Letting Go

As a teacher, what is my role in the classroom?  The answer to this question has changed greatly over the last decade.  Today a teacher is more of a facilitator, an adult who supports the learning environment rather than someone who controls it (Lehmann, 2013).  Has this transition been easy for me?  Absolutely not!  I am excited about the change, but I struggle with the daily release of responsibility that is necessary for student success (Wiggins, 2014).  As professional development opportunities have given me resources and instructional strategies, my pedagogy has evolved; I am incorporating more technology and inquiry-based learning experiences.  I am a believer in the shift!  However, through the shift, I have maintained control.  The time has arrived for me to LET GO.

The question that continuously drives my reflections: how do I make learning relevant and more rigorous?  I present scenarios through word problems where students must evaluate the situation and choose the operation and process to best solve, but that is not enough.  Am I preparing my students for the real game?  Wiggins refers to the idea of transfer, the ability to apply learning to any situation, not just a rehearsed play (2014).  I work to create opportunities for students to apply what they know in a controlled scenario, but I am not confident that students could transfer the skills.  Metacognition must be taught.  We are no longer preparing students for the workforce; we are molding lifelong learners (Lehmann, 2013).  

I am blessed to work in a school that is moving towards one-to-one in the classroom.  I currently house five desktop computers and 15 Chromebooks.  The possibilities are endless for inquiry learning.  A goal for the 2017-2018 school year: make inquiry the norm, not the exception (Wiggins, 2014).  I truly believe that if I allow learning to happen, the results will be long-lasting.  I once heard an educator say that we must not loan knowledge to students; we must help them own it.  By following a model like 5E, I can establish an environment conducive to collaboration, conversation, questioning, and discovery.  In addition, by incorporating problem-based and project-based learning, I can provide a learning environment that better equips students for the game.          

Today's classroom, my classroom, should embrace the culture of progressive education.  Whether teachers are ready, the change from traditional learning is necessary.  I am ready for the challenge!  I have put my feet in the water, testing the temperature, but this year is the year I make the plunge.  I leave with a link to a chart I encountered; the comparison of traditional learning and progressive learning serves as a great reminder of where we have been and where we are headed.

http://www.wingraschool.org/who/progressive.htm   


References

Lehmann, C. (2013, March 28). Inquiry: The very first step in the process of learning [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/OinJ2ZMFqNg

Wiggins, G. (2014). Great teaching means letting go. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/great-teaching-means-letting-go/