Alan November: "Who Owns The Learning?"

As part of my continuous reflection from the recently concluded ISTE Conference 2011, I have been researching different articles, journals, videos, audios, and other web-based resources that highligted the great things that captured the best moments. One of them is a video on Alan November, who is an international leader in education technology. In this video Alan talked about ownership in learning, what legacy we need to leave with today's youth, and how we can support students to become successful in their education. With this he asks, "Who Owns the Learning?" It was easy to say that this is owned by the learner, themselves. However, after much thinking, I realized that as a teacher, I have been at fault in not allowing my students to own what they learn. Instead, I tell them what they need to learn, which have resulted to some of them not wanting to learn. I would ask myself, "Why is that?" I think that students refuse to learn because they have no ownership in what they are learning. Don't we act the same way, even as adults?

This video was taken last March 5, 2011, and he discussed among his audience the importance of teaching our students with problem solving skills, critical thinking, analytical thinking, project-based thought processing, and the like. It was quite interesting what Alan November advocates and believes in with regard to the abilities, skills, and talents that our students possess. He believes, which I agree as well, that students have the ability to make it successful in this globally competitive world. As their educators and the caring adults, we need to provide the support to ensure that students achieve high expectations and goals in their lives.

Here is a video on Alan November's message on how students can add value to the world by having ownership and being actively involved in their learning.