'The Principal of Change'
George Couros is a very passionate man. He has worked hard to build a strong connection with the students in his life and it is through this connection that he realized the most important aspect of providing them with relevant and meaningful learning was to provide them with a VOICE.
To be a great educator is to also be a reflective practitioner. Continual learning and looking back at one’s achievements as well as failures is a vital step in becoming the most effective teacher you can be. Not only does our profession demand that we maintain a high level of competencies in a variety of areas but our inner drive to constantly improve our methods should also play a role in our choices.
The question ‘Reflection is a part of your work, what do you expect to learn from blogging’ reminded me of the commitment George Couros has for blogging and how long it took him to decide his feelings about blogging. He now sees it as a very valuable tool to communicate to students and help them connect with others around the world or across the city. The point is they connect in way that they never thought possible. This is a change I would love to see in my students!
I would look to blogging to provide a tool for my students to boost their communication skills and provide the chance for them to collaborate with those whom they may never had had the opportunity to talk to. They will learn to hone their 21st century learning skills and teach them the value of receiving feedback and collaborating with a wide variety of contacts. It would also provide them the opportunity to become global citizens which would show them their actions can contribute to a positive change in others.
Olivia