Teachers are learning designers

This month we focused on this article from edutopia that looks at teachers as learning designers.

We loved how Ken Robinson in the video

The idea of falling forward helps students to take risks. Messing up is where learning happens.

In the PYP this is way easier because we're not as scripted. Our school allows us to use more of these principles. We hope to keep using these skills deepen the process of learning concepts, rather than content.

We wondered about the linear vs. cyclical learning styles.  How can we adapt our curriculum to focus more on the cyclical nature of the inquiry.

The idea of the spiral curriculum appeals to us, especially using the "inquiry cycle".

The analogy of teachers as gardeners worked for us.  We were able to see how students could flourish if we didn't expect them all to be the same "plant".


While the idea of "letting go" of the final product is something we all relate to, it's not something we see as possible for all teachers right now.  This can lead to blaming students when we talk about the article. Teaching doesn't always imply learning, we need to focus on the learning.

Teaching gifted and talented students

Reexamining the role of gifted and talent development for the 21st century learner. - Joseph S. Renzulli

 Some rights reserved by woodleywonderworks

We thought it was interesting that there was a redefinition of what gifted and talented person is. What do we label them as, and how do we label them.  Especially if we’re not talented and gifted.  

Liked the importance of task commitment and creativity … especially with open ended tasks not just iq.  PYP lends itself well to the idea of digging deeper into it and focusing on task commitment. We like the focus on teaching people how to be ethical, but should be focused on everyone.

We like the idea of broadening to social and ethical.

From our broad experience gifted talented students can work with project based learning, especially to develop their social skills and developing the whole child.  

Research shows we need to still develop the social and confidence skills in G&T students.

What is the best way for us to look and assess gifted and talented students?

We can line these up with learner profile attributes to enhance our learning as well as the students.

How do we motivate these students?

We feel like we’re already doing this in the PYP and we are doing it for all students not just the talented and gifted, but is it important to focus just on one group of people to push them further?