These are three huge questions which might be addressed in Chapter 9 of Onward by Elena Aguilar.  She opens the chapter with the next assertion, 

If we see challenges as alternatives for studying, if we interact our curiosity at any time when we’re introduced with an impediment, we’re extra more likely to discover options.  This behavior and disposition assist us not simply survive adversity however thrive within the aftermath.

After I was working at ASB I used to be a part of the Analysis and Growth Core Group.  This staff was arrange the 12 months earlier than I arrived to check, prototype, design and develop new instructing and studying environments.  We checked out college design, project-based studying, various college 12 months calendars, the library and cell expertise.  The motion analysis we did led to actual transformations by creating new bodily areas for studying and new studying approaches, supporting and enriching scholar studying on the college.  We frequently requested the query “What if ….” and we found the enjoyment of inquiry and studying for ourselves as lecturers.

Having an R&D division isn’t standard in colleges, however lecturers can use their very own classroom to inquire into what is going on and why, and to ask the query, “What would occur if I attempted ….”  

At varied occasions in my life I’ve struggled to be a learner.  For instance I bear in mind after I moved to The Netherlands I attended night courses to study Dutch.  It was arduous – but it surely was additionally good for me to place myself into the function of the learner because it gave me numerous perception into what my college students had been going by way of.  Elena shares two frameworks with us that assist to elucidate the method we undergo as learners.

The Aware Competence Ladder – this has four rungs on it:

  • Unconscious incompetence – we’re blissfully blind to what we won’t do subsequently our confidence exceeds our skills.  At this degree we have to determine the abilities we have to study.
  • Aware incompetence – we all know we do not have the abilities and that others can do issues that make us battle.  It is simple to surrender at this stage as we lose confidence.
  • Aware competence – we now have the abilities and we have to put the data and expertise into apply to achieve extra confidence.  We have to focus after we carry out the abilities.
  • Unconscious competence – we use our expertise effortlessly and carry out duties with out acutely aware effort.  In an effort to continue to grow at this degree we have to train these expertise to others.  If we do not recurrently use these expertise we are able to slip again down the ladder.
Placing this into context jogs my memory of studying the best way to drive.  At one time I did not must drive as a result of as a teen I relied on my mother and father for lifts to locations.  In my 20s I discovered to drive and located it actually tough – at one level I gave up and solely took up driving once more having moved to Miami the place it was very important I had a automotive to get round.  My problem as a driver has been shifting nation, as every time I moved (USA -> UK -> Netherlands -> Thailand -> Switzerland -> India) I needed to drive on the opposite facet of the highway and at occasions it felt like studying over again as oftentimes the foundations had been additionally completely different.  Even worse, in some international locations I did not drive for lengthy intervals of time so I obtained out of form, and I undoubtedly slipped again down the ladder from unconscious competence to acutely aware competence every time I obtained into the automotive once more.
Let’s give one other instance from instructing.  I lead numerous Class 1 workshops and essentially the most difficult factor lecturers face when new to the PYP is writing sturdy conceptual central concepts.  Having been doing this for over 20 years I can typically take a look at the wording they provide you with and recommend easy tweaks to make the central concepts extra conceptual and extra open to inquiry.  I am in all probability on the unconscious competence stage, however I must maintain instructing this ability to others to maintain it sharp in my very own thoughts.
The second framework for studying is that of fastened -v- progress mindset.  Right here the vital factor is to maintain utilizing the phrase “but” (you possibly can’t do it but) and to maintain individuals targeted on the abilities they should develop and apply.
With a set mindset individuals imagine that success is the results of a set intelligence and with a set mindset individuals keep away from problem as they’re unable to take criticism and quit early.  With a progress mindset we assume intelligence and expertise can change so we thrive on problem and see failure as a technique to study and develop.  Having a progress mindset permits individuals to thrive throughout challenges.
On this chapter I used to be actually to examine studying wants and the Thoughts the Hole mannequin.  

I can see that as a way to enhance we have to establish the place the gaps are that we now have in numerous areas.  Emotional intelligence and cultural competence on the foundations of all others – with out these we can’t shut the gaps in different areas.  Nonetheless in colleges we’re targeted totally on the uppermost areas of expertise and data.  All of us have gaps – this exhibits us we are able to nonetheless study and develop and as you dig into your gaps you possibly can uncover the actions you could take to shut the gaps.
One of many issues I really like most about teaching is that it provides us the area to essentially discover these gaps.  We all know that teaching is an efficient method for professionals to proceed to refine their expertise and so an excellent mechanism for instructor enchancment.  We additionally know that it is vital to have time for lecturers to enhance their expertise and training can kind a part of that point as it is a type of PD.  
Our goal is that colleges are studying organisations – locations the place everyone seems to be studying (not simply the scholars!). We all know that lecturers can excel once they work in studying organisations, and so these colleges thrive. 
Picture Credit score:  Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay