As an educator and foremost, a learner, learning is an ever-evolving lifelong journey, as Mahatma Gandhi once said "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever.” As I reflect on my education journey and teaching career, there are certain core beliefs that laid the foundation and guided my approach to education. I firmly believe that all learners can learn, there are different learning styles, students can have choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning (Harapnuik, 2019), education methodology needs to change for the 21st-century learners, and that each child deserves equitable access to education and educational technology.
The center of my education philosophy is the belief that every learner possesses the capacity to learn. It’s not a matter of inherent ability but of finding the right resources and approaches. As an educator, my role is to facilitate access to these resources, creating an environment that fosters curiosity, exploration, and a thirst for knowledge.
Each and every child is unique and so does their learning styles. The idea of learning styles has been around for a very long time, it can be dated back to when Aristotle theorized that every child had their own unique talents and skills. Later, many researchers began researching and formulating the concept of learning styles and coming up with their own ideas. One popular theory is called VARK, which stands for visual, auditory, reading, and kinesthetic, created by Neil Fleming in 1987. Equipped with this knowledge and with many other theorists' ideas of learning, I believe that for students to reach their true potential, their education must be personalized (Patrick, 2016).
Furthermore, according to Harapnuik (2019), educators can incorporate the COVA learning approach into their teaching practices by giving learners choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities. This approach allows learners to own their learning and bridge a deeper connection with the concepts being taught in the classroom. I believe that it is paramount that today’s education needs to transition the focus from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered approach. I advocate for authentic learning experiences where students are not passive recipients but rather active participants in their educational journey. By utilizing the COVA approach, students will be more prepared for the complexities of the real world.
With technology ever-evolving and constantly advancing, I believe there is no better time to be a learner than now. In this digital age, you can read and learn about almost anything with a simple computer with internet access in hand. However, equitable access to educational technology is still not available to everyone. I believe that bridging the digital divide is crucial for creating a level playing field where every student, regardless of background, can harness the power of technology for learning. With many school districts across the United States implementing the 1:1 initiatives, I believe the day that every child will have access to the infinite wealth of information is near. As for my organization, we implemented the 1:1 initiative 3 years ago and the level of student engagement soared. However, I still believe that are a lot more work ahead such as teaching and modeling effective practices when implementing the initiative in the classroom. How teachers can effectively use the resources to deliver their subject standards and how students effectively learn with technology as a tool.
I perceive students' brains as sponges, they are poised to absorb all the information in the world as how they are presented. How successful they are in the future depends on how they were taught, learned, and processed the information being presented to them. In addition, I believe that teaching and incorporating 21st-century skills in the classroom are critically important for student success. Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, adaptability, and flexibility, go beyond the traditional academic setting and play a crucial role in preparing students for success in the ever-increasing complex and changing future.
References:
Harapnuik, D., Thibodeux, T., & Cummings, C. (2019). Student Perceptions of the Influence of Choice, Ownership, and Voice in Learning and the Learning Environment. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 31(1), 50–62. https://doi.org/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1206966.pdf
Patrick, S., Worthen, M., Frost, D., & Gentz, S. (2016). Meeting The Every Student Succeeds Act’s Promise: State Policy to Support Personalized Learning. Vienna, VA: International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).
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