My Learning Manifesto

2020
My Learning Manifesto
Lamar University EDLD 5302 Dr. Kelly Grogan
EBONY WALLACE
1
My learning experience as an educator more often has been the traditional approach to
education which has the perspective that passing a class is the most visible plumbline to a
learner’s success without getting any lasting educational experiences. Yet, more often learners
are failing a content drifting through a grading scale that hurdles the thought of personalized
learning.
Over the past years as a teacher, my mission took a shift as my frustration grew to the
boundary of what my students will learn in my class. I had mastered the instruction of content
dumping without any real learning plan of what they will do with the knowledge they learn.
Content is essential, but without the ability to apply the knowledge that goes beyond a syllabus
that leaves students stuck marching through content and activities with a grade scale hoping that
somehow, they have learned something they cannot show on their own confidence and beyond
myclassroom. I think one of the struggles that are emerging issues related to digital learning and
leading at a global context conceptionally are the following: How do I help learners create their
own personal pathway? How can I give my students the decision-making tools they need to
shape their own learning legacy? What does personalize digital learning and leading look like in
my classroom? Is personalize learning a practice or a product?
“In a truly personalized environment, learners play a key role in planning, developing,
demonstrating, and applying their learning, and in so doing developed great self-efficacy,
ownership, and learning independence-key preparation skills for the lives they will lead and
careers they will build. Instruction can move from being identified as something we do to
learners to something, we do with them, which account for the real power of personalization
(2016, Rickabaugh).”
2
Personalized learning is not about technology. What is wrong with education is the
approach that technology is the advancement to digital learning and leading for readers. Too
often, readers spend a lot of time clicking and not thinking. Technology is a tool; is not a toy in
learning! It is just one of the tools used within the innovation process. The key is giving learners
the decision-making tools they need to shape their own learning experiences and enhance their
own thinking. My core value for technology is to be used as an enhancer not a leader, learners
should be empowered to grow as the media leader. Integrating technology with personalized
learning can be a great practice to strengthen decision-making engagement by linking learners to
a global community, influencing them as personal and socially responsible leaders of digital
media, and motivating them to practice collaboration skills that will prepare them with cross-
cultural understanding to succeed in the 21st Century.
Do I think that the COVA model to learning can change the way traditional teaching is
approached and delivered in an personalized learning? Yes! I really do believe that this could
work toward fixing the issue or shall I say in my own words, "Hacking Traditional Classroom
Teaching and Learning". Recently, I implemented the COVA approach in one of my
classrooms. I had the opportunity to allow students to have choice, voice, and ownership, with
accountability in their learning. The effect was mind blowing for me. Even though, It took me
spending a bit of time teaching some of the background of the COVA model for deeper learning
to occur. I also had to sidebar the TEKS of my content to allow personalized learning to take
place. I first learned the pressure of having "choice" was a challenge with all the students. We all
have the pressure of being controlled by content standards and not having the freedom or time to
have a practical deeper reflection in learning. The students took forever just deciding on a topic!
3
I noticed they were struggling with their abilities in integrating their own product! They
wanted me to just tell them what to do, and how to do the assignment. They wanted a parameter
on completing the assignment and receiving a passing grade. I had to spend a lot of time teaching
them the philosophy of- Learning is not defined as being correct. I believe options and choices
gave a journey to my students to learn new knowledge or ideas in a new way that derived from
their own creative thinking. I saw a new normal of learning that created an innovation of what
we know to what we don't know and afraid to be different in experiences of knowing the
structure of learning outside the traditional approach. I asked my 7th and 8th graders this
question, "Where do good ideas come from?" They named everyone but themselves. The COVA
model will hack into those old background knowledge of learners and allow them to have voice,
choice, ownership, that collaborates an authentic way of learning with real life connections and
mastery level content objectives the way they want to learn.
As a teacher, my teaching mission statement: I am a mold-breaker, who is committed to
teach creative thinkers and mold individualistic mindsets among learners that motivates them to
be game changers of their generation. I believe in developing growth mindset, technologically
enhanced lessons that are relevant to the lives of my students and facilitating a culture of learning
with risk taking in a challenging yet safe educational setting. When I am being the best educator,
I want to enable learners to become powerful and creative leaders who lead from their voice and
authentic ability to apply, engage, and take ownership of their lifelong love of learning in
their chosen profession. My teaching legacy is to change the leaders of tomorrow with the skills
to succeed in the 21st Century by creating an educational culture of innovation and inquiry
learners with the creative thinking and learning skills that will develop a forward-looking
product well after they have left my classroom.

4
Reference
Rickabaugh, J. (2016). Tapping the power of personalized learning: A roadmap for school
leaders. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Harapnuik, D. (2018). Cova [Weblog comment]. Retrieved from
http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991

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2020

my classroom? Is personalize learning a practice or a product?

learning can be a great practice to strengthen decision-making engagement by linking learners to

cultural understanding to succeed in the 21st Century.

Teaching and Learning". Recently, I implemented the COVA approach in one of my

mastery level content objectives the way they want to learn.

As a teacher, my teaching mission statement: I am a mold-breaker, who is committed to

be game changers of their generation. I believe in developing growth mindset, technologically

product well after they have left my classroom.

leaders. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Harapnuik, D. (2018). Cova [Weblog comment]. Retrieved from

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