Summary:
Day 1 - Charles Fadel communicated that the world is becoming volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. What will we need? Self direction and flexibility. How do we teach? Instruction via projects with technology as an enabler.
Day 2 - Dr. Christian Jernstedt told the Institute participants that we have 10 million neurons, over 10 trillion connections and that listening is one of the least effective ways to use any of them. When students "tell" they build connections. Even when they can't recall immediately, it is better than just telling them. Learning is all about construction, building up and tearing down. The more we "do" the more we learn.
Day 3 - Use or prune, thats what Mariale Hardiman expressed when talking about brain cells. She also said that when teaching, Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Tactile should be included in every lesson (VKAT). Teaching to a specific learning style for a lesson or unit is a NO NO!
Ah ha's that have seen through the Institute:
How is my class represented in a students eyes? Is it represented as being challenging, fun, and paced like the real world?
Expect higher performance and tell your students, but show them by interaction, touch, and helping with correcting mistakes.
Consolidation time is needed! Plan it, demonstrate it.
Strategies that I now use because of MWBLI:
Having more sticky note conversations to encourage students to give meaningful feedback.
Allowing students to fail, making it ok, and encouraging it as a learning point, especially in a science based room like mine.
Be a teacher that praises for effort and hard work, not smarts and doing it right.