For some strange reason, I've always felt like I was cheating when I went to Google to find information that I should have learned in the classroom. We are not talking about refreshers; I'm talking about having sat through the lecture and come out with a low understanding. I always thought this was somehow wrong if I went to Google and tried finding the information instead of going through the textbooks. Wait, that's because I was told this by a college professor in the 2000's. I took his rant very seriously; his lecture made me afraid to use Google as a resource to supplement my work because we wouldn't get credit for it. The main question that went through my mind was, "But how would he know?" The answer was "The reference page." I had a very by-the-books personality, so I didn't even tempt fate. The class left such a horrible impression that it took years before I was comfortable using Google for research.
Fast forward many years later, and I use Google for everything, and I'm not ashamed of it. With information and technology constantly changing, there's no way for the average person to keep up with all the new information. So, I utilize everything at my fingertips for assistance. The curriculum I was given for Pre-K was insufficient for the entire day. Sure, there are non-negotiables that are required, but how do I obtain supplemental materials to keep the students engaged? I started researching the internet to find the missing pieces. By doing this, I'm taking ownership of implementing the curriculum to its fullest extent. After a few years, I became comfortable with the research process and took control of my learning as a teacher.
This leads us to COVA, a learner-centered active learning approach that gives the learner choice (C), ownership (O), and voice (V) through authentic (A) learning opportunities (Harapnuik. 2018). My way of thinking has been going through this process unknowingly over the past few years. When I reflect on my learning process, one of the things I like most is to be given choices on how I complete something. With today's technology, there is no one-size-fits-all; that's why there are variations and multiple programs that can do the same thing. I prefer to use Microsoft Word over Google Docs, but I use Google Docs for its convenience. Allowing students to have choices in their learning platforms fosters an ownership of their learning. Being allowed to choose which program to use to create the ePortfolio allowed me to play with a few options before making the best decision for myself. It's allowed me to take more pride in my work and showcase what I can do.
The COVA approach made me do a double take in class especially after watching the video (Harapnuik, 2018). I know it's been a popular method in higher education, but I never saw myself using this approach in the classroom as a student. I have used it in the past for my learning outside of the classroom for self teaching. I wanted to learn Instructional Design using Storyline 360, so I took an online course through Udemy. This approach worked at first, but I lacked an essential element: motivation. I wasn't required to learn the program; it was shown to me by a fellow co-worker who made it seem super interesting. However, the learning process was tedious, watching an instructor go through the motions with little enthusiasm was not engaging, so I never followed through with the creating projects through Storyline 360. This was a drastic difference from my previous experience with learning Discord for Midjourney. I was excited and could see the results right away from my learning. There were also several YouTube videos to choose from for specific needs which made the process easier. I wanted to publish a children's book, so I had the right motivation to finish the project. However, the paper format is still a work in progress.
Now that I understand the importance of using COVA, showcasing one's work takes on a new meaning. Having the choice of which program to use makes a huge difference in the project's outcome. Taking ownership of your work, using your voice, and showcasing your authentic learning makes a huge difference and shows the different learning styles of each individual.
Reference
Harapnuik, Dwayne. 2018. It's About Learning. Creating Significant Learning
Environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991
Harapnuik, D. (2018). COVA Approach. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ft__0LE3qQ
