MEE

MOTIVATE, ENGAGE, EMPOWER

Challenging the student to take control of the learning process is tantamount to his/her enthusiasm for and desire to want to know, and complete the task. To take control is to own, and to own is to establish relevance, and give purpose to the process. What is missing in the majority of classrooms today is the address of this sense of “me” [the “id”, the self-centeredness that dictates a youngster’s being] that will transform his/her internalization to one of externalization.

This transformation process in an educational sense is one of situating the student in a learning environment that will respell “me” as MEE. In other words, precise motivation and engagement via cognitive or creative planning and technological hands-on will empower him/her to want to learn within the context of doing it his/her way that will provide meaning, excitement and ownership in the finished product.

Add to that an element of transcendence. By finding ways to display student work in public places, students learn that their work is relevant. This in turn builds greater confidence, and enhances a student’s self-worth. When real world situations become part of a student’s learning path it may very well beckon the student to begin to think about his/her goals and role in society. And this kind of thinking is a direct result of a student taking control of the learning process.

As a “digital native”, today’s student walks into the classroom eager to use technology tools within the curriculum. He/she has high expectations in this regard. If these expectations are not met by the teaching staff and administrators, the “id” of the individual student will not be nurtured at optimal levels.

I can assert and authenticate students’ “digital desires” and need for taking control of the learning process with the following examples. Images from the Internet downloaded strictly for educational use.






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