Why: We believe that learners should own their learning and take the lead to make impactful change in their educational career and beyond.
How: Through a blended learning environment students will utilize the station rotation model to take charge of their learning to engage in hands-on stations, age-appropriate technology and STEM opportunities.
What: We will promote a growth mindset for students to work towards self-selected goals that are both meaningful and productive in helping them to be successful learners.
As I step into this role as a leader for change on my campus, I am beginning to see more and more that change is not something that is easily done. We have been programmed by our society and education as a whole, to collect the data, present the data and plan according to the data. And while this is not innately bad, statistics show that it doesn’t work.
Simon Sinek (2009) tells us that people don’t buy what you do they buy why you do it. This got me really thinking, as educators how many times have we sat in a staff meeting or data meeting and been introduced to a new initiative to implement in our classrooms? Countless times right? And how many times were we super eager and ready to jump on board with it? Probably less than a handful if we’re honest. Why? Because we didn’t see the why. We were given the data and presented with the facts, but we already knew those. We needed the affective side of it; we needed the “why” it was important. As Sinek said, we needed to take a step back and have a shift in focus.
John Kotter (2011) says that we must start with the heart. We don’t need to just get people to think differently, we need them to feel differently. When we start with our “why” we give our stakeholders a direct emotion to emotion connection and that is what changes behavior. Appealing to the heart also shows a sense of urgency in the situation. It gives the audience the feeling that if we don’t act and make a change nothing will get better. When you appeal to the heart and others can see and feel your motivation for why you are doing something they are way more apt to follow you and support you.
I believe all learners are should take ownership of their learning and are capable of becoming self-directed learners. Implementing blended learning through the station rotation model in my classroom will allow my students the opportunities to be self-directed learners that are goal oriented and become successful in the classroom and beyond. I want my students to be able to leave my classroom with not only the knowledge of the required curriculum, but the skills to set them up to be successful, life-long learners.
Resources:
Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). Dr. John Kotter - The Heart of Change. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/1NKti9MyAAw
Kotter, J. (2013, August 15). Leading Change: Establish a Sense of Urgency. [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/2Yfrj2Y9IlI
Sinek, S. (2009, September 28). Start with why: How great leaders inspire action. YouTube. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA.
Photo: "Kids with capes" by Media from Wix
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