Yesterday students finished their This I Believe digital stories. I always enjoy seeing their perspective as they delve into a story about a belief they have. Some of the stories are funny; some serious; some are brave; but all are real. The authenticity of the work is the key. Students care about their work - they are not as concerned about the grade. When this happens learning occurs naturally and, in some cases, doesn't readily appear at all. Growth in learning is like this though - it is incremental. Rarely doesn't growth happen in large spurts of enlightenment. It usually happens so slowly that it is imperceptible without recording progress.
Whenever I finish up the This I Believe unit I realize how much I love teaching through an authentic lens. It offers students to focus on their own perspective with ideas that matter to them. After all we are intrinsically motivated when we are working on something of meaning to us. I plan on revising my classes to incorporate more experiences like this.
Whenever I finish up the This I Believe unit I realize how much I love teaching through an authentic lens. It offers students to focus on their own perspective with ideas that matter to them. After all we are intrinsically motivated when we are working on something of meaning to us. I plan on revising my classes to incorporate more experiences like this.