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Decision Based Learning - About the Author Home Learn More Standards Kids' Space Inspiration About the Author
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About the Author
Who am I?
Hi! My name is Madeleine O’Rear and I am an elementary school teacher who has always loved to learn! I teach fourth grade in Northern California. Most of my incredible students are native Spanish speakers living below the poverty line. Their strength and determination inspires and motivates me every day to be the best teacher I can be for them.
What do I believe?
I believe the process of discovery is a powerful motivator for students and that my purpose as an educator is to create an environment where my students can make discoveries for themselves. This environment includes strengthening students' confidence so they have the courage to explore, developing a class wide growth mindset so they have the perseverance to learn and the empathy to comfort each other, and valuing and respecting each of my students as individuals rather than pupils so they know we are all in this learning journey together.
What have I been up to?
This year I have been exploring the impact providing students with structured opportunities to make meaningful choices in the classroom has on student engagement with grade-level content. I want to see what happens when students stop being told exactly what to do and are allowed to explore scientific, mathematical, historical, and literary worlds. I believe that it is in these moments of exploration and discovery that students are really able to experience and develop a passion for meaningful learning.
Hi! My name is Madeleine O’Rear and I am an elementary school teacher who has always loved to learn! I teach fourth grade in Northern California. Most of my incredible students are native Spanish speakers living below the poverty line. Their strength and determination inspires and motivates me every day to be the best teacher I can be for them.
What do I believe?
I believe the process of discovery is a powerful motivator for students and that my purpose as an educator is to create an environment where my students can make discoveries for themselves. This environment includes strengthening students' confidence so they have the courage to explore, developing a class wide growth mindset so they have the perseverance to learn and the empathy to comfort each other, and valuing and respecting each of my students as individuals rather than pupils so they know we are all in this learning journey together.
What have I been up to?
This year I have been exploring the impact providing students with structured opportunities to make meaningful choices in the classroom has on student engagement with grade-level content. I want to see what happens when students stop being told exactly what to do and are allowed to explore scientific, mathematical, historical, and literary worlds. I believe that it is in these moments of exploration and discovery that students are really able to experience and develop a passion for meaningful learning.
Final Reflections
TPACK Journey
At the beginning of this year I really didn't understand how content, pedagogy, and technological knowledge could be combined, let alone the impact this could have on the effectiveness of my teaching. By incorporating TPACK ideas into my pedagogy while lesson planning I have been able to open the door to a whole new world of learning for both myself and my students. Decision based learning, the planning strategy I suggest through my research, focuses on the pedagogical part of TPACK, while the hyperdocs used to distribute information and choice opportunities to students account for the technological component. Finally the teacher, with their content knowledge, fills the hyperdocs with interesting information in varied forms for all types of learners. In this way I have truly embraced TPACK in my classroom this year, and the results have been extremely positive.
Click here to learn more about my TPACK journey this year.
Lasting Learning
I hope after reviewing my website that you either want to try decision based learning in your classroom, or to find another way to better engage your students. There are so many different ways to give your students more meaningful decision making opportunities, what I offer is only one that I have found to work well. The most important action we as teachers can take is to continue to value our students, the contributions they can make, and the real skills they will need for the future. These skills are not multiplication facts or how to write a five paragraph essay, but critical thinking, confidence, determination, empathy, and a curiosity for the world around them. If we can help them to become all of those things, then we have done our job.
At the beginning of this year I really didn't understand how content, pedagogy, and technological knowledge could be combined, let alone the impact this could have on the effectiveness of my teaching. By incorporating TPACK ideas into my pedagogy while lesson planning I have been able to open the door to a whole new world of learning for both myself and my students. Decision based learning, the planning strategy I suggest through my research, focuses on the pedagogical part of TPACK, while the hyperdocs used to distribute information and choice opportunities to students account for the technological component. Finally the teacher, with their content knowledge, fills the hyperdocs with interesting information in varied forms for all types of learners. In this way I have truly embraced TPACK in my classroom this year, and the results have been extremely positive.
Click here to learn more about my TPACK journey this year.
Lasting Learning
I hope after reviewing my website that you either want to try decision based learning in your classroom, or to find another way to better engage your students. There are so many different ways to give your students more meaningful decision making opportunities, what I offer is only one that I have found to work well. The most important action we as teachers can take is to continue to value our students, the contributions they can make, and the real skills they will need for the future. These skills are not multiplication facts or how to write a five paragraph essay, but critical thinking, confidence, determination, empathy, and a curiosity for the world around them. If we can help them to become all of those things, then we have done our job.
To learn more about my journey this year feel free to check out my blog or contact me!
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Blog Link: https://msorear.weebly.com/
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