Empowering Learners: Creating Flexible Thinkers
Learning how to learn in this fast-paced world are skills that everyone needs today. Join Meg Ormiston for this five-part professional learning series created for practicing educators navigating the future of learning to develop flexible thinkers. This is an asynchronous workshop start when you want and work at your own pace. There are five videos with three discussion questions in each and additional resource collection.
Session #1 Learning How to Learn
Learners are empowered to create their learning path to the agreed-upon standards, and they create, organize, and share digital artifacts demonstrating what they know and can do. Individuals and groups create authentic models and projects and communicate this to a broader community.
- Balancing Structures and Freedom at the Local Level While Collaborating Globally
- Flexible Thinking and Production
- Communicating the Learning Journey Using Media
Session #2 Seeking Knowledge Online and Off
Learners become knowledge seekers and computational thinkers as they explore the world around them. Validating the information they find from multiple sources is critical for current and future learners living in a global society.
- Identifying Trusted Sources of Information
- Seeking Experts as Primary Sources of Information
- Teaching and Learning From the Community Near and Far
Session #3 Project Management Fundamentals
Learners at every level need to learn how to learn and manage their time successfully. Learners need to be guided and coached on how to manage complex tasks by setting manageable goals. Life-long learning is a balancing act that everyone needs to practice.
- Organizing and Planning Tasks within Projects
- Juggling Personal Goals with Group Expectations
- Publishing Individual and Group Work
Session #4 Reflecting and Goal Setting
Setting goals and reflecting on progress are essential skills for everyone, but do we teach learners how to manage their progress and reorganize their path to success. Outside of schooling, acceleration and remediation happen naturally as learners discover gaps in their knowledge and need to backtrack for answers.
Learners celebrate their success by sharing artifacts and projects beyond the walls of the classroom.
- Creating, Tracking, and Refining Individual and Group Goals
- Acceleration and Remediation as Needed Based on Assessments and Feedback
- Communicating Successes and Challenges to Stakeholders
Session #5 Technology NOW
We can help create flexible thinkers as they ubiquitously move between technology tools and apps. Learners need experience with a wide range of technology tools to help craft a toolkit of resources they are comfortable using. Digital portfolios show what learners know and can are evidence of learning.
- Using Real-World Technology Tools to Manage Communication and Collaboration
- Technology Tools for ALL Learners
- Creating a Visual Representation of Growth Using Technology Tools