Chris Lehrman: "Unlocking Potential"

In the recently concluded ISTE 2011 Conference, Chris Lehrman spoke about unlocking the potentials of students. Chris elaborated about being agents for students, which means serving as the medium for students to reach and fulfill their highest potential as lifelong learners, future citizens of the country, and leaders of our community.

Children continuously desire to do something that matters, and they truly believe that this is what they need to accomplish as part of their everyday existence. How do we support our children to achieve their goals? We can provide the necessary support by granting them opportunities to do powerful things with their great ideas! Children need to be active not only in school, but in our world as well. Obviously, they do not want to be told what to think (don't we feel the same way even as adults?). They can be brilliant and we have to let their brilliance shine.

According to Chris, students see school as a something that is done to them, a compulsory form of education, and telling them that we know what's best for them. How can we help students grow and speak truth to the people? We need to help them develop their minds, ask powerful questions, seek out answers to questions, answers that we never thought of. We can help them grow, guide them along the way. We can teach them.

The best accomplishment that any education should aim for is wanting to see children go way pass them! We have to help them see all that they can be! Schools have always known about that, but we need to help students develop their heart. See the world with empathy. True education requires more than just developing analytical minds. Let us help the children see the humanity around us. As we may know, kids see teachers as family. As such, we should help kids develop their hearts.

Kids should do stuff that matters. Speak things, do things that matter! Watch the full length video below as Chris delivered more about what he thinks as unlocking the potential of children.