What is the Nutritional Value of Learning in Your Classroom?
If someone was to peel back the label on the lessons in your classroom, what would they see listed as the “nutrition facts”? What would be the nutritional value of learning in your classroom?
How are you preparing students for the future?
Are you teaching a variety of skills?
How do you hit the 4 C’s and address the ISTE Standards for students?
How do you ensure the learning is DYNAMIC?
Peel back the layers, not only how are you reaching the learning goals but how all the pieces work together.
Just like there isn’t one perfect food that will deliver everything you need in one meal, there isn’t one ideal learning experience that delivers everything student’s need.
This is about finding the nutritional balance.
Like we are told to eat the rainbow of veggies, we need to TEACH THE RAINBOW.
I want you to think about your lesson plans like you are reading the nutritional facts on the back of a food product. If you want to give your classroom metabolism a nutritional boost, you must feed it the most nutritious, most dynamic learning experiences that you can.
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Being a teacher is one of the toughest jobs, but can also be one of the most rewarding. With so much on our plates, it is difficult to take a step back and see what kind of learning is actually taking place in our classrooms.
But if we break things down into a meaningful framework that is guided by the learning goals, we can take it one step at a time.
Take a deep breath…seriously, take a moment to yourself to breathe.
The pressure on teachers to be everything to every child is an impossible task. You deserve a breather. You also deserve a moment to accept the fact that every lesson isn’t going to result in innovation. But you can have balance.
Don’t be misled by the image. This is NOT an evaluation tool. The nutrition facts metaphor is just that, a metaphor to help us think about learning differently. Every learning experience will not be innovative. Every learning experience will not be at the top of Bloom’s. Every learning experience will not involve hot topics like Maker Spaces, coding, robotics, Genius Hour, or whateveristhenewest idea.
I receive questions every day about digital learning. A lot of questions are more about how to make something digital or paperless. But just creating digital versions of old school, traditional assignments is a MISSED OPPORTUNITY!
Technology isn’t a solution. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY–AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DYNAMIC LEARNING!
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What is Dynamic Learning?
Dynamic Learning is learning that goes beyond one-and-done activities and allows the learning to live and grow by providing learning experiences that break the bounds of the school day and classroom walls, taking us beyond due dates and prescribed curriculums, and redefining the use of digital tools. It’s like giving your classroom metabolism a boost!
When it comes to learning, I want you to think BEYOND! How can you push the boundaries of traditional, static, activities and make the learning more dynamic? If you are curious about some of the ideas on my “nutrition label,” these connect back to some of my previous posts on dynamic learning.
- BEYOND the Bell: a lifelong learning mindset
- BEYOND the Grade Level & Subject Area: students explore their own interests and passions
- BEYOND the Walls: publishing student work for the world and cultivating global collaboration
- BEYOND the Tools: using digital tools to do new things and move past the substitution level
- BEYOND the Due Date: coaching and mentoring students to continue their learning after it has been assessed
How will you shake things up this year? No matter where you are in your teaching career, we can all use a little nutritional boost in our classrooms! Push the boundaries! Be Dynamic and Shake Up Learning!
Want to learn more idea like this? You will love my new book!
Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
Check out my new book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning From Static to Dynamic.
About the Shake Up Learning Book
Technology is not a magic solution for education. It is an opportunity! An opportunity to shake things up, to connect and grow, and to create dynamic learning experiences for our students!
In this three-part book, you will explore WHY it’s time to Shake Up Learning, WHAT changes we can make in our classrooms to support dynamic learning experiences, and HOW to plan meaningful lessons for your classroom.
Shake Up Learning is a powerful guide and planning tool to help educators at all grade levels make the most of technology. Educator and blogger Kasey Bell guides you through the process of using technology and proven techniques to make learning dynamic.
You’ll discover . . .
- Practical strategies to help move from static teaching to dynamic learning
- Straightforward and easy-to-use templates for crafting engaging learning opportunities
- Tips and tricks for fearless implementation of powerful lesson plans
- Advice for moving from one-and-done activities to learning that evolves and inspires throughout the school year—and beyond!
Be DYNAMIC and SHAKE UP LEARNING in Your Classroom This Year!
But wait…There’s more!
With this book, I have also created several interactive resources, templates, and downloads, all available on ShakeUpLearningBook.com.
- Get the FREE Shake Up Learning Quickstart Guide
- An online community
- Discussion Questions, Chapter Actions, and Embedded Resources for all 20 Chapters!
- An interactive companion website to help you continue and deepen the learning
- A lesson plan database (submit and search for dynamic lesson plans)
- Tons of free resources, videos, templates, and downloads, all available on the website: ShakeUpLearningBook.com.
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