Living through this time of hybrid and digital learning has shown me that the need for our students to develop 21st-century skills is imperative. There is a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips and learning opportunities that surround us. Learning in a digital age includes playing games and using online learning programs, talking to people all over the world through educational discussion boards, and even watching informational videos for free through online platforms like Youtube and TedTalk. We learn through everything we do wether its in a classroom or playing with a new program or gadget at home. Being a part of the Digital Leading and Learning program at Lamar University has been a very unique and enjoyable journey in achieving my Master’s in Education. This program has allowed me to grow my leadership skills, cultivate the importance of effective digital learning, and develop a heart for leading educational change. From the beginning moments of this experience, our learning environment has been authentic to our situations. We have been challenged to develop mastery and critical thinking. Our culture and circumstances have been leading the way throughout each course, which are key components of Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) (Harapnuik, 2015).
In addition to developing this significant learning environment, a learner-centered approach has always been the environment we have operated in, through the COVA approach and through a new culture of learning where play and passion are the center of what we do.
COVA stands for the following:
www.mrscliffnotes.com by Colby Clifford
A New Culture of Learning with ePortfolios
In this new century we have ubiquitous access to technology and social media like never before. In the twenty-first century, how do we cultivate the imagination of our students?
Learning Theory
Learning is an active process in which the learner must construct knowledge by being motivated and engaged. This can happen through inquiry, hands-on activities, collaboration, digital learning, and play. Read more about my research here.
Creating the Environment
Two design plans we explored this term help to connect the dots in what we are learning in creating significant learning environments to ePortfolios. Fink’s Taxonomy of Significant Learning lists its six dimensions in 3 Columns. Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding by Design template provides a much more detailed framework with a consideration of standards, while still allowing room for project based learning.