So…how am I doing as a 21 century educator?
47 Tweets
36 Following
33 Followers
25 Days
# Figured out
Still prefer LinkedIn for professional learning communities or communities of practice since it combines the best of both worlds – short, “real time” updates and sharing, industry/topic specific information but LinkedIn offers a venue for more in-depth discussions. However, that is my own bias and I am very glad to have been introduced to twitter as I definitely see the value for creating a professional brand, sharing information and learning.
Also, as Emre Firat recalls in his edublog “To Tweet or Not To Tweet” there are 2 main reasons to use Twitter.
“1) Whenever I want to discover something new about education technologies I check twitter.
2) It is a very useful and productive backchannel in the meetings, presentations and conferences”
I agree with Emre’s thoughts on that one.
And…if I am being truly reflective, I have to consider Steve Barkley’s take on Annie Murphy Paul’s “Four Ways to Give Good Feedback“. Which of course relates to my post title. The forth aspect of good feedback that Barkley considers is the use feedback to build metacognitive skills. With respect to my own learning on 21st century educator thus far (and keep in mind this is just past the halfway mark for this course), I have to consider how to give feedback to myself (as part of the “meta-cognition” of the process of feedback). By measuring my own work against the criteria outlined in our first week of class, I have made a real effort at being an engaged learner and a contributing “co-creator” of the new story of education…while still having a lot to learn. I agree with Steve’s assertion that “the ability to assess one’s own work builds empowerment”. This has certainly been true for my experience in #5P42.
Empowerment is a key aspect of feedback and for learning. In reviewing several LinkedIn “21st century Education” Group, I came across the following video that highlights a few elements of this “shift in education”. Christian LeButt
Although American based, as the world gets smaller with digital technology, education, building professional communities, the themes presented are relevant to a Master of Education class on digital technology and 21st century education. I can now also add to my list: able to embed media to a blog!
I am looking forward to reading more from my blog-mates about their reflections thus far and also continuing to learn from them and hearing their feedback. At this point in the course, I have been able to progress through some of the “Know, Do, Be” elements. I have an understanding of the interweaving of curriculum and assessment including AfL, Aal, AoL – all as related to 21st Century approaches to curriculum design and delivery. A key part of this for me the ability to implement my learning into the development of a career planning curriculum. I now have new ideas and ways in which to design the course with exciting possibilities to engage the learners and learn from them. I believe that I have “done” (and continue to do so) positive risk-taking, collaboration (Google docs anyone??), critical thinking and the early stages of design and integrative thinking. I have “been” open to new approaches, making mistakes and learning from them by being an engaged, contributing participant in this course as well.
Thanks to my fellow bloggers for sharing your insights and I look forward to reading your posts!
p.s. And I still do not have a FB page!
risbrown 
Marisa,
You have brought up a good point on using feedback to build metacognitive skills. Currently, I am taking my final culminating seminar (5Q97) where we have been involved in an ongoing “metacognition” process regarding our final paper. Our class has been bringing drafts of our paper so that we can give one another feedback. This process has been very helpful as I get a chance to reflect on the organization and content of my writing process. I have learned how important it is for us to continuously reflect on the work that we produce, and students must follow along on this path. If we want students to be life-long learners (a component of 21st century learning), then we must model and guide our students on how to build their metacognitive skills by reflecting on their feedback. I think grades can be detrimental at times and we have to show students that a number or a letter does not define them. I believe it is more important for students to reflect on what they can do now and how they can change/do better in the future.
Thank you for the great blog and it is great to see that you are growing as a 21st century learner. Facebook is just one of the many online tools that keeps up connect. You already have LinkedIn!
– Tien
Hi Marisa,
Great post! I’m glad that you discussed meta-cognition, and the need for reflective feedback of our own progress.
I have to say, that in the past 2-3 years, I have been involved in more metacognitive activities (through the MEd program, or through my own work with students in the college classroom), than I was EVER exposed to prior to that. It’s not even a fair comparison!
After many years of regurgitating facts, and providing teachers with specific answers to set questions, it is refreshing to be able to evaluate my own growth and development, and to empower others to do the same. We’re all learning, all the time. But…how many of us actually realize that? How many of us learn from our experiences, mistakes, successes. How many of us have the self-awareness required to navigate the world around us in the 21st century?
I believe that if we continue to encourage and activate meta-cognitive learning practices in schools, we will be better able to answer these questions, and our young students will be much more prepared for what lies ahead of them than our generation was, and still is.
Thanks Marisa for all of your reflective blog entries. Your self-awareness is refreshing to read, and your honesty and candour in your posts lends enhanced credibility to your thoughts and experiences that you share with readers. All the best moving forward.
Brett
Marisa,
Intenseeeeeee music in that video haha..loved it! But in all seriousness, it’s looking like you’re becoming a big deal on Twitter right now with all those Tweets! I completely agree with you in terms of metacognition and how it important it is to always review your own work. I believe that’s the only way to move forward; always double-checking what you are doing and see what you can improve upon.
Back to the video, it brings up a lot of good points with how the world of education is changing and how it is moving towards a more modern approach. As you mentioned, the video aligns perfectly with our EDUC 5P42 class as we are learning about new engaging and innovative ways to become a 21st Century Learner. One of the avenues you touched upon was Twitter.
I agree with the person you quoted as I do feel Twitter is something that is quick and gets the information out there but personally I don’t believe I will use Twitter once this class is over. I feel that it is too much to check; I have g-mail, Brock web-mail, Online Banking, Blogging, Additional Qualification Online Courses, Facebook (Yes, I know, the dark side haha), and then PoF (kidding, but should I get a 35+ account? haha). It really gets to be too much so I feel like adding on more online ‘avenues’ just gets confusing and becomes a hindrance.
Great post and see you class,
James
see you in class*
Marisa: You actually have a very impressive technological record now! And you use discretionary judgement when you choose Linked-In over FB. Turns out 83% use FB and under 2% use LInked In but that may change soon. Once you invited me to Linked In and I replied Linked In sent out invites for me to anyone that had ever sent me an email. I was shocked when suddenly I got all these emails from people I hardly knew and a few I was very happy to hear from as I had let those friendships slide. I has actually checked skip that page but I guess Linked In did not obey my command. now I wonder if invites I get are slips of the finger from the invitee. But that is looking for the negative and not the way someone should self-assess. I really like that you are concerned with your own metacognition. That, of course, is the highest form of assessment and the goal of education.