Eclectic Technology

Although this was posted in 2013, the ideas of what we should look for in our classroom are still relevant. George Couros provides an image (as seen above) as well as more detailed explanations for each suggestion. Ask yourself if your learners have these options in your classroom.

1. Voice - the ability to learn from others and share their learning.

2. Choice - about how they learn and what they learn.

3. Time for reflection  (often overlooked in our very busy classrooms).

4. Opportunities for innovation

5. Critical thinkers - asking the questions and challenging what they see, respectfully.

6. Problem solvers/finders - what is a problem the learners see? How would they solve the problem?

7. Self-assessment - do your learners assess themselves or do you do the assessment? What would happen if they were given this opportunity?

8. Connected learning - bringing in experts from your community or further afield (perhaps by using Skype).

The post is worth reading as he provides additional insights to each area. In addition he provides one more piece that is also critical in your classroom. Click through to the post to learn more.

What do we mean when we speak of school and what do we mean when we speak of learning? This post by George Couros explores these two concepts by looking at how these two ideas become divergent. For example (and from the post):

* School is about consuming.  Learning is about creating.

* School is about giving you information.  Learning is about making your own connections.

Couros provides 11 examples of how these two ideas may be divergent and also raises the question of what would happen if you "combined statements" to make some new, something that schools could become.

As we approach the end of the year this post may make you think about how you approach work in your classroom and what you might like to do to change the culture of your classroom, or your school to make school and learning step out together.