You’re out for dinner at one of your favourite restaurants about to order your favourite menu item (which you’ve eaten multiple times before because its delicious!) when all of a sudden the waiter tells you about tonight’s special – something wild and exotic that you’ve never tried before, like octopus ravioli. It sounds enticing and you want to order it, but you’re reluctant to pass on old reliable – spaghetti and meatballs – because you know it will make you happy.
The age old dilemma of trying something different and new, or sticking with what’s comforting and predictable. It comes up a lot in teaching. Do you you pull an old lesson plan out of the file box or play with an idea that’s been nagging you? The latter has more potential for excitement and discovery, but can also result in complete and utter failure.
As I reflected on all my colossal classroom flops from the past year, one thing that struck me was how much – despite hair-pulling frustration at the time – I had gained from every single one of them. In fact, I actually learned quite a lot more from experimenting and failing than I did by succeeding with tried and tested methods.
This made me curious about how other teachers approached the subject. One thing that became clear during last week’s discussion was how unafraid teachers are of taking risks with their craft. For most, experimentation is central to being an effective teacher.
https://twitter.com/AlynnMeyer/statuses/486130671685869568
(“Worth his salt” – I like that expression. It sounds old schoool!
https://twitter.com/SchleiderJustin/statuses/486131963913596928
Good on ya Barb! I hope I can say the same thing 25 years from now. Thankfully, we have teachers like yourself to connect with on twitter. I loved how eager everyone was to share their own learning experiences with experimentation in their classrooms…
https://twitter.com/AlynnMeyer/statuses/486548281162334208
(Well, the ego’s not THAT important…is it?)
https://twitter.com/marciarpowell/statuses/486559148952150016
(As a perfectionist, something I have to remind myself constantly!)
https://twitter.com/dannywoo15/statuses/486563909491359744
I’m totally stealing some of these. So many new ideas!
Of course, teachers expressed the need for a supportive environment, where risk-taking is encouraged and failure is accepted…
https://twitter.com/SchleiderJustin/statuses/486881909742780416
https://twitter.com/marciarpowell/statuses/486891763429146625
We even heard from some Ed leaders on how they inspire their teachers to experiment!
(The risk-taker motto!)
(Love the open-mindedness here!)
In the end experimentation is what school’s all about: Imagination, investigation, discovery, learning and FUN!
https://twitter.com/SchleiderJustin/statuses/488121156709662722
After all, what does anyone have to gain without getting out there and trying new things!
https://twitter.com/SchleiderJustin/status/486182480232198144
#slowchatED 