One of the most powerful learning strategies we can give students is to model learning for them. When students see adults around them learn and succeed, or more importantly, learn and fail, it models for them the learning process and how to overcome adversity. Dan Rockwell noted:
Ignorance prevails when you don’t-do. You only learn when you do-and-fail.
Dan Rockwell (@LeadershipFreak), February 15, 2020.
I think about and research professional learning for teachers, administrators, and myself every day. It was one of the prevailing reasons behind creating this blog. I have a driving question:
How do we create a system of learning that is transparent, visible, and valued throughout a school organization?
How often have you gone on YouTube and watched a video about how to do something, like fix a faucet? I’m incredibly un-mechanical, but it’s amazing what I’ve fixed in my house by watching YouTube. If we create systems of learning within our organization that values the modeling of learning, we can replicate highly effective practices from classroom to classroom.
Making your learning visible to students is also a relief to them. For example, if you give an assessment and 40% of the students do not succeed, we have to first examine our instructional strategies or test item construction. Showing students your learning in this, and the steps you are taking to correct the any identified deficiencies creates an environment where learning is valued…not the passing of tests. Imagine creating an environment of hope and growth around perceived failure.
I’ve heard (and said) thousands of times when speaking to educators, “…because our kids deserve it.” That’s true, they do…but so do you. As educators, we don’t always have the answers. Creating a system that values learning at all levels helps us find the answers much more effectively and efficiently, for the benefit of our students and our adults. Give yourself permission to learn.
Educators are inherently learners. I challenge systems to make learning visible to everyone. How do you showcase your learning?
