“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars.” - Carl Sagan
Looking Back
Creativity is an important trait of a genius. I don’t think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a creative person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Carl Sagan, they were all creative people. It was pretty evident after reading a few pages of Cosmos as to why this was assigned for reading and how this book would fit into the bigger picture of UrbanSTEM program. Creativity is an essential dimension of life and it is found at every level of existence. The planets and stars are creative in their ways, and so are the quantum events within the depths of cosmos. So, when educators limit creativity, they are going against the very grain of the universe. Exploring, curiosity and creativity is in our nature. Although everyone in class will have their own personal interpretation and take their own personal voyage through this process, I have an appreciation for our creative nature. Unfortunately, we're still running a national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make, and the result is we're educating kids out of their creative capacity. Nevertheless, creativity and exploring the unknown are fundamental concepts that make us who we are and should be nurtured and cultivated in our youth.
With that said, I feel the three week MSUrbanSTEM camp did a pretty good job of stimulating my curiosity and creativity. I learn by doing, and I’ve done a lot of ‘doing’ throughout our three weeks of summer. Giving up a few weeks of my precious summer could’ve be really painful, if it were not for the fact that the classes encouraged exploration and sparked my imagination. We created our own personal website and mini assignments, went on a field trip to look for inspirational ideas and images that could be used for our yearlong project. We completed a Book of WOW, shared amazing teaching moments, and created a Deep Play video. The class sessions opened up new worlds and possibilities. There were always new things that attracted my attention, and new tools to play with. Instead of passively sitting listening to someone lecture, class became more of an adventure. We were introduced to a variety of websites, apps, and technologies, such as Plickers, and Professor Punya’s Olloclip. The Olloclip led into the World of Wonder, where we were encouraged to look at things from a different perspective. The majority of our world goes unnoticed, yet the possibility of a different perspective sparked my interest to explore and look at things through a different lens. We were required to use our Twitter accounts and research hashtags to connect with people that have similar interests. We explored TPACK, and gained a better understanding how the pieces of technology, pedagogy, and content could fit together to build a strong lesson. I took part in Quickfire challenges, which I really enjoyed, and was challenged to create a product, with certain constraints and within a tight time frame. A great idea that I will be using this coming year. We did a lot of reading, and discussed the content. I could lie and say I learned a lot from the readings, but I won’t. Again I rather be doing, making, creating, and breaking from the traditional. Overall though, the summer was filled with more curiosity, exploration, and asking questions, as opposed to, passively sitting and spitting out a bunch of facts and answers and covering a bunch of educational theory.
Looking Forward
For our year long project we have the power to choose what we want to accomplish. With some very loose constraints, we had the freedom to explore what we are curious about and interested in. With that said, I believe this concept needs to be carried over to the classroom. Providing my students with choice is one of the most powerful things I can do for them. It is something I don’t always do, but something I need to do on a regular basis. Having the freedom to choose can empower, engage, and inspires students. Furthermore, it teaches them how to make decisions, be independent, and solve problems. When we give students choice in how to learn, show, and share their knowledge we are sending some very clear messages. We are letting them know that we appreciate their perspective and that we value their decisions. We are also creating a supportive classroom environment where risk taking is encouraged and celebrated, and mistakes are expected. Choice develops lifelong learners. Students are a lot more curious when they are in control of what or how they learn. Choice gives the student control of their learning.
Traditionally being in control is most natural for teachers. It is very easy to see why teachers struggle or are fearful with offering their students choice. For many, letting go of classroom control is a very scary task. I also am aware of the big elephant in the room. The one that craves control, for our jobs depend on it. Standardized test scores determine whether we have a job or not. It is hard to give up control when you have bills to pay. Instead of giving up control and offering students choice, we teach students to dance the steps that they have been told are important: First, build your writing with a certain number of words, sentences, paragraphs; second, make sure your writing contains the words in the question, and so on. I’m fully aware of the intense political pressures bearing down on education. We all know that the policies through which these pressures exert themselves must be challenged and changed. It is a difficult decision to make for some, maintain control or provide choice. The summer camp has inspired me to provide choice. I support the STEM philosophy that is making it’s way into our schools. It is time to bring back autonomy back into the classroom.
Looking Back
Creativity is an important trait of a genius. I don’t think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a creative person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Carl Sagan, they were all creative people. It was pretty evident after reading a few pages of Cosmos as to why this was assigned for reading and how this book would fit into the bigger picture of UrbanSTEM program. Creativity is an essential dimension of life and it is found at every level of existence. The planets and stars are creative in their ways, and so are the quantum events within the depths of cosmos. So, when educators limit creativity, they are going against the very grain of the universe. Exploring, curiosity and creativity is in our nature. Although everyone in class will have their own personal interpretation and take their own personal voyage through this process, I have an appreciation for our creative nature. Unfortunately, we're still running a national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make, and the result is we're educating kids out of their creative capacity. Nevertheless, creativity and exploring the unknown are fundamental concepts that make us who we are and should be nurtured and cultivated in our youth.
With that said, I feel the three week MSUrbanSTEM camp did a pretty good job of stimulating my curiosity and creativity. I learn by doing, and I’ve done a lot of ‘doing’ throughout our three weeks of summer. Giving up a few weeks of my precious summer could’ve be really painful, if it were not for the fact that the classes encouraged exploration and sparked my imagination. We created our own personal website and mini assignments, went on a field trip to look for inspirational ideas and images that could be used for our yearlong project. We completed a Book of WOW, shared amazing teaching moments, and created a Deep Play video. The class sessions opened up new worlds and possibilities. There were always new things that attracted my attention, and new tools to play with. Instead of passively sitting listening to someone lecture, class became more of an adventure. We were introduced to a variety of websites, apps, and technologies, such as Plickers, and Professor Punya’s Olloclip. The Olloclip led into the World of Wonder, where we were encouraged to look at things from a different perspective. The majority of our world goes unnoticed, yet the possibility of a different perspective sparked my interest to explore and look at things through a different lens. We were required to use our Twitter accounts and research hashtags to connect with people that have similar interests. We explored TPACK, and gained a better understanding how the pieces of technology, pedagogy, and content could fit together to build a strong lesson. I took part in Quickfire challenges, which I really enjoyed, and was challenged to create a product, with certain constraints and within a tight time frame. A great idea that I will be using this coming year. We did a lot of reading, and discussed the content. I could lie and say I learned a lot from the readings, but I won’t. Again I rather be doing, making, creating, and breaking from the traditional. Overall though, the summer was filled with more curiosity, exploration, and asking questions, as opposed to, passively sitting and spitting out a bunch of facts and answers and covering a bunch of educational theory.
Looking Forward
For our year long project we have the power to choose what we want to accomplish. With some very loose constraints, we had the freedom to explore what we are curious about and interested in. With that said, I believe this concept needs to be carried over to the classroom. Providing my students with choice is one of the most powerful things I can do for them. It is something I don’t always do, but something I need to do on a regular basis. Having the freedom to choose can empower, engage, and inspires students. Furthermore, it teaches them how to make decisions, be independent, and solve problems. When we give students choice in how to learn, show, and share their knowledge we are sending some very clear messages. We are letting them know that we appreciate their perspective and that we value their decisions. We are also creating a supportive classroom environment where risk taking is encouraged and celebrated, and mistakes are expected. Choice develops lifelong learners. Students are a lot more curious when they are in control of what or how they learn. Choice gives the student control of their learning.
Traditionally being in control is most natural for teachers. It is very easy to see why teachers struggle or are fearful with offering their students choice. For many, letting go of classroom control is a very scary task. I also am aware of the big elephant in the room. The one that craves control, for our jobs depend on it. Standardized test scores determine whether we have a job or not. It is hard to give up control when you have bills to pay. Instead of giving up control and offering students choice, we teach students to dance the steps that they have been told are important: First, build your writing with a certain number of words, sentences, paragraphs; second, make sure your writing contains the words in the question, and so on. I’m fully aware of the intense political pressures bearing down on education. We all know that the policies through which these pressures exert themselves must be challenged and changed. It is a difficult decision to make for some, maintain control or provide choice. The summer camp has inspired me to provide choice. I support the STEM philosophy that is making it’s way into our schools. It is time to bring back autonomy back into the classroom.
