Welcome to week 3 of EDLD 5388, which is technically week 4. Sounds a little confusing? Yes, it is. Even all the more reason for me to get my ducks in a row as tomorrow begins week 5. This week presented us with the challenge of designing a plan to move our districts away from Sit & Get PL and towards the better alternative of Go & Show PL. The plan consisted of a BHAG, Big Hairy Audacious Goal, and a three column table outlining our plan.
The BHAG is to teach teachers how to create significant learning environments through the proper use of PL. The six little ducklings I had to line up were named: Foundational Knowledge, Application, Integration, Human Dimensions, Caring and Learning How to Learn. Just like any mother with six kids or ducks, you are not supposed to have favorites. So, if you asked me the question, "In planning your three column table, which kind of learning do you like the best?" My mom answer would be the standard, "I love them all the same." However, when you have that rare moment to snuggle up to one of your biological kids or ducks without the other five hanging around, I would whisper in Human Dimension's ear, "Don't tell the flock, but Mommy loves you the best! I believe that Human Dimension is a truly significant factor in creating any meaningful learning environment. Most of the time, learners get caught up in the details of a producing quality work. Don't get me wrong, quality work is always a desirable outcome, but not when the product becomes more important than the process. When assigning any project, I want my students to learn about themselves almost more than I want them to master the content. A student who embraces the human dimension of their learning has a sense of ownership in their work. This feeling of ownership allows for greater meaning in ALL learning experiences. Just as I want this deeper learning for my students, I want the same for teachers and administrators as they follow my plan for creating significant learning environments through the use of effective PL. No matter how significant of a leader you are, a few ducks will always fall behind or get out of line, but just as in any family you need the ongoing support of the others to help keep all of your ducks in a row and moving forward.
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WOW! What a long and much needed rest stop on my road to creating significant learning environments. This post finds me three weeks in to one of my favorite classes thus far, EDLD 5388 Special Topics: Technology and Professional Learning. In this course, we were asked to examine the antiquated methods "behind" the Sit & Get professional learning model (behind...sit, see what I did there) and compare them to those of the new Go & Show model of professional learning.
The differences in the two models were immediately apparent. The Sit & Get style of professional development is every thing districts should NOT be doing when it comes to training their teachers, while the Go & Show PL model with its five easy principles is revolutionizing staff development as we know it. Even though the positive results of Go & Show PL are proven by many studies, school districts are still reluctant to break the old mold of Sit & Get instruction. This week 3 assignment is a call to action for district administrators to STAND UP and MOVE towards implementing the highly effective Go & Show PL model. You might be wondering in what ways is the Go & Show model highly effective. Let me be the first to tell you, the possibilities with G&S are endless, but the experts have narrowed down the top five most effective components of Go & Show PL. Here they are in a semi-particular order: duration, support, engaging, modeling and content driven. I say semi-particular order because duration and support are the true keys to the success of the model. Without first giving a significant and continuous amount of time to becoming the best learners of new information we can be, the ideas spawned in professional development go back to our teacher's desk to pile up and die. It is during the implementation of this new learning when ongoing support becomes the go-to principle to conquer any challenge. Principles three through five have valuable spots in the order. Engagement is great for fostering learning by doing. Modeling is crucial in helping teachers and students understand a new practice and content is always specific and grade level appropriate to the learner. Currently, I am in the beginning stages of trying to convince my district to say goodbye to Sit & Get PL and welcome in the new era of Go & Show PL. I have prepared a presentation using Microsoft Sway calling all administrators and teachers to open their hearts and minds to professional development done right.
I have also created a one-pager to go along with my Sway presentation to further turn up the volume on my call to action.
I believe with my presentation and one-pager, I have begun to the answer the question of why Sit & Get professional learning got up and went. And why...it needs to stay gone.
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AuthorMadeline Brandi Collins is a Louisiana girl through and through. Raised by her beloved Maw Maw and namesake, she moved to Texas 13 years ago to pursue a career in education which proved to be one of the best decisions EVER!
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