Essential Questions Post #2

The following blog will consist of my own ideas/thoughts and research from both books and online sources. It will address the following question:



How can you empower learners, both students and staff, in your school?







Couros (2015) said it best: “Our job as educators and leaders is not to control others, but to bring out the best in them” (p. 98). Change is an opportunity to do something amazing. “If we embrace this mindset and become the innovators our learners need, and need to be, the opportunities in front of us are endless” (Couros, 2015, p. 10). If you have not read “The Innovator’s Mindset” by  George Couros, I would highly recommend that you head over to Amazon to order either your hard copy or audiobook version! It’s a game changer!



Students:

Every teacher wants their students to feel involved in the learning process. Knowing how to empower students is a valuable skill. “Student empowerment is an approach to teaching that puts students at the center of the learning process, allowing them to make decisions about their education and giving them the confidence to achieve their goals. Through student empowerment, teachers seek to create a learning process where students feel that their voices are heard and their opinions matter”. (Southeastern University, 2019, para 1) In this article, it shared six ways to encourage student empowerment within the classroom: student-led learning, asking for feedback, incorporate self-assessment, prioritize real-world application, encourage use of student portfolios, and provide choice.




Student-Led Learning:

Southeastern University (2019) states, “One of the simplest ways to empower students is by encouraging leadership behaviors. Provide ample opportunity for students to take charge, whether that’s through group activities or explaining a concept they’ve grasped to the rest of the class” (para 6).




Ask for Feedback:

“Students respond well to being asked for their opinion. Consider giving students a chance to provide feedback about assignments, routines and other elements of the day” (Southeastern University, 2019, para 8).



Incorporate Self-Assessment:

Southeastern University (2019) mentions, “Giving students opportunities to assess their own learning helps them understand their own strengths and struggles” (para 11). Here are a few self-assessment/reflective questions to utilize:

• What did I learn today?
• What interested me most?
• What am I confused about? 
• What questions do I have?
• How can I apply the concepts that I learned today inside and outside of the classroom?

Prioritize Real-World Application:

Many students feel that what they learn isn’t applicable to their lives outside the classroom. Knowing this, it’s important for teachers to connect the outside world to the classroom. “This can come in many forms, including volunteering, incorporating community projects into units or sharing what is learned with outside communities who could benefit. When students understand their education has value beyond tests and grades, they are more likely to engage with the material” (Southeastern University, 2019, para 13).




Encourage Student Portfolio Use:

The use of digital portfolios is a great way to empower students. Doing so “encourages them to put more time into the assignment and inspires confidence when the work they’ve done is chosen to be shared” Southeastern University, 2019, para 15). Here is a list of possible digital portfolio options to explore:

• SeeSaw
• Evernote
• Weebly
• Three Ring
• Padlet

Provide Choice:

“Giving students a say in how they learn shows them that you are willing to be flexible by empowering students to make decisions about their education” (Southeastern University, 2019, para 22). Something as simple as letting a student choose whether they want to write a book report or present the book to the class can help them engage better with concepts. Couros (2015) said it best: “Our job as educators and leaders is not to control others, but to bring out the best in them” (p. 98). Couros (2015) often refers to this as “strength-based learning” (p. 185).

Here are more ways to incorporate student choice:

• Assign math problems from weekly objectives, but allow students to choose which ones to complete within a preset minimum.
• Provide testing options (i.e. multiple choice, essays or short answer questions) and allow students to choose how to showcase understanding
• Makerspace /STEM Activities and Challenges
• Personalized Genius Hour Projects

Staff:

The Common Sense article, Three Ways to Empower Teachers and Transform Classrooms, Passeport (2016) states “many teachers find it difficult to teach creativity and engage students in becoming the agents of their own learning, largely because they aren't experiencing it themselves” (para 1). This article is a great resource for those who are ready to establish a culture of empowerment. Passeport (2016) provides three suggestions on how to kick start the process: exploration, collaboration, and personal reflection.



Exploration:

In order to empower our students, teachers should first empower themselves (Passeport, 2016). Passeport (2016) notes, “One essential element needed to empower teachers is to shift focus from teaching to learning -- teachers should immerse themselves in rediscovering the magic of learning, the necessity of making mistakes, and encouraging resiliency by constantly challenging their learning experiences” (para 4). Educators focus far too much on discussing teaching and not enough time is spent fully immersing themselves into personal experiences and modeling. “We often create what we experience, which means the experiences we create in our professional learning must change” (Couros, 2015, p.182). Couros (2015) stresses that in order to truly integrate new learning, it is critical to carve out time for exploration.



Collaboration:

From there, the power of collaboration comes into play. Our new learning experiences are great opportunities to rediscover or awaken the skills that we never took the time to delve in to, so why not share with our colleagues? “When we share our learning experiences and skills, teachers encourage classroom innovation, break down classroom borders, and facilitate meaningful collaboration” (Passeport, 2016, para 5). Couros (2015) says that the simple ability to connect provides major benefits for educators. “It enables us, as leaders and continual learners, to accelerate and amplify powerful learning opportunities for ourselves and those we serve” (Couros, 2015, p. 196).



Personal Reflection:

Finally, after “letting go of the reins” and taking risks in implementing new ideas, it’s imperative that teachers carve out time for self-reflection. After allowing students to take lead, facilitate student growth and learning opportunities, they are "preparing" less and "postparing" more -- self-reflection and evaluating feedback helps them to better understand what to improve and how” (Passeport, 2016, para 7). Couros (2015) says it best, “Our thinking must focus on what learning truly can be, not what it has been” (p. 100). Reflection is powerful for learning and for personal growth. Couros (2015) stresses that it’s something that should be embedded into all of our professional learning.





References:

Couros, G. (2015). The innovator’s mindset. San Diego CA: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.



Passeport, F. (2019, April 15). 3 Ways to Empower Teachers and Transform Classrooms. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/3-ways-to-empower-teachers-and-transform-classrooms



University, S. (Ed.). (2019, August 15). Empowering Students: 6 Proven Strategies: SEU Online. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://online.seu.edu/articles/empowering-students/