Who Owns the Learning Final Reflection
Mr. November starts this book by telling the story of a student who broke into the computer lab because he wanted to learn computer programming. The author continues to describe how this student went on to complete an entire semester’s worth of learning in a single week. This is a poignant example of the voracious appetite for learning many students have if only they actually care about what they are learning.
I found Mr. November’s “Digital Learning Farm” idea to be very interesting. This style of classroom requires the teacher to give up a great deal of control in favor of the students. By allowing the students greater control, they in turn “own their own learning”. According to Mr. November, this added control can inspire students in a way that can produce real learning. The students will see what they are learning as useful and important. These are things that every teacher would undoubtedly want their students to feel.
The most intriguing idea contained in this book was the idea of providing the students a “global publishing platform”. This creates a situation where the teacher is no longer the only one viewing the student’s work; now it is available to a much broader audience. I found the project where the students created the textbook for their class to be very interesting. If a project like this is completed correctly, it undoubtedly has the potential to be not only inspiring for the students, but to develop important skills that will be very useful to them in later life.
Overall, I found this book to be very interesting, and the concepts to be helpful. I am not sure if some of the projects described in this book are entirely realistic in many school situations, but if a teacher is in a situation conducive to this sort of classroom, it would be worth the attempt.
Mr. November starts this book by telling the story of a student who broke into the computer lab because he wanted to learn computer programming. The author continues to describe how this student went on to complete an entire semester’s worth of learning in a single week. This is a poignant example of the voracious appetite for learning many students have if only they actually care about what they are learning.
I found Mr. November’s “Digital Learning Farm” idea to be very interesting. This style of classroom requires the teacher to give up a great deal of control in favor of the students. By allowing the students greater control, they in turn “own their own learning”. According to Mr. November, this added control can inspire students in a way that can produce real learning. The students will see what they are learning as useful and important. These are things that every teacher would undoubtedly want their students to feel.
The most intriguing idea contained in this book was the idea of providing the students a “global publishing platform”. This creates a situation where the teacher is no longer the only one viewing the student’s work; now it is available to a much broader audience. I found the project where the students created the textbook for their class to be very interesting. If a project like this is completed correctly, it undoubtedly has the potential to be not only inspiring for the students, but to develop important skills that will be very useful to them in later life.
Overall, I found this book to be very interesting, and the concepts to be helpful. I am not sure if some of the projects described in this book are entirely realistic in many school situations, but if a teacher is in a situation conducive to this sort of classroom, it would be worth the attempt.