Bright Spots: The power of classroom visits

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BRIGHT SPOTS

Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration

Dear Educator,

If you have followed me over the years, you might know that I am a huge proponent of getting out of your space and visiting other teachers, other schools, and even other districts. Seeing models in new contexts is so powerful as it can help you spot the things that you are doing well. It can also expose you to new and different models, and inspire you to try something new.

As a partner of Digital Promise’s League of Innovative Schools, our team has the opportunity to visit districts around the country and I always love how much I learn and experience with each visit.

For this week’s Bright Spot, I want to highlight a model that shifted my thinking as I observed students in action and talked through the goals with the educators facilitating the course.

With Gratitude,
Katie

I'd love to hear from you! Reply to this email to share your Bright Spot this week!

BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK

Engaging Productively in Competition

As I walked into a dark room in Compton Unified School District, I was immediately drawn into the voice of the “announcer” who was detailing the esports competition play by play. As I knelt down next to a student to inquire about what he was doing, as I do often when I walk into a classroom, I was amazed (and also confused) by what he and his peers were doing. He walked me through the game detailing what was happening during the competition.

E-sports competition at compton unified school district

Students at Compton Unified School District during their esports competition.

I have admittedly dismissed esports as “just playing video games” because it is out of my comfort zone. However, watching students engage in these games opened my eyes to how important this was for the students and the opportunities the competition provided to develop important skills.

I talked to the teacher and he shared how he used this platform to talk to kids about how to engage productively in competition, appropriate online behavior, and how much business and new technology are based on gaming platforms. He successfully persuaded me of the benefits of these programs in school.

Although the esports program in and of itself could be my sole Bright Spot, I also want to reinforce the importance of getting out of your own comfort zone to empathize with learners and open yourself up to possibilities. As I shared in Evolving Education, it’s not about being the teacher that you need, it’s about being the teacher they need.

Ready to explore what powerful classroom visits might look like in your community? Let's connect!

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RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Below are some resources to support educators in adopting new models of learning in the classroom.

1. A Framework for the Future: Don’t Try Leading Without One. Curious what a Framework for the Future is and how it can help your school or district move towards a more learner-centered future? Join our webinar on Tuesday 11/29 at 2pm PT to learn more! Register now.

2. Esports in education. This article from STRIVE evaluates the perception of esports’ true value in education and the barriers to adoption. Read now.

3. To inspire change, make learning public. Opening our classroom doors and making learning public is a key step in school innovation. In my article, I detail some steps you can take to spread great practices amongst fellow educators.