In my previous school district, I was the only teacher teaching a physics course with set, district-wide learning outcomes. These same outcomes were also taught in physics classrooms at the other high school in our district. But at our school, I was one of the 2 physics teachers. The other teacher taught the AP-level physics courses. So, in many ways, I had opportunities to incorporate strategies I believed were best for learners and that I found worked best for them without being seen as out of alignment with anyone in our building. My amazing friend and one of my teaching philosophy goddesses, Katie Novak, stated the following misconception about alignment: All teachers must deliver instruction in the exact same way. True alignment, she says, is about shared goals, rigor, and outcomes. Thank you, Katie! Katie has taught me to truly believe that learner variability is the rule, not the exception. I encourage you to take 10 minutes to listen to Katie Novak explain it in the ...
Any meaningful change in the classroom starts with a why and has a plan for implementation. I recently began a process constructed by the Institute for Personalized Learning called Constellation Creation for intentional innovation in the classroom. It is a process designed to not simply craft a vision, but to craft a vision with steps for immediate implementation. I plan on writing a series of posts about the process I am being guided through with my friend and specialist at the institute Kate Sommerville.
The Constellation is a multi-step process where you go from a sea of stars
To a series of manageable elements that include learning, relationships, and structures.
It is filled with a series of guided steps that I'm currently working through with Kate.
It begins with finding your North Star. That vision that will guide you. It is the constant. What you look up to set your course by and correct your course to. Here’s my vision.
When I think about my vision, I think Learner Agency sums it up. But it’s not as simple as just saying agency. I see agency in two major components in the classroom: Learning and Assessing. As I build my constellation, agency will be a guide. Moving towards a system in which learners are able to help co-design aspects of learning and assessment.
In the next stages of planning we will look at the what. What are we looking for in the classroom and what elements of the personalized learning model are the best fit for making a part of our constellation.
Kate brought a great revelation to me that is totally in line with the Mantra of the Innovators mindset. That is the importance of relationships. That is why when crafting a constellation, it's helpful to look at the elements that align with relationships and roles in the classroom. Take a look at these. Which one or ones they line up with your vision for your classroom. How will you shape a vision around them?
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