As our school division moves toward incorporating more project based learning, I read an excellent article by Terry Heick, entitled “Creating a Culture of “Can”. Heick made great points about how an “enabled learner” can grasp macro views, ask questions, plan for new knowledge, and transfer thinking across divergent circumstances. She suggests “can” is a mix of knowledge and self-efficacy that has been nutured through experience. Heick further suggests three ways to create “can”:
-Use the gradual release of responsibility model that can be defined as “show me, help me, let me.” The teacher is in a supportive role that eventually leads to a student collaborative role with another classmate, to finally a role of independence.
-Intentionally use the individual student as a culture maker by honoring the contributions of learners. These contributions by students can be in supporting roles, emotional support, and milestones in long-term projects. Students will pick up on this and do the same which will create a positive learning culture.
-Diverse and authentic terms for success will allow for more choice built into a project, the opportunity for self-designed rubrics, and basically a move to learner-centered environment.
Heick concludes that these three ways to create “can” will promote learners “to establish their own reasons to learn, create their own standards for quality, and acknowledge their own metrics for success.” I agree that providing a classroom environment that allows students the opportunity to explore and to learn new things by questioning or experimenting in collaborative learning groups will aid students in becoming successful 21st Century learners.
