Students as Knowledge Constructors

As I write this week's technology tip, I am accompanied by a rather large cup of coffee and an intimidating stack of World Cultures midterm assessments.  It's also snowing here in South Central Pennsylvania which makes many of our students (and staff) hopeful for two-hour delays, early dismissals or school closures.

I wanted to briefly write about some of the enduring questions that we as teachers often have as we plan and facilitate learning in our classrooms as lead learners:  How do students learn? How do we as teachers go about helping our students reach mastery?

One possible approach to these questions is constructivism.  Scholars such as Jean Piaget  discovered that deep and meaningful learning occurs as learners are actively involved in the process.  Students must construct their own knowledge as opposed to passively receive information.  These findings are not new but they are excellent reminders for me.  As I venture into the second semester, I am thinking of ways to help my students become their own knowledge constructors. I desire for my students to figure out their own questions and chase their curiosity (see the interesting articles linked here - one is from George Couros). I will share more on the second question regarding the use of educational technology to help with formative assessment in upcoming posts.

We must help our students become knowledge constructors. 

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides direction for teachers interested in helping students drive their own learning. Our District recently adopted digital goals that mirror these seven standards. The third ISTE student standard is called "Knowledge Constructor." Check out the image below.  As you read the standard and the accompanying indicators, think about why these skills are critical for our students, especially as they enter today's workforce.

https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students

How can technology tools help teachers support this learning goal?
One of my colleagues here at MASH intentionally designs her AP Art History in such a way that learners curate their understandings for 250 individual masterpieces. Check out Lynette Giblin's AP Art History student blog and read the student comments under each work of art.  To get a better understanding of why AND how she had her students curate their knowledge, please listen to Lynette's 90 second overview in our EdTech Show & Tell Flipgrid series. I noticed each of ISTE Standard #3 indicators.

What do you think? Feel free to post below. Lynette uses Blogger as her digital platform to support her students in their own quest to make meaning of essential content.  Not only are her learners understanding art, but they are also practicing the skill and art of curation. Students are practicing constructivism for sure.  They are becoming content curators which is transferable in so many facets of life. This additional video, Students Should Be Content Curators, also shares the importance of this skill. Check out this helpful site for more valuable information about content curation for students.

I am inspired by Lynette's intentional course design. Her students are given a voice and they are driving their own understanding.  She also models for us how #ItTakesATeacher to make this magic happen for students. Lynette also demonstrates how we should consider our learning objectives first, and then select the technology tool to support the objectives.

For further inspiration, check out this student-centered blog from Messiah College. Dr. Pettegrew teaches a digital history course pertaining to the City of Harrisburg and has his students post their real-life application work to this site. I admire the REAL work that his students are involved with. They are actually doing the work of a historian.

This is one of my current projects at the moment. My AP Human Geography students are assigned their own two countries that differ in their development.  As we progress through the curriculum, learners are tasked with curating examples of certain concepts that pertain to their countries. I chose Google Sites as the platform to display their understandings and Padlet as a way for all the students to view the work.  This is a work in progress!

We must help our students become knowledge constructors. 

Please share how you are helping learners become knowledge constructors. As always, let me know how I can support you.