Designing Meaningful Learning Experiences

"Regardless of where learning occurs, if it's not meaningful for our learners, it's a waste of our time and theirs."

We have a choice to see our current circumstances as an obstacle or an opportunity. While there have been many obstacles, the reality is that this is also an opportunity to change our perspective and help our learners understand that learning happens everywhere.

We will not be able to recreate every aspect of school through the at-home or blended learning experience. Instead it's important that we simplify learning and help our learners make authentic connections regardless of their situation.

What if we are intentional and purposeful about using what we have learned through the remote learning experience to innovate and develop solutions as we move forward into our "new normal"?

It's no secret that we are in unchartered waters and we are being asked to develop best practices for a situation we could've never imagined. I've often shared the 3 Es with educators considering practical ways to design meaningful learning experiences. I've recently considered how this same framework might support both remote and blended learning experiences as we continue to innovate around our current circumstances.

Throughout this book, I will share each of the pieces involved in the framework as well as practical ideas that can be implemented immediately. I've included high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech options. The idea is to choose one thing from each piece to design a weekly experience. It may not seem like much but if done with purpose, it's likely to be much more meaningful than completing several worksheets.

One of the best things about this model is that it makes sense for remote learning and BEYOND. As we begin to look ahead and consider what real learning looks like, it's important to consider options that will fit well into a blended learning model.

In the first part of this book, I'll share the 3Es as well as practical ideas for implementing each one whether it's done in the classroom, at home, or both.

Designing a meaningful learning experience this way requires a different mindset but, when done with purpose and intention, has the potential to provide an opportunity to learn content as well as practice life-ready and social-emotional skills.

Engaging today's learners is no easy task. However, without a willingness to invest, student-driven learning is not a reality.

It is not only important, but absolutely necessary that we find practical ways to engage our learners through every experience that is designed. In doing so, we will create a willingness to invest that will result in a willingness to learn and understand.

This piece of the learning experience simply reminds us to be intentional about engagement before moving on and expecting our learners to be on board.

Make It Happen

Share a video - Find a video on YouTube, The Literacy Shed, or John Spencer's YouTube Channel to use as a springboard for the learning. (Tip: Use a tool like ViewPure to eliminate ads or unnecessary content. If students need to access the video via their mobile devices, share a QR code.)

Ask a question - Ask your learners a question on Flipgrid or any other way that you are able to communicate that will encourage them to consider what they are about to learn and respond with their thoughts.

Share a photo - Find a photo prompt using WritingPrompts.tumblr.com or any image that connects to the learning. Encourage conversation around what is going to be learned through inferencing or observation.

Spoiler Alert - Share what your students will be able to do once they've learned the content and see if they can guess what they will be learning. (Example: Record yourself pretending to measure out a garden area and see if your students make the connection to area/perimeter)

Cultivate Curiosity - Encourage students to share what they wonder around a big idea that connects to the content, concept, or idea that will be learned. Then ask them to be intentional about finding the answer to their wonder in the learning experience.

An experience is something that leaves an impression. In order for the learning to "stick", the opportunity to learn must leave an impression on the learner.

When designing an experience, it's important to provide opportunities for differentiation as well as personal connections. This can be done as students learn by doing, access a mini-lesson, or read to learn.

Designing an experience that can be done at home or at school is a matter of considering how the content will be delivered as well as how the learner will interact with interact.

Make It Happen

Read to Learn - Share the content via an online article. Tools like Wonderopolis, DogoNews, and NewsELA are great places to start.

Maker Experience - Design an opportunity to make something with what they have at home. Ask them to use specific skills that connect to what they are learning.

Teach through Video - There's absolutely nothing wrong with direct teach through video or face-to face! Just keep it clear and concise. Tools like Flipgrid, Zoom, and Google Meet make this easy to do.

Guided Scavenger Hunt - Create a FlipHunt or scavenger hunt for students to do around their home that will provide opportunities to learn the content. (Example: Have students look for different types of plants outside and identify their different parts.)

Collection of Learning Opportunities - Use a Hyperdoc, choice board, or Topic Resources in Flipgrid to give students a variety of ways to dive into and learn the content.

Making connections empowers learners to do something with what they've learned. It's through connections that students understand why something is being learned and how it connects beyond the walls of the classroom.

When learning stops with the experience and does not involve the opportunity to make connections, our learners miss out on why the learning was important and how it connects to their "right now."

Make It Happen

Connections Scavenger Hunt - Ask students to complete a scavenger hunt that connects to what they've learned. Rather than you telling them what to look for, allow them to make those connections as they find and share. Again, you could create a Fliphunt or basic scavenger hunt to make this happen.

Photo Challenge - Ask students to share photos of how they are using what they've learned. (Example: They may share a picture of measuring cups that they are using to cook if they've just learned about fractions.)

Protege Effect - Give students the opportunity to teach someone else. They can teach their teddy bears, a sibling, or another student using Flipgrid, Google Meet, or Zoom. Just be sure that if they are using a technology tool, that they have permission and an adult is present.

Reflection Opportunity - Provide a reflection question that students must answer as they reflect on what was learned this week and how they will be able to use it beyond the walls of their home.

Creativity Connection - Ask students to write a book using BookCreator, design a video game on Scratch, paint a picture, write a song, or anything else creative to demonstrate what they've learned.

Documentation of Learning

It's super manageable to set an entire experience up in Flipgrid. Most students have access to a mobile device. Create a grid for each week and a topic for each piece (Engage, Experience, and Empower). Using this tool, you can share all of your resources and your students can share their learning in one central location.

When designing a weekly or daily experience, it's important to add a weekly overview as one of the topics to introduce the Focus and provide a weekly welcome.

In addition to the Engage, Experience, and Empower pieces, you might also provide an Enrichment piece for students to do if they have extra time or need something more.