Empowerment

Empower |emˈpou(-ə)r|

verb-give (someone) the authority or power to do something, make (someone) stronger and more confident.

I have a group of students that are my tech team.  They have taken on many roles in our 1:1 iPad initiative and I have watched a progression since the start of the year. When we first started I had my hand in every aspect making sure that everything was done “right”. Giving every student an iPad is a massive undertaking. I wanted everything to go right, so I took control.  I handled every aspect and made sure that nothing could go wrong.  I quickly learned that no man is an island and that I couldn’t do everything. I was being pulled in every direction.

More importantly, it goes against everything that I believe as a teacher. My role is to educate, guide and empower my students; not dictate. I needed to take a different approach, to shift responsibility and ownership to my teachers and students. (I also wanted to keep my sanity.)

I used a gradual release of responsibility; the “I do”, “We do”, “You do” method to build the skills and confidence. My tech crew and I created a set of tutorials to help students and teachers. The first couple I planned, shot and edited the whole tutorials. I took on the role of writer, director and editor.  The next couple I involved the tech team in the whole process, giving them more responsibilities each time. My role shifted to director, overseeing the process and let them handle the writing and directing.

Then there comes a point where you have to give up control and trust that the lessons taught and experience gathered will be sufficient.  Today was a big step in that process. I challenged my team to undertake one of our storytelling challenges. In the past I have taken a bigger role in these video productions but with this challenge I stepped back and only consulted with them, I was the executive producer. I watched them face challenges and make mistakes while figuring it out on their own. They had some audio and lighting issues and had to retake some of the shots. I sat back and watched them figure out how they wanted to shoot and edit it.   I only stepped in and gave a tip or suggestion here and there (I couldn’t help myself).  

I am excited to see where they’re going. I am so proud of them and I think, no, I know that they are going to keep amazing me this year. I am going to be very sad at the end of the year when these 8th graders move on. My challenge (and theirs) is to cultivate some younger students to fill their big shoes when they graduate.

Education is about empowering our students to be strong and confident. Sometimes our students struggle and F.A.I.L. (First Attempt in Learning) and that’s where our challenge starts. As teachers we need to know when and how to let our students struggle and when to step in before frustration and loss of confidence. That is a fine line we walk and when it works it’s amazing.

I have learned as much as I have taught. Now that’s empowerment!

Resolutions

Gyms typically sell memberships with the expectation that a mere 18% of people will actually use them. <http://www.quora.com/What-percentage-of-new-gym-members-in-January-stop-coming-after-February> People set goals that they will never achieve. In the past I have set some outrageous goals like competing in a mini triathlon, grade all of my students essays over the weekend and unfortunately they were unrealistic for many reasons and they failed miserably. Forbes reports that only 8% of people will achieve their resolution this year. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2013/01/01/just-8-of-people-achieve-their-new-years-resolutions-heres-how-they-did-it/> As I start the new year, I don't want my teachers' goals to be part of that 92% of failed resolutions.

When it comes to resolutions we ask our students what are their goals and how are they are going to accomplish them? We assume that they now have four months of the year under their belt so how are they going to be better? Many students give the answer that they think we want to hear, “Get better grades”, “ Study more”, “turn in my work on time”. Those are all good resolutions but for many a student, nothing changes. They fail because we don’t give them the tools for their goal to be successful. We think that they know how to set and achieve goals.

As an Instructional Technology Coach, my job is ALL about goals- helping teachers and students to them, and mostly helping them keep their goals. The key to setting and keeping goals are making sure they are specific, realistic and attainable.

What I mean by that is when you are setting a goal make it specific. For example many students love to say they want to get good grades. As good of a goal as that is it is not specific enough to accomplish. What do you mean by good grades? An A, B, C or D may all be good grades to different students. Which class? Which subject? We need to narrow down that goal to the point that we can make a plan for success.

Be realistic! I am going to lose 50 pounds, or go to the health club everyday (when you haven’t set foot in the health club last year) or I am going to get straight “A’s” when they are not passing any of their classes. Being realistic means that you have to set a goal that you won’t get FRUSTRATED everyday. It is not realistic to go to the health club everyday, try setting an attainable goal of 1 or 2 times a week. Then if you miss a day you haven’t lost sight of your goal (and won’t give up too easily). You even have a chance to exceed your goal which will help you keep you going.

Making your goal attainable is more than just stating an outcome. Such as, “I want to lose 50 pounds.” How are you going to get there? Are you going to cut something out of your diet or cut down portion size? Make your goals something that you can reach and stay on task. More importantly your goal should not be weight loss. Your goal should be eating healthier or working out and the outcome will be weight loss. You are not focussing on your weight but on your lifestyle, how do you want to live? Now that’s the goal!

All of my teachers are in different places so there is not just one goal. Every teacher needs to look to where they want go. I am there to help guide them and keep them from getting lost. I am their personal trainer, the one who yells at you when you are slacking at the health club. You hate that guy while you are struggling but deep down you know they have your best interest in mind.

My job is to foster, guide and challenge the teachers so they inturn can do the same for the students. Unlike the New Year’s health club craze (or diet) this won’t stop in a week!

Let’s be the 8% of successful resolutions!