INTRODUCTION

My innovation project is using ePortfolios in Pre-K. This is the first year at school for students and they are four years old. I believe if we start while they are young and make this part of their learning, they will continue through their educational career. I think students need to take ownership of their learning and participate in their educational process. Students are learning differently now than they did a few years ago. They enjoy different learning styles and hands-on activities. They have grown up with technology and learn to swipe an iPad or a phone before they can walk.

This week we read the book, The New Culture of Learning, there are three important components such as play, questioning, and imagination. These are three things that we cover in pre-k. Our director of pre-k understands what students at this age need. Students have different interest so it’s important to catch their attention and they are engaged, they will learn and retain the information. Students need to be absorbed in the information rather than memorizing something for a test.

In 5305, we completed an innovation project outline and call to action video. We did some research and composed a literature review and created a proposal letter.

“Simply unleashing students on the internet doesn't solve the problem anymore than lecturing and testing them more does. The challenge is to find a way to marry structure and freedom to create something altogether new.” This is a great quote from the book. Students need more than lectures and more than test scores.

IMPACT

The learning environments must be inviting and practical for the students. In order for students to learn, they need to play. I am thankful that my district allows play in the pre-k classrooms. We have a “play based” type curriculum which allows the student to explore, experience, and solve problems.

Previously I taught kindergarten for six years and it has changed drastically over those six years. I see how they are now pushing the five year olds to act like ten year olds. When it was more of a play type atmosphere, the students absorbed more and were able to reach higher levels of achievement.

Students naturally want to create, explore, and seek out new things. When I heard the sentence, “For most of our lives, learning is natural and effortless - everywhere but school.” by Douglas Thomas (2012). It really made me stop and think. I was reflecting on my six years in kindergarten and how it changed. I wondered why every year the students seemed to learn less and now I realize it was because the district slowly was taking the fun out of learning and the students were less interesting in learning.

I believe that if they were having fun while learning, they would absorb more and there would be less behavior problems. Students need an outlet just like adults to express themselves. Students are little adults with less processing skills and less coping mechanisms. Sometimes school is their safe place where they can feel loved and are able to be themselves. We need to create an environment for them that will keep them safe, allow them to express their creativity, and help them become successful adults. Research has shown that when incorporate play into the lesson, the students will learn it quickly and retain it for a longer period of time. Albert Einstein said, “Play is the highest kind of research.”

MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE

I try to adjust the learning environment depending on what we are doing in the classroom. We have different centers and each one has a purpose. We do three-week themes so the students are able to be absorbed in all of the vocabulary words as well as experience as much of that theme as possible. Recently we were doing a “Rodeo/Farm theme”.

Each center had their own unique lessons that covered the guidelines while using the theme. For example, we are working on beginning sounds in the ABC center. We had picture cards with a lasso, armadillo, boot, saddle, etc. We could also clap syllables with these same cards. The pictures were based off the vocabulary words.

In the technology center, they were using Doodle Buddy to draw a picture and write the word. This covered many skills they need to know. In the past we would have been doing that with pencil, crayons, and paper. With today’s students, they want to do it on the iPad, then erase it. Sometimes they asked to keep it, so we can screenshot it and print it out for them.

We have to prepare the student to be ready for the future. We need them to be productive citizens with 21st century skills. I am willing to make changes and adjustments based on their needs for learning as well as the future needs of the students.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Challenges are opportunities to improve upon the original plan. Challenges are temporary stumbling blocks that provide learning opportunities for the teacher and the students.

The pre-k students usually go with the flow. It is the adults that are the ones that have a fixed mindset. At this young of an age, students have very little life experiences so they are not jaded with negative influences.

The teachers are set in their ways and are hard to convenience to make changes. Teachers are a creature of habit, so getting the on board for new things will be the biggest challenge. Teachers are pressed for time, so asking them to create their own ePortfolio will be another challenge.

Administrators are known for “putting a bandaid” on things, rather than fixing things. It will be a challenge to have them see the value in what is happening with ePortfolios. They will need to see examples of how it will work, what it will improve, and the purpose. They are reluctant to try new things. They are concerned about the time spend doing new things, not realizing it might just be a new way to learn. They are also concerned about adding something new to the classroom when it did not come from their administration.

Teaching students to use their problem-solving skills and to think are another big challenge. Even while having fun, some of them get frustrated and do not want to try. Some of them get discouraged if they are not able to solve something or complete something quickly. This is where technology works against us. With all the instant gratification that technology provides, they don’t always understand that putting together a puzzle will take a little more time.

Time is a big factor that poses another obstacle we have to face. We only have students for a few hours in the classroom each day. There are a long list of requirements that we have to teach, cover, and explore each day, each week, each month. I like to ask “what if” questions when possible. I try to write them in the lesson plan so that we do have time to explore those options and opportunities. Part of the curriculum requirements is showing students “how to think”. We are required to do something called essential questions when we read a story to them. Many of our questions are “what if” type questions. For example, this week we read and watched different variations of “The Three Little Pigs”. When it was over, we talked about “What if the wolf had been a friend?” Also “What if the wolf had asked nicely.” It provoked great conversation, collaboration, and communication with each other and they were able to ask their friends so “what if” questions.

CONCLUSION

Today’s world is continuously moving, changing, and improving. Technology is always changing as well. Students will now need to take the lessons they have learned, use the hands-on experiences they have experienced and reflect on their own learning to create their ePortfolios which will help them become productive and well-rounded citizens of the world. Teachers are now coaches, mentors, and a guide for students which will help unlock students’ potential

References

Einstein quote, Pinterest, received from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515802963549539578/?lp=true

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. (Vol 219) Lexington, KY: CreateSpace.

Tedx Talks. (2012, September 12). A new culture of learning: Douglas Thomas at tedxufm. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/lM80GXlyX0U

UPDATE:

Great reflection overall. I would have liked to see just a bit more information regarding: How will adopting the perspective of creating significant learning environments impact your organization?

-Creighton

GRADE: 71 out of 75, is a 94.67.