EDPB 530 - A Call To Action

EDPB530 FINISHED ON DEC 10TH. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!

EDPB 530

A CALL TO ACTION:

THE HERO'S QUEST

In this simplified version of the Hero’s Quest, the hero… you… begin with

A call to action. At some point you made the choice to become a teacher.
Crossing from your “known world” to the “unknown world” of becoming a teacher can be a significant shift for many. It is filled with challenges and wonders, and few people are unchanged by the experience.
A hero needs to gain understanding and skills to survive and thrive during the tasks and tests to come. There are many ways a hero gains the needed knowledge, one of which is the Mentor. The Mentor is a person (or in this case a teacher education program) who "has been there" and can provide needed knowledge and practice for success.
Tasks and Tests. The hero’s quest is about answering the questions that need to be answered, learning what is needed to be learned, and becoming what is needed for the challenges ahead. The Mentor can only do so much to prepare the hero. Tasks and tests will give the hero the experiences needed to deepen understanding, embody skills, and deal with weaknesses (sometimes overcoming weaknesses and sometimes accepting them).
There comes a time when the hero no longer needs the mentor, and is in fact hampered by possible reliance on the mentor's deeper understanding and experience. It is time to Leave the Mentor behind. But, as with many heroic quests, the hero will form alliances and bonds with others. These folks may be like-minded, or may just have similar goals; either way, they will form a temporary or permanent team.
It is time for the Return to the Known World. The hero has been changed by her or his experiences. The hero tends to return to the known world wiser, calmer, more skilled, and ready to take on the challenges to come of the...
Final Battle (Or Final Challenge). The hero almost always returns to achieve a task (often referred to as the "final battle") that would more than likely have ended in dismal failure before the quest. The final battle for a new teacher is the success of the students for whom they are responsible.

Optional Video: This video (9:41) describes the hero's quest using three films: Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Wizard of OZ.

But the quest to become a good, or even a great teacher is not just a Hero’s Quest… it is a quest to become a superhero.

THE SUPERHERO QUEST OF A TEACHER

Superheroes seem to have to go through a version of the hero’s quest on a regular basis; they just need more than human powers to succeed. This is not the only similarity between teachers and superheroes; there are a surprising number of similarities.

Like teachers, most superheroes have some common traits that are the basic building blocks of their calling; these may be attributes such as

Intelligence,
The ability to think and act quickly,
The ability to think strategically,
Enhanced senses,
Stamina,
Knowledge,
Teamwork,
and more.

Understand what it takes to be a superhero.

In this course and program you will have an opportunity to delve into specific aspects of superheroness:

- - - - Identity - A superhero's identity makes them who they are and how the world sees them. Part of identity is the superhero's credo... their personal set of values that guide action;
        Elemental Powers - Control of the elements (classroom management);
        Power - The abilities that allow the superhero to do what they do (pedagogy);
        Power+ - The superhero always finds ways to leverage their power when needed (technology);
        The Secret Lair - A safe place to regroup, try things out, think, learn...

Identity

Superheroes have an origin story and motivation to become a superhero. A teacher’s origin story may not be as dramatic as a science experiment gone wrong (Hulk) or being the last of a species that is now living on earth (Superman), but the nobility of the drive to be a teacher can be exquisitely superheroish: It is all about helping young people be the best that they can be. If that is not “super” motivation, then what is?

Add to the superhero recipe an agenda to help humanity and an abiding moral code, and you have the beginnings of a superhero identity. In a teacher, the identity is not only a result of upbringing, experiences, and motivations, it is hopefully encased in a Credo, a set of guiding principles, values and beliefs that guide and filter actions: The superhero’s credo.

Part of identity is weakness. The superhero, like a great teacher, is aware of his or her weaknesses, and takes actions accordingly. Superman has an allergic reaction to Kryptonite and a recurring identity crisis, where he questions his own purpose and motivations. It is a good thing he has a secret lair, where he can tap knowledge, recuperate from the trials of superdom, and try out new stuff. Batman also has a lair where he can regroup, get help and support (Alfred, Robin,...), research and experiment safely with new technologies, and so on. What about Wonder Woman... she has an island of family and colleagues (and a cool, invisible jet... I would like an invisible jet.)

Aspects of Identity:

Credo: Guiding Principles, values, Philosophy of Education...
Origin and motivation
Your agenda and clientele (The principles and concepts which guide your actions)
Your moral code (The values you hold dearest with regard to teaching and learning)
Knowledge (Principles, concepts and values based on experience and knowledge)
Autobiography (with the rights to the movie): Your ePortfolio
Visual representation of self. Superheroes need to at least look cool.

Elemental (Classroom Management):

As a superhero in the classroom, you will need power over the elements, or Classroom Management. It is said that classroom management is one of the most important aspects of teaching. Your instructor (mentor) could not agree more. He feels that nothing can happen without classroom management.

Elemental: Classroom Management - Some of the powers you can hope to attain:

Spacial awareness
Relationship building
Control of the environment
Mind powers and mind reading
Enhanced Senses
and more

Powers (Pedagogy):

Powers are what make a hero into a superhero. Weak powers lead to a weak superhero; while potent powers enhance the likelihood of success. As a teacher, you will find weak pedagogy and powerful pedagogy. What your student’s get out of your pedagogy is what reveals its true power. What concepts and tactics will you utilize to live your Guiding Principles? Will it be inquiry learning? Constructivism? Connectivism? Social Learning? Remember that powerful concepts lead to powerful strategies which lead to powerful results.

Power+ (Technology Integration): Wonder Woman has her golden lasso of truth, her unbreakable silver bracelets, invisible vehicles, and a razor sharp tiara that can cut through almost anything. Wonder Woman is still a rock star of a superhero without her tools, but her tech sure helps.

Batman is still batman without his utility belt, supercomputers, cool cars and such, but by utilizing technology to leverage his powers, he augments his abilities and improves his chances of success. Because Batman is a mortal human, who did not get special powers from accidents or deities or other planets, he is constantly finding ways to enhance his chances of success by using technology: He tinkers with wondrous stuff in his lair (with Alfred’s help) and has a bat car and motorcycle and jet… and of course, there is the utility belt, with all manner of gadgets to fight badness.

A great teacher does not require technology to succeed. However, a great teacher will do everything and anything in their power to build capacity and success in young people. By utilizing technology as a seamless and natural integration of powerful pedagogy, the teacher leverages their powers to build student success. Power+ leverages Power. Technology integration leverages powerful pedagogical strategies.

Secret Lair (Development - Training, Health, Community...): Superheroes, like super teachers, must "keep going" to be effective. They must stay healthy and strong; they must train to build stamina and power; they must be able to heal. Superheroes need to continue to learn and to try things out. Often, what keeps a superhero from complete burnout and destruction is a team. Superheroes need each other as teachers need each other. Many of the finest superhero teams (X-Men, Justice League, Avengers, Fantastic Four,...) are better as a team than they are as individuals. Most superheroes have a weakness. Even great teachers have a weakness (or two, or three, or...) in their teaching practice. In understanding one's weakness, it might be possible to utilize a weakness for the benefit of the clientele. The Secret Lair provides the opportunities to leverage weaknesses, build strengths. and develop a team.

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