IN THIS SPACE
As an educator who deeply believes in the power of story, I blend narratives of my own experience with teaching points to share what has cultivated my on-going growth that I hope will support you in your own journey. Grounded in my identity as His beloved daughter, I celebrate God's goodness woven throughout my life as a testimony to the way He creates each of us as unique and unrepeatable. Come along as I share the story of my soul. My prayer is that it encourages you to reflect more deeply on your story and that it inspires you to support others in doing the same.
Learning from Learners
"Have fun," I said as I dropped my daughter off for class.
"Really, mom," came her reply, accompanied by an incredulous look.
I laughed. She thought I was being sarcastic, but I meant it.
I can't think of a season of my life where I was not excited for school and opportunities to learn. At times, I can forget that not everyone feels the same.
Reflecting on our own experiences as a learner can provide great insight in the instructional design process.
And yet, not all learners are just like us. Coupled with what we know about ourselves as learners, we need to also look around and consider who experiences learning similar to us and who does not.
When we implement ideas with a purpose, it is critical to then observe how different students are engaging with the content and the degree to which the techniques we are using to support their learning are actually contributing to their growth.
Questions for Reflection:
What are your traits as a learner? How many of your students seem to have those similar traits? What are some traits that you observe in your students that you cannot relate to?
How are students responding to your instruction? Who is your instruction working for? Which students are not yet successful with the way your courses are structured and the supports you provide?
In which ways do students engage in course content in ways that you intended they would? In which ways do your students seem to be engaging differently? How might you clarify or adjust as a result of what you observed?
Within this blog and website, unless otherwise noted, all excerpts from Sacred Scripture and the Lectionary for the Mass are as follows:
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
