Promises to My Learners as a Maker Educator
I used to teach a graduate course in professional ethics for the educator. One of the assignments I did is have these inservice educators develop a list of promises to their students. I asked them to make it poster size so they can post these promises in their classrooms. Here is an example: 10 Amazing Teacher Promises for the Beginning of School.
As I prepared to teach a summer school/camp on maker education (see http://www.makereducation.com/summer-camp-schedule.html), I decided compose a list of promises to my learners as a maker educator.
- I promise to make the making environment positive, joyful and physically and emotionally safe so you feel safe enough to take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, and test things out.
- I promise you to provide you with resources and materials to help you create, make, innovate.
- I promise that I will respect and support your own unique ways of thinking, learning, creating, and interacting with others.
- I promise to work with you to create learning experiences that are personally relevant to you.
- I promise to support and help you understand and navigate the ups and downs, the mistakes and failures, and the trials and errors associated with making.
- I promise to give you time and opportunities to collaborate and share with other makers (of all ages).
- I promise to provide you with positive feedback on things you can control—such as effort, strategies, and behaviors.
- I promise to encourage you to critically think, formulate questions of your own, and come up with your own conclusions.
- I promise you that I will not intervene with your learning process unless you ask me to do so.
- I promise to support you as you embrace the joy in creating, playing, innovating, and making.
Written by Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D.
May 27, 2015 at 3:01 am
Posted in Education, Maker Education
Tagged with maker education, mindset, school reform, social learning, social-emotional learning, student voice
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