I was talking with a colleague one day about floppy discs. I mentioned how I remember doing a research project and having a stack of floppy discs that were all labeled with different topics. I even had a special case to hold them all. We began to laugh and talk about how our students now would not even know what those were and how if we had one we wouldn’t even be able to access the files on them because computers no longer use them. This is when we came to the conclusion that by the time our students are out in the real world, there will be things that we are doing now that will be completely obsolete and will no longer exist. Their world does not exist yet, and that is what we are tasked with preparing them for. This can seem like a daunting task but I think it can be rather inspiring.
This also points out an important aspect of being a teacher. As teachers, we can never stop learning. The moment we stop learning is the moment we stop growing and we cannot be the teacher our students need us to be. Our world is changing at such a fast pace it can be hard to keep up at times. The things we learn about and put into practice may be out of date in a couple of years. Because of this, it is so vitally important to be a lifelong learner. This is something that I have always been passionate about. I have always practiced feeding my need to learn. As educators, we can be quickly overwhelmed with the onslaught of daily tasks that keep getting added to our plate and it can be easy to lose sight of this out of a need to just keep our heads above water. Learning new technology and strategies to use in the classroom is something that needs to stay at the top of the priority list. By continuing my own learning, I am giving my students the best practices that I can to prepare them for their future that does not exist yet.
Another way to prepare students for their futures is to have them take control of their learning. I want my students to be inspired by what they are learning and not just learning because there is going to be a test. Most schools are modeled after this traditional industrial method that revolves heavily around standardized assessments. But our students are far from standard. They each have their own interests and ways of learning. What may work for one student may not work for another. This standardized assessment model makes it difficult to customize learning for our students. When the scores of our standardized test are what decides so many factors for our campus, it is hard not to focus solely on the numbers.
This is where I believe we can use technology as our tool to help widen our students’ horizons. In the traditional model of school, teachers are the sole source of information and knowledge. In this digital age that we live in, teachers no longer have to be in that role. Information and knowledge are at our fingertips and can now take students where they were never able to go before. By implementing technology in the classroom in an innovative way, teachers can become facilitators while students guide their own learning. In this type of blended learning, the teacher will step away from the lecture, one-size-fits-all style lessons, and give students the tools to accomplish the objective, guide students along the way, and fill in gaps where they are needed. I believe this is where education should be headed. I also believe this is the way we prepare students for a future that doesn’t yet exist. We prepare them by creating innovative, problem-solving, and creative students. Instilling these students to take control of their learning and maintaining a growth mindset in the face of difficulty will prepare them for whatever problems that will be waiting for them in the workforce.
I hope that in my organization that I will be able to bring a growth mindset to not only my students but to those I work with. Having a growth mindset is the driving force behind being a lifelong learner. Always wanting to grow and face new challenges will always help me be a better teacher. If I can instill a growth mindset and help inspire lifelong learners, then I know my students will be successful in whatever path they choose to follow.
Learning Manifesto
