When COVA was first introduced in 5302 I was frustrated. I was not used to such ambiguous instruction. I was a checklist person. I wanted clear guided step-by-step instructions and that was not what I was receiving. However, after learning more about the COVA instructional model and what it meant to create a significant learning environment I felt a rush of empowerment. I understood what it meant to have choice, voice, and ownership of my learning. COVA and CSLE also taught me to lean on my peers for support and guidance. Before starting the ADL program I was a proud independent learner, I would tell anyone who would listen that I loathed working in groups and preferred to work alone. However, this model not only encourages collaborative learning, it requires it. The ADL GroupMe has been my lifeline throughout the program and I have made so many professional and meaningful connections with educators across the nation.
This year I decided to introduce my 8th graders to COVA during their ePortfolio project. It was not well received at first, but like me, my students quickly learned to trust the process and open their minds to something new. Soon after, my students were naturally collaborating, and most importantly, collaborating with peers they would not normally work with. COVA, like me, taught them to problem solve, create learning communities, take initiative, and be a self-starter with the desire to take control of their learning.
Part A
Where or when did you first realize that you genuinely had choice, ownership, and voice through authentic assignments?
The creation of the ePortfolio is the personification of COVA. ePortfolios allow for so much creative liberties, personalizations, and the use of various medias. I have always considered myself a strong writing, but having the choice to deliver information in written format, video or with a creative slideshow was liberating. Having more control and option allowed me to think outside of the box and create something innovative.
What was your initial reaction when given the freedom and responsibility to choose to take ownership of your learning through an authentic project? Were you ready for this? If not or if so…what did you do?
COVA was not an easy model for me to buy into. The public education system is very checklist oriented, so being given so many options paired with ambiguous instructions was overwhelming. My small group and cohort members were the cheat code I needed to successfully grasp COVA as a learner and educator.
What did you do to adjust to this style of learning? Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
Having to read Dr. Dweck's "Mindset" while being introduced to the COVA model is genius and really speaks to the intuitiveness of the design of the ADL program. Learning, adopting, and applying COVA as a learner and educator definitely takes a mindset shift. As an educator I can attest that students aren't given a lot of creative agency over their assignments or learning, especially if you teach a core subject like math or science. The curriculum and standards are just that, standard. It leaves limited room for educators and teachers to think outside the box and try something to yield new results.
Knowing what I know now, I would have leaned into mindset adjusting much earlier. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I didn't like about the approach and how limiting I thought it was, I was ignoring the gift in front of me, educational freedom.
How difficult was it to take control of your own voice and focus on your organization as the audience for your work?
Taking control of my voice once I truly understood and adopted the COVA approach was easy. I was clear on the challenge I was wanted to tackle in my classroom and my district and my innovation plan was tailor fit to execute just that.
Some students had mixed feelings toward promoting change in their organizations—how has your attitude toward leading change grown throughout the program?
I am a natural feather ruffler, lol! The more refined response would center around legacy. When I leave this district I want to have left a legacy of my creativity, innovation, and transformation as an educator. The only way to do that is to commit to being a change agent. I am a graduate of the district I work in and have connections and relationships that gave me a sense of comfort when presenting my ideas and innovation plan.
How authentic is your innovation plan; did you just create it to get through the course work or did you really hope to change your organization.
My innovation plan is student ePortfolios, the development of ePs is not new, however, my district has never been able to roll out a program that centered around COVA, ePs, and college and career readiness. I believe in these ways my innovation plan is authentic.
How does the COVA approach and Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) align or not align with your learning philosophy?
How has your perspective on learning and your learning philosophy changed? If there haven’t been any changes explain why.
Part B
Fortunately I was able to launch my ePortfolio project with my 8th graders during the 22-23 school year. Below are the materials I provided to my students and their families before starting the project. Students were given an overall project outline at the start and at the end of each week the students and their families were provided the next week's outline mapping our the specific deliverables for the week. Students were divided into learning communities and encouraged to use them for guidance and real time feedback. Students were also responsible for writing a reflection blog at the end of each week to track their progress. The reflection blog required them to document their challenges and victories among other things. To ensure the privacy of my students I am not able to link their ePs in this blog post, but I have provided a few screenshots that demonstrate their execution of the project while protecting their identity.
Student Materials
Student One
How did I observe my students using COVA?
They used calendars and set SMART goals.
They used their learning communities (LCs) as reflection and progression tools.
There were significantly more classroom discussions and questions regarding the project.
Students created ePs that reflected them personally and academically.
Students shared their WIPs with peers, other teachers, and family members. (This is my FAVE!)
One of my EOY assignments is a reflection video where students leave advice for next year's 8th graders. A lot of my students spoke about COVA specifically in their videos. They talked about how different and cool it was to have control over their assignments and how they could demonstrate their understanding and mastery.
I am so very proud of my students for taking on such an ambitious and new approach, I hope they continue to use the tools and skills learned in 8th grade in high school and beyond.
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