COVA is a choice that changes everything

COVA reflection and application.

Synthesis Digital Learn Leader 5320

At the beginning of this master's degree program, I have to be honest, I was struggling with so much information. As an immigrant, it was my first time studying here in the United States, and adapting to the different learning environments was a huge challenge. I still remember my first subject - I thought I would not be able to complete the course as I had my own limitations. Starting with the innovation plan was also a big challenge for me, but I learned that having the right mindset can help me grow and learn and that I can achieve my goals.

Unlearning old habits and learning something new is not easy; it requires resetting your beliefs and forgetting your previous learning experiences. In the past, I was used to professors who told me what to say and expected the right answer. However, I have learned that I am solely responsible for my learning and how I learn. I don't learn just to get a good grade but instead, I learn with love, motivation, and self-satisfaction.

Changing the culture of my educational environment was crucial for me to adopt a new culture of learning. Where we don't prioritize scores and information transfer and instead implement technology as a tool rather than the most important part. I have experienced positive changes in my behavior as a learner and teacher. This has led me to create a new teaching philosophy that changes the question: What time do we go home? to the philosophy that inspires students to love learning and become lifelong learners.

Something I value and love about this program is learning about mindset, I guess I listened before because people talk about it nowadays. Still, I never had to live before this theory and practice to help me improve. I appreciate the time that I spent learning through this Master’s degree program absolutely about how to grow My mindset develop my teaching method, and understand my learning philosophy and leadership skills, which are now a foundational rock. II also started developing in the right way, establishing a growth mindset, which involves setting goals, creating a plan, and implementing it. I invite you to read on for a sample Growth Mindset plan.

COVA is a choice that changes everything:

Through this course; I learned what a COVA approach is: “The elements of the COVA approach to learning, which include choice, ownership, and voice through authentic activities or assignments, are based on well-established and widely accepted active learning principles” Harapnuik. D. (2018) When we use a learner-centered teaching method like COVA, we offer our students the chance to take charge of their learning, express themselves, and reflect on what they have learned through meaningful learning opportunities.

I truly believe meaningful connections through real experiences are essential for students' success in education. As teachers, we are responsible for providing an environment for our students to share their experiences and reflect on their learning. The CSLE assists me in establishing significant connections, and academic and social support to my students. This creates a trusting environment for them to express themselves and learn creatively. Giving students autonomy empowers them to make informed and responsible decisions.

In my experience, using the e-portfolio was an essential part of understanding my learning process and reflecting on what I learned with creativity according to my own choice. Collaborating and discussing with others was the cornerstone of my success in every moment, making meaningful connections between the theory and my experiences and process learning.  As proposed, my learning philosophy is based on choice + creativity + curiosity + Growth MINDSET through authentic learning. Teachers interested in the learning process need to know; how children approach their challenges can significantly affect their learning outcomes. Fostering a growth mindset in children is crucial for their learning process; as educators, we are responsible for supporting students in their cognitive process and helping them develop their personality.

By providing the necessary resources and adopting a student-centered approach, we can positively influence future generations. As coaches, our role is to motivate and guide them in their learning process. It is necessary to change how we see the teaching philosophy, starting with the teacher's mind, passion, and beliefs to improve the learning methods and get a successful learning process for our students through choice, creativity, curiosity, and their mindset through authentic learning experiences. 

Within my innovation plan:

Pre-K learners require much support and guidance. It can be challenging to instill independence and responsibility in such young minds. However, I also believe that by providing our students with the freedom to explore and learn, we can help them feel capable and limitless. Nurturing these qualities at an early age is the only way to cultivate a generation of students who are passionate about learning and curious to discover new things and plant a new culture of learning.

As part of this program, I have been working on my innovation plan to address the development of English language skills for pre-kindergarten students who are English Language Learners (ELLs); my project involves implementing a blended learning approach that incorporates active learning as a COVA approach. I identified a challenge that my school organization is facing. Related to developing students' English language skills, which impacts their learning goals (state test scores) as they progress through upper grades (2nd- 5th). This gap is partly due to the implementation model and the lack of focus on English language development in lower grades (Pre-K to 1st grade).

I am not criticizing the way my district handles the situation. I understand the needs of the population, the majority of whom are Hispanic and do not speak English at home. Many of them are newcomers, which greatly slows their English development language and affects their academic skills. However, as teachers, it is our responsibility to take control not only regarding language development in our grades but also in preparing our students for their future. During my research and literature review, I noticed a common need among newcomers and ELL (English Language Learners) Students require more support from teachers; teachers must prioritize their learning needs and engage with them to provide a better learning experience.

I am currently trying to be an influencer within my organization. The most difficult part is changing one's own behavior, being intentional in deliberate practice, mastering mindset, and redefining “your” to inspire others to change and be part of the process. Encouraging and motivating team members to work towards a shared objective is a vital aspect of effective leadership. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize this aspect of leadership to ensure the team's success in the project. Finding my voice through this project is still challenging because I need to influence, convince, and motivate many important audiences through this experience and drive them to my WIG .

To my students and collagues

As an immigrant, this topic is very important because I can understand the frustration and demotivation that come with being unable to express oneself, even when one knows what one wants to say. Learning the language is not just about knowing the language; it's about connecting all academic and language skills and providing all learners with the same opportunities; Nothing matters if they don't matter.

This program not only taught me an approach that I have been implementing in my own learning, which involves choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning, but it also gave me the opportunity to investigate in a structured form what is important for me. I read about COVA, but it was only by reflecting on my own e-portfolio and planning an innovation plan for my organization and students that I realized a genuinely beneficial experience with this approach.

I want to start a new conversation about teaching and provide my colleagues with new learning experiences that inspire them to embrace change and adopt the COVA approach. I have gained a fresh perspective on teacher development by proposing and constructing an alternative to traditional professional learning programs. We must find better ways to motivate educators and coaches to learn new methods for blended learning professional development and share personal experiences in a digital and creative way to start a new conversation.

My BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is to establish a strong foundation for English language proficiency, enabling students to achieve greater success rates through a blended learning environment using the station rotation model. This approach will offer them a choice, a voice, and ownership in an authentic environment through every assignment, allowing them to explore, engage, collaborate, and reflect.

I hope to encourage my students to have a voice and ownership, enabling them to collaborate with their peers and community. Through reflection, students can achieve authentic learning and develop skills such as questioning, searching for knowledge, and thinking independently. I know this project may face challenges and changes throughout. Though the audience is engaged, I expect to continue working and be a lifelong learner who makes little changes to build big minds.

Estefania Laguna.

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References:

Harapnuik, D. (2018, June 14). COVA  https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991

Harapnuik, D. (2018, July 14). CSLE. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=849

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: the New Psychology of Success. Random House.