My Reflections on CSLE + COVA

 As I was reading this weekend about CSLE and COVA (Harapnuik et al., 2018), I feel like these terms make it sound a lot easier than it really is, but also these should be the focus of every educator. CSLE stands for Creating a Significant Learning Environment and COVA stands for Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning. The reading this week focused a lot on taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture. We want students to be learners and not just the producers of a cookie cutter product. Sometimes we get so stuck in the day to day as educators, we forget that if we zoom out, our job is substantial and changes the lives and trajectories of the students we serve. If we can step back, and teach students how to learn, the possibilities for them are endless. If teachers can create learning opportunities where students can own their own learning and really figure out how to learn and create products that really demonstrate their knowledge, that is where the dynamics of a classroom change and become the most effective. Teachers need to be facilitators of student learning instead of directing it. I have loved seeing my district shift its focus over the years to really setting the stage for this kind of learning to happen within our district at all levels. 

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Cova- Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning. Creative Commons License.

Check Out This Great FREE Resource for Instructional Coaches!

 If you are an instructional coach, administrator, or in the position to coach others in any capacity, you need to read this magazine. It is so timely for how to navigate this time in a pandemic with overwhelmed teachers and how to partner with them through this time. 

https://www.flipsnack.com/R13Coach/r13-coach-november-2020.html

There are countless nuggets of information from Steve Barkley's blog post about how to turn a gripe into a goal, how to be a balanced coach, how to support overwhelmed teachers in this time, and how to build trust.

You won't be disappointed by the time you spend reading it. 

How do we get students to "own" the work?

This week in my Masters class, the question was, "Who Owns the ePortfolio?" We read articles about who really owns the creation or learning if it is assigned work. This stirred up so many thoughts and much reflection about my experience as a learner in my last two classes. At first when this ePortfolio was just an assignment for me, I wasn't very invested. I was checking off the boxes of what was required so that I could get the grade. After I got further into the creation of it, saw more examples of how others use theirs in their professional lives, and really reflected about how I want to present information to others, I got really invested in the process. Having an open ended project and being able to make this what I want it to be makes the learning experience a bit uncomfortable and freeing at the same time. All of our ePortfolios will match each of us as individuals instead of being a cookie cutter project that isn't as useful to us. I have already changed mine completely as my thinking has evolved over the last 10 weeks. I adjusted it to showcase my work and as a digital resume when I was applying for a new job recently. Now that I am working outside of that purpose, I am turning it into a place that will work for me as a tool in my new role.

This question is not JUST speaking to me for this class though. How do we get students to "own" their work? I talk to teachers all of the time about giving students voice, choice, engaging work in order for students to own their learning. How can they own their learning if the work assigned is not meaningful for them?? How can they get invested in a worksheet or cookie cutter assignment that doesn't showcase their strengths, creativity, and critical thinking? This goes for any learning experience. As educators, we need students to be able to figure out their strengths as early as possible so they can invest in deep learning in their own element. I know as busy educators, grades really inhibit this action a lot of the time. That discussion is for another time. 

As far as having students create their own ePortfolio early on, I don't know how much I agree with giving young students their own domain to see growth. When I think about students' minds not being developed, and having the ability to put their thoughts out there for the world to see, is just not a good idea. One way that my district is helping students to create an ePortfolio safely is through the app, Seesaw. They will turn in a variety of assignments throughout the year, then choose a certain number of their favorite activities that will be saved throughout their educational career. I don't know when the appropriate age is to set kids free to start creating their digital footprint on the internet. I would hate for something that is posted early on to affect a person negatively later when they may not be mature enough to understand the impact of their words.

Why Use an ePortfolio

I think that ePortfolios are a wonderful way to showcase yourself as an individual. I love what Dr. Harapnuik shared about his sons both having an ePortfolio, but using them in their own unique ways. He further explains how for one of his sons, it showcases him in his profession as a well rounded individual which helps him to get sponsors. His other son uses his to showcase his design ability, in turn helping him to get more opportunities and more clients (Harapnuik & Thibodeaux, 2020). When I finished up my teaching degree, I wanted a way to make myself stand out and really showcase my strengths. When you go in for an interview, you can't really control a lot of what happens. The questions they ask might not showcase your strengths and experiences as well as you would like. When you have an ePortfolio, you have control over what your future employers see and learn about you as a person and learner. You can even personalize your strengths toward the role you are trying to get. At that point, 10 years ago, I just added a QR code onto my resume, and handed my resume to the interviewer. It contained my resume, my educational philosophy, and all of my letters of recommendation from professors, mentors, colleagues, etc. I have since used a form of ePortfolio every time I have tried to get a new job since then. Every time, someone has made a comment about how it helped me to stand out among my peers, helping me to get the job.




I think another huge reason to have an ePortfolio is the reflection process it makes you go through as a learner. You really have to think about what qualities you want to continue developing and how you would showcase that. When I was reading the 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio (2010), it described the benefits from three different perspectives: the student, the educator, and the employer. It broke down the benefits for each of those roles in the process and the product. My biggest takeaway from this article was the reflection piece and being able to look back on how far you have grown and to also look forward toward goals you want to achieve and what that can look like. Going through the process of creating an ePortfolio is the embodiment of being a learner and the documentation that goes with the growth that happens. It makes learning visible and more intentional.


References:


(2020). LMD EP30 ePortfolio Why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx304CW-gKU&feature=youtu.be.



Barnstable, K. (2010, September 30). 41 Benefits of an ePortfolio. Stable Transitions. https://kbarnstable.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/41-benefits-of-an-eportfolio/.

11/19/2020 Getting Started

Review and discuss the following articles and related links:

• Getting Started Tips
• The minimalist fundamentals of eportfolios
• What is an eportfolio
• Making Meaningful Connections in An Eportfolio (this is a linked post in the What is an eportfolio link above--it is a good idea to follow the links in the pages that we ask you to review)

After reading these articles, I realize how much more I need to add to my ePortfolio. After reading them and what options ePortfolios should have, it really had me thinking about what I really want to be showcased. I just became a math coordinator, so this could be a very cool place to blog about my reading or new resources that I look into as a place to share my learning. We also spend a lot of time coaching in my role, so this could also be something that can be housed here. I also loved the suggestion of adding a page of books you love or recommend to others. That does really show what you believe as an educator as well.


In the last article, where it talked about students starting an ePortfolio their freshman year as a showcase to colleges of how they grew during high school is a genius idea. I will definitely be having my own personal kids do this. All kids should be taught the importance of this and how this is the kind of digital footprint you should want to have. I have always had somewhat of a digital portfolio when I have applied for jobs, and it is something that has definitely set me apart from others that I was interviewing against. I love how the articles kept going back to it being a showcase of how you learned how to learn, a place to kind of document your growth. It takes a bit of vulnerability to really put together something like this with everything you care about, believe, and produce for anyone to see.


I added some empty pages to my ePortfolio this week in response to these articles. They may be empty now, but I am very excited about the direction it is taking me.

How Growth Mindset, the COVA model, and Failing Forward Strategies Impact Learning

This program has been a huge eye opener into why growth mindset is so important. In trying new programs, platforms, and applying new learning about leadership, it can be a little intimidating to publish it out on the web within our portfolio without being fully confident in our abilities yet. I have learned from Daniel Pink (2012) that providing autonomy, mastery, and purpose to people to inspire and motivate them is a necessity as a leader. I have felt that I have gone above and beyond what I would have done if I had been only accomplishing what is on a rubric. This course has taught me that while rubrics do provide guidance and a framework for what is expected, sometimes that can put creativity to a halt and cause people to only do what they are asked and not think outside the box. I also learned this week about how important it is to start with the why, then the how, then the what (Sinek, 2011). I think sometimes I have gotten stuck with the lack of time we have as educators and been guilty of asking teachers to do things without fully establishing the why. I think that may be why that I have gotten some pushback as our campus has been implementing new things. As an instructional coach, I can see things from a bigger perspective so the why comes more naturally to me. When teachers are within the day to day of their own grade level, they may not be able to see the why as clearly. I also need to always be sure I am being an active listener so that I understand the obstacles that they can see more clearly.
As I continue to create my ePortfolio, I love that we are given the autonomy to really implement the COVA model. It is ours, so we get to make it exactly how it represents each of us the best. I have actually already made a copy of my ePortfolio and added in my resume and all of the professional learning that I have created at the district level and campus level. That one I used as I was applying for a position in my district. I didn't want all of that information to be public, which is why I made a copy and used it in a different way. It was very beneficial in showcasing my work and what I have been doing recently to help me get this position. When my colleagues gave just a piece of paper, having an ePortfolio and my Twitter account to speak for what I have done and believe, it helped me to stand out and to have support behind all that I expressed in my interview as my assets that I would bring to the position.
The most valuable thing I have learned in this class so far is that I have to build my portfolio in a way that showcases me. It doesn't need to be like anyone else's and it can change as I change. It doesn't have to ever stay the same. As I learn and grow, my ePortfolio should show that as well. It is completely ok to fail while creating this space for myself. That provides more opportunity for learning and growing throughout my Masters' program.

(2012). Daniel Pink: "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFlvor6ZHdY.

Sinek, S. (2011). How great leaders inspire action. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en.

Why Professional Learning Networks are a Must Have

As an educator, it is so important to be able to get out of your own classroom and educational bubble to collaborate with others for the benefit of your students. One of the most impactful learning experiences the teachers at my campus talk about is the ability to go on learning walks. In this time of COVID-19, learning walks have taken a back seat to safety. We can't just halt our learning, especially when we need to learn more than ever to teach in ways we have never imagined would occur. So when we can't take learning walks physically, we need to broaden our horizons digitally. Some of the best connections I have made are through Twitter. 

I have been a member of Twitter as an educator since 2014. It has been an amazing place to collaborate across the world and to find out the newest research and trends in education. It's amazing what teachers come up with and share. I am an instructional coach and my teachers are not really on Twitter, so it helps me to be eyes for them and to share new ideas that will make their job easier. Twitter has by far been where I have learned the most about my craft as an educator. Also from Twitter, I have learned about other entities that offer professional development such as Build Math Minds, Make Math Moments, and NCTM that has had the 100 hours of virtual PD this year. These events have definitely impacted me as a math educator. Some of the individual contributors I follow are Berkeley Everett, Graham Fletcher, Robert Kaplinsky, and any math teacher within our district. One of the major benefits from following teachers within our district is that we are all on the same scope and sequence. So if I see a great idea that someone else is implementing in their classroom, I can forward it to my teachers. Then my teachers also have someone at another campus to collaborate with off of social media as well. 

For the ELAR realm, we use the Units of Study curriculum. There are so many Facebook pages that are filled with teachers from all over the world that share the amazing resources they have made to support reading and writing instruction. When there are great ideas shared, I email them on to my teachers or tag them on that post within Facebook. On Twitter to support ELAR teachers, again I follow every teacher I can find from my district so that I can make connections for my teachers if a teacher has a great idea or has solved an issue we are having on our campus. It creates a bond between teachers and our district motto this year is that we are #StrongerTogether. It is definitely a true statement. 

On a personal note, I love to learn in general. Twitter is my main way to consume new learning. I am consuming all things education, virtual teaching, student engagement, technology, coaching, research... The list goes on and on. I contribute ideas that I create, great ideas my teachers have, research I find to be interesting, opportunities for professional learning, innovative ideas from other districts, hacks, anything I think the teachers in my district might use or challenge them. It has created the ability to collaborate across the world and opens up so many possibilities and perspectives I never could have been exposed to on my own. 

The digital footprint you create can benefit your learning, your teaching, your career, and other educators that get to learn from you. Don't let the opportunity to expand your horizons and disrupt "what you have always done." Make connections and keep getting better. It's all for the kids we serve and the future generations.

My Twitter handle is @danifryIC 

Here are some that I follow outside of Twitter. I could list a hundred more. :)

https://www.nctm.org/

https://buildmathminds.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/975388825890055/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1391607630957125/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/445786889466638/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/387698441673646/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/404130629988558/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HackingSchoolDiscipline/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/245931442563744/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HyperDocs/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadingStrategiesBook/