Powerful Learning Experience
Think about a powerful learning experience you have had in your life. It could be something you learned in school, e.g. when you got an "aha" that multiplication tables were really patterns of numbers/groups, or outside of the classroom, e.g. when you learned to drive, or their grandmother taught you how to make tortillas. Do a Quick Write on your powerful learning experience and in the explanation also consider…what helped you to learn? Did you become an expert? If yes, how? What made it a powerful learning experience? After you post your powerful learning experience, read and comment on other posts from your cohort. Feel free to comment several times.
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In Lab 1 Exploration, I had to do a presentation on a chapter from 21st Century Skills text. The most powerful aspect of the presentation process was finding images that could illustrate main ideas. As an aesthetic learner, thinking about the image-to-concept relationship is my strength. Thinking about how an image can communicate an idea beyond words and bullet points helped me feel like an “expert." I took it a step further by applying my knowledge in graphic design to rework the 21st Century Knowledge and Skills Rainbow into a collage of related images. It was a powerful learning experiences because I wanted to create something. I knew it would be extra work, but I was motivated from the desire to fix an my issue with the graphic published in the book. I really wanted to make it visually interesting and easier for my brain to process it.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that the process of finding and creating visuals promoted understanding for you and also made your presentation more meaningful and memorable for me.
DeleteI loved when you did this! It helped me understand the whole "rainbow" analogy, too.
DeleteI remember the presentation you're talking about, Brian. You did an AWESOME job! Since I'm a visual learner, the images you used to illustrate these skills really helped me understand 21st Century Skills. I also liked the slide where you compared Bloom's Taxonomy with these 21st Century Skills.
DeleteExpert? You will be the go to person looking for illustrations to concepts relationships.
DeleteGood job!
"image to concept relationship" is a great
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DeleteWhen I approached my 16th birthday, I could think of nothing but getting a driver’s license. One of my dad’s stipulations was that in order to drive I had to learn basic car maintenance. He drew me a sketch of how to change a tire, took me out to the driveway where he took off the tire and replaced it with the spare. He then talked me through the process where I changed the tire on my own with his support when I had questions. I had passed his test.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 19, I experienced my first actual flat. I was driving home from college and was on the freeway when it occurred. Although it was a different car, had been 3 years since the lesson and the busy freeway was a much different context than my driveway, I was able to change my tire. I think the original lesson had been so relevant and meaningful to me that it was something I would never forget.
I had to learn how to change a flat tire on my own when I first experienced a flat driving home from college! I wish I had someone to facilitate the process like you did. It took me while before I was able to find the spare tire and realize that the tools I needed were built in to the trunk space. Real world problem solving was my biggest motivator, but had I received a mini lesson from my dad, I would have spent far less time changing my first flat.
Deletethis sounds so much like my life! it was not alway relevant to me at the time, but it stuck.
Delete...girls rule!
DeleteI change a tire by caliing 1-800-call- daddy
DeleteOf course, when this happened to me I couldn't get the lug nuts off, even when I jumped on the lug wrench! And I was just in front of my house, not the freeway. So kudos to your strength and grace under pressure.
Delete...did you feel you became an expert? Why do you think this powerful learning experience stuck in your memory?
DeleteI agree the practical skill of learning how to change a tire may come in handy
DeleteI remember my Dad talked me through the process of how to change a flat as well. However, once he was done I remember telling him, "Dad, I'm going to forget!" I told him I learn by seeing and doing, so he said he agreed to explain it all over again but this time had me follow the steps. The nice thing about it was that it was all done at home verses on the side of the freeway!
DeleteThe powerful learning experience for me was learning that manual/stick shift driving is a little different than driving an automatic vehicle. The main thing that helped me learn was that there was an intermediate step before changing gears. As opposed to gears changing automatically in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, a manual transmission vehicle requires the intermediate step of stepping on a clutch pedal and shifting the stick up or down depending on if you want to change gears up or down. Also I had to be mindful of how high or low the engine was working (RPM). Additionally when I wanted to slow down I had to be mindful of the intermediate steps again.
ReplyDeleteI became very proficient because I failed many times keeping the engine running by not keeping my foot on the clutch pedal and or releasing the clutch pedal slowly before fully releasing the clutch pedal.
This was a powerful learning experience for me because it translates to other disciplines. I now realize that there may be intermediate steps that I may have overlooked hastily because I wanted to complete a project. Learning how to drive manual vehicles has also helped me listen better and be more patient rather than wanting to step on the gas pedal and be in a rush to talk.
I learned how to drive on a manual transmission so it was an adjustment to transition to an automatic. I kept habitually looking for the clutch and instead kept hitting the brake!
DeleteIt sounds like you discovered this on your own. By discovering the differences between something that is familiar to you and something new, you were able to teach yourself how to do something. I think this process is a good way to design units of study in a classroom. It seems like a general template for PBLs.
DeleteI learned to drive on a manual transmission. The adjustment was easier. I still drive a manual transission.
Delete...I think that we uncovered some real commonalities in everyone's responses and that how you learned, and how your students learn are so similar. It has to be relevant, meaningful, and entails all the things we discussed in class.
DeleteI tried to teach myself to knit in grade school, but I just couldn’t figure it out. I had trouble casting on, and the early 80s references I was using (no YouTube then) weren’t giving me enough to go on. So I taught myself to crochet instead. No casting on, just making a china similar to the one we made by hand in arts and crafts. I was even able to crochet an afghan for my sister, made up of small squares I learned how to block to size. When I was twelve, my mother gave me the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework, which I used to improve my crocheting and embroidery skills. There was also an extensive section on knitting, which emboldened me to try again. This time with the help of clear schematic drawings knitting “clicked’ in my head. I could see how it all worked together, and learned the left handed method that echoed how I held my crochet, rather than the right-handed “throwing” method that I was trying to learn before.
ReplyDeleteNow knitting is one of my favorite pastimes and I can visualize in 3-D how shaping works, and use my math skills to figure out how to adjust patterns. I even started a knitting group and taught knitting at my school as an informal club
DeleteI think visuals are so important!!! When I teach, I always get lost in trying to think about what pictures I need to find or create to help communicate learning objectives.
Delete...I think for those ADHD kids, they can do two things well enough at the same time and it seems to keep them focused. I have read that knitting can be one of them.
Delete...why do you think you kept at it, kept trying to get good at it?
DeleteMy mom knits. She never taught my sisters, She did teach us to crochet. My son who does have ADHD loves to crochet. He makes me necklaces and rings.
DeleteI just liked the polished look of knitting. It seemed much more sophisticated and useful than crochet.
Deletefor my most powerful life learning experience i am thinking it is learning how to be mechanically minded & forward thinking while working with and next to my father. he was a harsh man and most of my “learning” from him was via the school of hard knocks. but when it came to working with his hands he was different. i noticed it then but had no clue as to its relevance in my life. my dad taught me to use power tools around the ages of 4 and 5. i was helping him work on his VWs as early as 3 (or so i am told). as a boy scout and an indian guide i did ALL of my own projects ALL on my own. my father would help with initial inspiration and hint at better references as i ran into issues during the processes. at the time i kinda didn't care for him so much because lots of the other kids had BEAUTIFUL projects. looking back, i see now, that his teaching me to not only work with my hands, but to think ahead with my brain is probably by far the most powerful and enduring learning experience i have ever had.
ReplyDeleteHands on learning is so important and I think its an under utilized teaching strategy in the classroom. We're so focused on pacing guides and testing and I think that CCSS and PBL is finally making room for hands on learning that you experiences with your father. I wish there was more time for one on one instruction in my classroom. It sounds like the quality time spent with your father made a huge difference in your learning, especially if you were able to learn how to use power tools at such a young age.
DeleteMy son just did his first project for school and I have to say, it didn’t look as nice as the other kids’ projects did. But he did it himself – I guided him, and provided the tools and materials (like your dad did) but didn’t do it for him.
DeleteOne of my most powerful and real learning experiences is when I entered the 6th grade Science Fair. I remember my teacher, Mr. Shoemaker, explained the various parts on the project that we needed to include on our project. I decided I wanted to do a project with plants. As I shared this assignment with my parents, I remember my Dad suggested I do something with plants, since I loved playing outdoors and in my grandmother’s garden all of the time. I remember planting a lima bean in a mixture of sand and dirt. Then, planted another lima bean with regular potting soil. As the weeks went by, I kept track of their growth and recorded my results. I remember when I was first assigned this project I only wanted to meet the requirements and not necessarily enter the science fair. Once my teacher graded my project, he encouraged me enter because he believed I had not only done a good job but also exceeded my expectations. I have to admit I was hesitant because I always felt that Science was a bit challenging for me or sometimes it was flat out boring. Now I realize my science classes weren’t perhaps all that engaging! After about a day or two, as I walked into my school’s cafeteria I headed straight to my project. I noticed a bright blue shiny ribbon on my trifold poster that read, First Place. From that point on, my mindset towards plant biology completely shifted. I then took Biology and Advanced Placement Biology in High School. Once I started college, I took another Plant Biology class and passed all of my courses with A’s. As I reflect on what made me learn, I remember always being motivated to earn a good grade in the first place. However, once my teacher gave me positive feedback and encouraged me to enter the science fair, I gained confidence, and felt even better once I found out I had won first place. As far as becoming an expert, I do feel my interest in plant biology grew and gained a greater confidence from that particular moment that my teacher encouraged and motivated me even further to compete in the science fair.
ReplyDeleteRecognition and affirmation of something you have passion in is key in making a learning experience powerful.
DeleteSuccess is such a motivator. Once you were recognized for a job well done, you were moved to continue in that direction.
DeleteI love how this changed you from thinking of yourself as “Not a Science Person” to a “Science Person” because of the positive experience you had.
Delete...feedback, encouragement, what other things motivated you?
DeleteThe fact that I planted the lima beans, kept track of all of my data, recorded/reported my results, and had my father to support me at home and my teacher to guide me at school, I feel they all played a very important part in my motivating me to do exceptionally well on this project. The entire project had meaning for me and it was relevant.
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ReplyDeletethe idea that science is so boring is so prevalent today. it SHOULD be the most exciting thing because it can be so involving. our teaching has become too rigid. we need to remember the joy of learning and transfer that to our students
ReplyDeleteMy powerful learning experience:
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of powerful learning experiences. In elementary school every year, we would go to the Exploratorium. I would engage in hands on science projects. Every year I would explore different things or go back to favorites. Since it was always whatever interests the student, everyone was completely engaged.
Everything is hands on so the learning was done though all senses not a texted book.
No I am not an expert, I love science.
Field trips are not only hands-on, but they are so memorable! There is something about changing the environment of a "classroom" or redefining a learning space as it relates to how effective students can retain information. Sometimes I feel like our classroom/school environment is stagnant. Perhaps a better school setting has the flexibility and openness of children's museum!
DeleteRegina,
DeleteYou came up with so many ideas that showed the relationships between all of us in class, that learning was self-directed, and other great insights!
Hands on, self motivated, no textbook
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