Impacts on My Learning

I have recently experienced large impacts on my learning. These impacts have effected not just my own learning but also my understanding of how we teach and learn. It has been amazing to go through this learning process at a time when the world is also going through a new teaching and learning process from the effects of Covid 19. As I have gone through my masters program and experienced the digital distance learning for myself I believe it has made me a stronger teacher better able to meet the needs of students in this new world of distance learning that I believe will grow in the future.

The study of growth mindset has had a large impact on me. I have learned in the past of negative and positive thinking however, through the study of Carol Dweck's book Mindset and the theories behind it I feel I have a much stronger handle on effective ways to communicate and provide feedback to students. I am also empowered by the steps Dweck (2016) lays out to deal with a fixed mindset. I have struggled with this as I believe all of us do to some degree. The steps are as follows.

1. Learn to hear your fixed mindset.

2. Recognize you have a choice not to listen to it.

3. Talk back to your fixed mindset with a growth mindset voice.

4. Take the growth mindset action.

This graphic helps me to understand each mindset.

For more on growth mindset follow this link.

https://longaj.wixsite.com/website/post/growth-mindset-plan

My main take away from my study of growth mindset is how it enables us to teach ourselves and others how adversity and challenges are not to be feared but taken as opportunities to fail and progress. Each failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. Every time we face a challenge or failure and conquer our mind actually grows from that process.

A second impact on my learning was the development of my learning manifesto. This was a struggle. I had to take a good long look at myself. This is not always an easy thing to do. However, this process has helped identify what it is I believe and as an educator what my passions are and how I approach my role as an educator to be the best for my students. Through this process I have learned how I can incorporate more meaningful, high impact, and effective teaching practices such as the COVA and CSLE models. These models give learners choice, ownership, a voice, and authentic learning opportunities in their education. The CSLE model helps a teacher develop a learning environment that is learner centered as opposed to standard teacher centered practices. Follow the link below to check out my learning manifesto.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BYj0bVAM2NTagQIRilyyHsUIDmtQzFFF/view

The third impact on my learning has been the realization of the networks I am a part of. Relationships, collaboration, and opportunities to connect with teachers in the same subject or facing the same issues are crucial. A good learning network is a great source of support for an educator. They provide learning opportunities, legal help, best practices ideas and effective strategies. I belong to several networks in education, muisc, and music education. For more details follow the link below.

https://longaj.wixsite.com/website/learning-network

References

Dweck, C.S. (2016) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballentine Books. New York, NY.

Holmes, N. (n.d.) Two Mindsets. http://www.nigelholmes.com.