Learning before Leading with COVA

What I care most about is educating our students so that they have the skills to flourish in the real-world. To do this as a leaders, I must foster a learning environment that allows teachers to use their passion. I didn't feel like I could do that until I understood my own mindset or learning approach. In the Digital Learning and Leading program, I have discovered the COVA method is applicable to my personal learning experience and for other's learning experience. To my learning community I will use COVA to foster this learning with the following dialogue:

CHOICE- "People learn in different ways and it important that you learn the way you want. This means I will provide you with resources and support, but you will determine how you want to accomplish a task or project."

OWNERSHIP- "When you choose how you want to learn, you will feel ownership over your learning. Own it!"

VOICE- "Your voice matters to me. You will get to express your concerns and feelings about the process. Remember, when you accept your failures, you can grow. When you face your fears, you can overcome them. You will get to express yourself or ideas the way you want."

AUTHENTIC LEARNING- Your learning is as real as you want it to be. With a growth mindset, you will apply your learning to your lives or real-world issues. You will realize your impact.

John C. Maxwell (2000) suggests that the way we respond to failure can define achieving people. Achieving people do not blame others, make the same mistakes over and over, nor limit themselves because of their mistakes. Instead they fail forward by taking responsibility for their mistakes and begin to take risks (Maxwell, 2000). These people are the kind that are aware of their failures and can accept criticism for the things they care most about and move on. They build a new life for themselves. This program has taught me how to be aware of my mistakes and misconceptions in my own potential as a leader and learner and take those risks to help our students. It makes us learners before we can be leaders. Overall, I have learned to fail forward, have a growth mindset, and use approaches like COVA to foster learning that causes change in my organization that produces well-rounded citizens.

Reference

Maxwell. J. (2000). Failing forward. Thomas Nelson.

For more information on COVA, see:

• CSLE + COVA: http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988

• CSLE + COVA vs. Traditional: http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7143

• CSLE/COVA eBook: http://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=538