Leadership in Learning: Week 5

Essential Questions

• Which ONE set of actions will move me closer to my reality?
• How can a personal learning network shape my practice and make me a better leader?

Becoming a Thought Leader

Moving from dreaming to action through this month of planning and learning stoked the fires of my passion for education centered around the individual needs of each student.  Although I feel compelled to continue to be part of the conversations bringing my school’s mission and vision to the forefront of what we do, I settled on bringing a truly individualized course to a stronger reality as my one set of actions (Susannah's Dream Big Project 2015).   The method by which I outlined the course breaks down the key parts of the mission and vision as I thread the components of the course through those key ideas with model programs and research as my foundation (credit to L Mireles for the guidance!).  The essential idea of the course centers around aiming on student defined Critical Thinking Skills outcomes (course objectives).  I’ll be using Universal Design for Learning as the guiding principles for setting up a hybrid (blended) course that is self-paced and provides Multiple Means of Representation, Expression and Engagement through modules.  The online platform being used is Google Classroom, and in class time will be anchored by real-world problem solving discussions, collaboration, and one-on-one support from me for each student.  Ideally, students will be able to focus on the Critical Thinking Skills as they work through course materials.  

I see the possibility for leading my peers to adult learning in two ways.  The first is through continuous improvement processes such as project tuning protocols, critique and feedback models, and reflective practices as I enlist my peers in helping me make the project better.  It’s an opportunity for others to consider some new methods and reflect on strategies I’m using as observers, which is fairly low risk to my peers.  The second learning path is via the threading of our mission and values through my process, which causes everyone to keep the ideals in our everyday conversations, and especially so when I solicit critiques.  My hope is that I’ll be leading by example by saying, “Here’s what I’m doing.  How well does it align with our vision?  What could I be doing better?”  Perhaps this process will lead to each person’s own reflections.   

This week was important for me to shift my resistance towards social media in regards to my work. and developing my own Personal Learning Network.  I value personal relationships so highly in my own learning methodology that I wasn’t sure spending hours reading and posting would send me anywhere productive.  What I found, though, by combining some face-to-face time with calculated online time, was a wealth of ideas and information at my disposal.  According to Will Richardson on Personal Learning Networks, PLNs are manageable if you approach them as a, “conscious decision, choose who you respect, pay attention to how they are connected, digital footprint, etc.”  While I can get lost in all of the information available, I also found wonderful resources both for me to learn and to use in the classroom.  It helps, especially, to see models of educators who are doing a version of what I want to do, and then modify as needed for myself.  It is particularly inspiring that educators in particular share to freely and readily.  We must be partners in this education revolution in order for real change to occur and if I take my cues from those I’m following via Twitter and Pinterest this week, I’m well on my way to being part of the change leadership.  

1.  (2014). Will Richardson - Personal Learning Networks - YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMIG0xOySCc.

2. (2015) UDL Guidelines 2.0. National Center on Universal Design. UDL Guidelines 2.0.

3. (2015) “The Thinking Curriculum”. Tools and Frameworks on Critical Thinking. The Thinking Curriculum.