. Growth mindset goes beyond just having students put forth effort. They need to get used to trying new strategies and asking their peers for their input, if they are getting stuck. I am still learning about this theory, and really want to pursue it more. One important thing that Duckworth mentions is that one’s innate skill doesn’t solely contribute to being successful. I want to emphasize that point to students, and give them an assignment to research one of their heroes. The main point of the assignment is to have students see that their hero had to overcome certain challenges on their road to success. Duckworth, A.L. (2013, May, 9). The Key to Success? Grit. TED TALKS. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8 Learning for me, and I’m sure many others, was never about memorizing facts, dates, and formulas. True learning was the ability to think about a topic or problem critically, use resources I had available, and create a solution or an argument. In most subjects I did not develop the skills to do these things by taking traditional “tests.” This is the same sentiment that is shared by Nicholas Negroponte in the video, “Being Educated.” He wants an overhaul on the entire U.S. educational system. He wants to do away with the inordinate amount of tests being given to our students and shift to more project-based learning strategies. This is in line with how I plan to teach. I want the students to struggle, and think their way through problems. I want them to use prior knowledge, ask questions, and rationalize. I want them to see that the development of this kind of thinking doesn’t stop once you leave the classroom, but will be how they continue to solve problems for the rest of their lives Negroponte is not aimlessly pontificating about education; he backs it up with an example of Finland’s current educational model. Here is a nation that believes in no homework, short class days, and no tests. The central focus is on having students engaged in hands on learning that challenges them to investigate and find the best solution. Technology can be the perfect platform to use to have students discover these skills. Negroponte points out that children who write computer code, often times would be better spellers than children who didn’t, due to problem solving skills they developed while trying to fix broken code. This style of learning promotes students to be “out of the box,” thinkers, which the world needs more of. The answers to the complex problems that we are going to be faced with are not going to be found in the back of a textbook. Negroponte, N. (2015, April, 4). Being Educated. The Brainwaves Video Anthology. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fIuZa_- H60&index=26&list=PLbRLdW37G3oMquOaC-HeUIt6CWk-FzaGp In Grant Wiggin’s article he discusses the insight he gained from shadowing two students for two days. What he learned was invaluable and he wished he had tried this experiment years earlier. It would have certainly altered the way he taught from that point forward.
After walking a mile in 2 students’ shoes, Wiggin’s walked away with a new perspective and a list of things he hopes that future teachers will incorporate into their teaching. To promote alertness and mitigate the likelihood of students falling asleep, I would encourage them to bring in a refillable water bottle to keep them hydrated, and have them get up in the middle of class for a brief exercise. Depending on school rules, I would also allow them to eat in class. The second thing that Wiggin’s observed was that for most of the day students are being “talked at,” and not being engaged in the lesson. A solution to this problem is something that my master teacher does, which is to split up the period into 3 activities, with a lot of group interaction. She also has an egg timer, so she stays on track. The activities involve having the students do something that checks for understanding of the lesson. The third thing that he found was students sometimes are afraid to speak up if they do not feel a connection with the teacher. To bridge this gap I would want to spend a lot of time in the beginning of school to promote community building, emphasizing the idea that our classroom is a safe space, and getting to know my students better. One thing in particular that my master teacher did was to have the students write out on an index card 3 things about themselves. The first was something general (I like the Chargers). The second was something a little more specific (I have 3 sisters). The third was something they believed was unique to them (I can sing). What we noticed was when we read off all 3 things and the students kept singing down until that person was left standing, other students realized they shared a lot in common with that person. Wiggins, G. (2014, October, 10). A veteran teacher turned coach shadows 2 students for 2 days- a sobering lesson learned. Wordpress. https://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned/ In the article, “How to Get a Job at Google,” we learn that Google’s hiring manager is blasé when it comes to GPA, or which prestigious school the applicant went to. He is more concerned with 5 traits that a Harvard education doesn’t necessarily provide you. The five traits are: humility, leadership, collaboration, adaptability, and a strong desire towards learning. I appreciate the fact that Google looks deeper and wants their employees to be able to think on their feet, problem solve, and not have an ego getting in the way of the overall success of the team. I agree with this philosophy. I lean towards the side of experience over grade point average. I want to not only teach my students content but also strong character traits that employers will be looking for. They are going to need to know how to work on a team, and not take it personally if someone doesn’t automatically agree with their idea. This combines humility with collaboration. I want to teach a student that instead of getting upset or resentful if their idea is not accepted right away, think about the overall goal and what’s best for the team. The best skills to teach in school for the development of these traits are listening, and communication. Adaptability is an important trait that some students are somehow able to avoid for a long time. Having kids realize that you can plan, prepare, and practice as much as you want, but things are still going to occur that are beyond your control. You cannot control these things, but you do control how you react to them. If you’re relying on technology and it goes out, "what do you do?” This is a way to get your students to think on their feet and not overreact. Employers want to know that you can handle unforeseen events, and still have the ability to adjust. Being a leader can be an important thing for students to learn early in their high school careers. Having them realize that it doesn’t mean they are a dictator, and simply tell others “what to do,” but rather they are there to help others do the best work they can. Teaching students who want to be leaders, important qualities that make up a strong leader can really motivate them. This leads into a strong desire to learn. By giving students more responsibility around the classroom, the hope is that they want to continue to learn, improve , and it sets them up for success in the future. Incorporating activities that exemplify all of these traits would be extraordinarily beneficial for anyone’s class. Friedman, T. (2014, February, 22). How to get a Job at Google. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html?_r=3 In the Ted Talk titled, “Hackschooling makes me Happy,” Logan Laplante points out that one crucial thing lacking from our conventional education system is "lifestyle balance literacy." These are the different areas of one’s lifestyle that contribute to physical, spiritual and mental well-being. The expectation by teachers and administrators is that these skills are learned at home, and the children should come to school prepared to learn the curriculum. The connection is that if a student is happy and healthy they will be much more inclined to learn. My ability to learn something new increases when I am not stressed about something else. When my head is clear I am not distracted and I can give my full attention to whatever lesson is being presented. I strongly agree with Logan, and believe that these “lifestyle literacy skills,” should be in some way developed in schools. This is something that I want to incorporate into my teaching. Emphasizing to students that they need to take care of themselves. This is a lifelong process, so developing good habits early on can really set them up for a healthy, happy, prosperous life. I understand that PE and Health class exist in all high schools, but I don’t think students view those classes as ways to enhance their life and restore order. Most probably view them as just another class they have to take. Technology, such as this video, can go a long way in educating students in the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle and what that can mean in terms of their ability to learn. If the students are eating right, staying active, and dealing with the stresses of everyday life in a healthy way, they are more present in the classroom and can devote more attention to learning. At the beginning of the year I would show my students this video, or a similar one to get them thinking about maintaining a healthy balance in lifestyle. Students could help each other with suggestions, and we could follow up periodically throughout the year to discuss what people are doing to stay happy and promote health. Laplante, L. (2013, February 10). Hackschooling makes me happy. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY Before watching “Instagram, I Love You,” I had a very narrow view of what Instagram was, and what people used it for. “Instagram? Isn’t that just selfies and pictures of food,” I thought. My beliefs were hollow, and really only influenced by what others had said, and not based on anything I personally experienced by using the app. Someone making a video to educate me on the utility of Instagram really changed my outlook. This is how technology can promote learning on the individual level. When people have their minds made up about something, even if it is based on little or no facts, it can be difficult to get them to re-consider. Something like making a video, and editing it well can be the perfect tool to use to educate or re-educate someone. People can then share it across social media platforms with their friends and make it viral. This is how it can promote learning on a group level. If I watch a video and it really inspires me or makes me re-think something, I always post it, or send to friends. I am a visual learner. So by watching something, even if it’s on a topic I might not necessarily agree with, I will still watch it. Watching the video made me think about how I learn. Here was an app that I never bothered to use because of social stigma, and after watching a 5-minute video on how it can be used more effectively my opinion changed drastically. I think that question of “How?,” we learn is an important one to think about, and I feel that it starts with attitude, and open mindedness. Everything can be “terrible,” if you are just listening to someone else and not keeping an open mind to see if something can be used to benefit you in anyway. This made me think that this could be an extension of how I want to teach, which is tell students, “never dismiss something until you can honestly say you’ve exhausted all possibilities to make it work for you.” Neistat, C. (2012, October, 2). Instagram, I Love You. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GacoqdKjVyE In “From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able,” Michael Wesch proposes a new approach of teaching students. It moves away from the traditional method of simply having them retain dates, facts, and concepts, to a practice of discussing complex issues and working towards resolving them via technology. Wesch’s main point is that as technology evolves and new media is developed, those with access have an ability to control what is news and how it gets talked about. Those voices used to belong to the nightly news anchors on cable television, however now if you have a smart phone and a Youtube account you can construct a video, post it and it has the potential to be shared with millions of people. Wesch wants students to know that they have the power to discover, organize, examine, and produce new information. This should be the focus in schools. I found this concept to be very powerful, and very relevant. The best example of a way to implement this new learning style is the “Free Hugs” video. One class assignment could be to have students select an issue or a topic they feel is not getting enough coverage on the news, and make a short commercial trying to raise awareness. This simple assignment can empower the student, inspiring them to go further with the topic. Michael Wesch contends that in the digital era we as educators need to make students aware that being a critical thinker is not enough to facilitate change. This is a practical first step in making students realize that the solutions to the real-life problems of the future are not going to be “on the test.” This is great way to empower the students and prepare them to take ownership of their learning, because they cannot simply rely on a lecture, or a textbook. Wesch, M. (2010, October, 12). From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeaAHv4UTI8 In his video, “Visitors and Residents,” Dr. Dave White explains his theory that many people do not develop an online presence, partly due to security reasons, but mainly because they don’t see any value in it. He compartmentalizes online users into two groups. The first group is “Visitors,” who temporarily stay online, and use the web more as a tool. The other group is “Residents,” who have a more permanent existence online, making them known, and viewing the web as a shared space. White attempts to dispel a lot of misconceptions people have about creating an online identity and also states that, as an online user, you don’t have to be on one polar side of the spectrum, but can fall somewhere in between. The first rumor is that “communal doesn’t necessarily mean collaborative.” He’s saying that you can be a member of a group online, but still have limited to no interaction or participation. This includes commenting, or posting on different social media sites. White also states that there is no correlation with how well you can build a network of followers, to how well you can research or evaluate a topic. I appreciated this video because it gave me great perspective on how to view creating and maintaining an online presence. It broke my narrow-minded view that “Resident” type users are strictly egomaniacs. It also made me realize that you don’t have to pick just one side of the spectrum, because if you discover a platform online and you can benefit from its utility then you unabashedly should. At one point in time I saw myself being as far over to the side of Visitor as one could get, but recently, and especially after watching this video I am moving towards the middle. I do see the value in creating a strong online presence, but I also know now what responsibilities come with that. I recognize myself as a visitor in the sense that I didn’t see a value in building a network online, when I had a preexisting network offline. White help clarified this for me by saying it can be a way to extend those current relationships. White, D. (2013, May, 31). Visitors and Residents. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFBadv04eY |
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