Design for Learning
I was reading this Edutopia piece about insight and outsight when this term struck me: Design for Learning.
The author, Pam Moran, says, "Create opportunities to design for learning, not plan for teaching."
Let's think about that for a moment.
The whole point of education is to help kiddos learn. When learning is the focus a few things happen.
- Competition amongst educators is non-existent.
- Creativity and risk-taking are not just valued but expected.
- Teaching is less about the cool tool to use and more about meeting student needs.
That one term helped me see that while I did (at times) design for learning. I also definitely planned for teaching. I tried to make lessons the best, most fun, better than what anyone else did. When I planned for teaching I was focused on building myself up. When I designed for learning, my students' needs were primary.
My challenge for you, whether you are an administrator leading professional development or a classroom teacher is to leave behind the planning and design for learning.
The author, Pam Moran, says, "Create opportunities to design for learning, not plan for teaching."
Let's think about that for a moment.
The whole point of education is to help kiddos learn. When learning is the focus a few things happen.
- Competition amongst educators is non-existent.
- Creativity and risk-taking are not just valued but expected.
- Teaching is less about the cool tool to use and more about meeting student needs.
That one term helped me see that while I did (at times) design for learning. I also definitely planned for teaching. I tried to make lessons the best, most fun, better than what anyone else did. When I planned for teaching I was focused on building myself up. When I designed for learning, my students' needs were primary.
My challenge for you, whether you are an administrator leading professional development or a classroom teacher is to leave behind the planning and design for learning.
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