Reflecting on Contemporary Issues

Talk about mind blowing! In October, I attended uLearn 2015.   

Steve Mouldey pointed out that it was possible to play buzz word bingo listening to Claire Amos’ talk on learner agency as she named many of the trends in education for 2015.  The uLearn conference is all about the current issues in education.

Two inspiring educators, Steve Mouldey and Sarah Martin both talked about learner agency in two different ways and both gave me a lot to think about and reflect on.

Sarah Martin is the foundation Principal of Stonefields School in Auckland. She has a particular strength in collectively building change momentum, enabling collaborative high functioning teams, future visioning, embracing student voice and re-imagining what learning matters.  (Retrieved from: https://my.showgizmo.com/conferences/1320/users/236571)

Martin really made me think about learning directed by students through breakthroughs, passion hour or project based learning. I can see that the shifts I've made in my own learning and teaching such as co-construction of success criteria or creating more opportunity to control their environment will help me move into breakthroughs or passion projects but I'm not quite there yet.  

What is overwhelmingly true of most schools presenting at uLearn is that staff, leaders and educators all share a vision.  They are all moving on the same path and this has not been achieved at my workplace.  I have spoken formally and informally to colleagues about uLearn.  I've shared everything I've picked up; hoping to inspire others to questions, delve and develop.    

Sarah Martin pointed out her students are able to see what success looks like, they have an embedded process which allows her students to build upon a framework which is build upon capacities.  I am not there yet, but I can see the day.  But like those learners at Stonefields, I too need to see what success looks like.

Mouldey is a Specialised Learning Leader at Hobsonville Point SecondarySchool. He is passionate about developing curiosity and active citizenship in students. (Retrieved from: https://my.showgizmo.com/conferences/1320/users/235794)

Mouldey spoke about tapping into and encouraging curiosity.  If students can generate worthwhile learning questions, they can also take ownership of their learning.  Quality questions can create windows to further thoughts or ideas.  Questions can be a way to tease out more understanding, to see where the learning needs to go or to develop into a project. 

Mouldey had students question storm and then to develop their next steps from the questions they created.  I’ve tried this in my class and the students have pushed past surface questions and in to questions of depth.  They then used the questions as the basis of their own inquiries.  The creativity can spark off the learner’s own learning path. 

References 

Steve Mouldey's uLearn presentation - https://stevemouldey.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/agency-and-ownership/

Sarah Martin's uLearn 2015 presentation - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jMMZtzlr7HEQzuGsu8ut8NVqj6Qx29yv3fWXFhnAvRU/edit#slide=id.g64284c3f0_0_149

Sam Sherratt's blog - 

https://timespaceeducation.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/why-passion-projects-should-be-mandatory-but-arent/