Hooray for Climate Change?
No, I’m not suggesting any benefit of global warming or rising tides. This blog post is about the changing climate in and around our schools! We have all ridden out many initiatives, movements, and waves to reshape and improve our instruction and classrooms, but now is a pretty cool time to be an educator.
When I say climate change, I’m talking about the shift in thinking in education, particularly toward innovation and creativity. I’ve seen more marshmallow towers on Twitter in the past 3 months than in the past 3 years. Districts are discussing blended learning, 4 C's, and mindsets (fixed vs growth, Innovator’s Mindset) as much as outcomes and assessment indicators. We are collectively talking about learning spaces and flexible seating as influencers in our students’ learning. The Innovator’s Mindset (George Couros) should be required reading for every new and veteran teacher alike, and Sylvia Duckworth's sketchnotes should be hanging in the halls of every school. Her Sketchnote below captures a bit of George Couros's thinking about a learner-focused classroom, and what to look for in today’s classrooms.
Consider Mrs. Brandy Young’s parent note about homework. It seemed to come at just the right time to kickstart conversation among parents, teachers and administrators as to how we ask students (and their parents) to spend out-of-school time. This is climate change, growth mindedness, and the spark of innovation. There may be no perfect answer, but the discussion is where it’s at!
- Jed
