Model Permission To Pivot Based On Needs VS. What Is Already Planned

Authentic learning is not just for students, but for the educators as well. We don’t lose sight of the deep levels of learning we want to reach nor the standards required of us. However, we are on this learning journey right along with the students. We are learning together and continuing to be in the moment of lifelong learners in unison.

A recent expert call with Steven Smith from NASA as part of an authentic project based learning experience was a perfect example where we listened to his words AND worked to seek understanding of our students in that:

• They have a lot of curiosities even if they are not willing to share……yet

• They need some basic foundation understanding of the world and space(which is awesome)

• Many don’t trust themselves enough yet internally to give permission to wonder and question without constraints within the education system(we all know we all wonder naturally as humans)

As the call ended we as educators had to pivot on the spot. We realized processing time was needed for everyone. So that is what we did. We paused, processed as a class, processed as professionals in the learning space and then gave them individual think time to draft questions they had around one of the topics of interest to them(food, water, energy, transportation, communication, public health). After they drafted questions they developed we moved them into topic groups to discuss their questions and ideas with the goal of enhancing their individual ideas with others.

This was much needed. They needed time to process, to talk through concepts and ideas, and to simply have a minute to think through their new learning. We needed to slow down and provide space instead of rushing to the next part of the lesson because that was what we had planned. We had understand the room and discard what was planned to meet the needs of the learning moment rather than force something in which they were not ready.

As we moved into the next session of learning we now have them grounded in questions worthy of their time (they will modify and be enhanced with new learning) as we dive into research to really gain a better understanding of the bigger picture in front of them.

However, it was just as vital for us as educators to model how to pause, think out loud, and make changes real time, in the moment, with students watching so that they can witness and feel that they have permission to do the same as new learning comes into our thinking.