Personal Learning Plan 2014-15
It's time to reinvent self :-)
Yes, I am one of those few who are blessed with this possibility of reinventing ! One needs to have mentors and willingness to go through the rigour that takes not only time and energy to reinvent! And I am in this regard blessed with both. Every couple of years this desire to reinvent self helps me identify my weaknesses and gives me things that i need to prioritise. This year I understand the word "entrepreneur" and it's meaning as i reflect upon skills. If one wants autonomy in one's thoughts, thought processes, work, create a culture of intellectual collaboration, shared projects and share the skills developed, one must have this important skills of being an entrepreneur! I need to sharpen my skills in this area.
Does this mean that I am not a risk taker?
May be this is true!
And it is very difficult for me to accept this. Every time I think of this aspect , I have upteem example of me being a risk taker!!
Am i defining my learning curve?
Though apparently every year I create professional development programs for self, i think they stem from the realms of comfort zone - though to me i keep denying this fact!
What Next?
I am working at reflecting on practices that will challenge my skills and will take me out of my comfort zones and will force me to reinvent self.
What does this mean for me ?
If i plot a graph of my work profile; diversity along with learning opportunities, change of place, change of work has emerged from my need to reinvent my self.
What are my fears?
Is this true that i too have some comfort zones?
Will this "reinvention " bring out best in me and what i want from self?
Do i really know what i want from self?
What are my Hopes?
I have learning environment.
I have people around me to guide and accept me with my dilemmas.
I have guidance from "best" in the industry about my career, my thinking skills, about my abilities, about my work ethics have people who value what i contribute through my work.
What Next?
The turmoil in me needs to settle and focus on strengths that i think i have, tests, psychometricians, experts have validated.
Stop procrastination of self.
Have faith and patients for self and allow the SEE-DO-GET cycle to reemerge as one that validates my struggle.
What all I need?
My work plan
My strategies for creating and implementing the change perceived
Handholding from well wishers...
It's time to reinvent self :-)
Yes, I am one of those few who are blessed with this possibility of reinventing ! One needs to have mentors and willingness to go through the rigour that takes not only time and energy to reinvent! And I am in this regard blessed with both. Every couple of years this desire to reinvent self helps me identify my weaknesses and gives me things that i need to prioritise. This year I understand the word "entrepreneur" and it's meaning as i reflect upon skills. If one wants autonomy in one's thoughts, thought processes, work, create a culture of intellectual collaboration, shared projects and share the skills developed, one must have this important skills of being an entrepreneur! I need to sharpen my skills in this area.
Does this mean that I am not a risk taker?
May be this is true!
And it is very difficult for me to accept this. Every time I think of this aspect , I have upteem example of me being a risk taker!!
Am i defining my learning curve?
Though apparently every year I create professional development programs for self, i think they stem from the realms of comfort zone - though to me i keep denying this fact!
What Next?
I am working at reflecting on practices that will challenge my skills and will take me out of my comfort zones and will force me to reinvent self.
What does this mean for me ?
If i plot a graph of my work profile; diversity along with learning opportunities, change of place, change of work has emerged from my need to reinvent my self.
What are my fears?
Is this true that i too have some comfort zones?
Will this "reinvention " bring out best in me and what i want from self?
Do i really know what i want from self?
What are my Hopes?
I have learning environment.
I have people around me to guide and accept me with my dilemmas.
I have guidance from "best" in the industry about my career, my thinking skills, about my abilities, about my work ethics have people who value what i contribute through my work.
What Next?
The turmoil in me needs to settle and focus on strengths that i think i have, tests, psychometricians, experts have validated.
Stop procrastination of self.
Have faith and patients for self and allow the SEE-DO-GET cycle to reemerge as one that validates my struggle.
What all I need?
My work plan
My strategies for creating and implementing the change perceived
Handholding from well wishers...
Personal learning Plan 2013-14.
What am I working at?
I am reflecting on my practices and more I do so I realise there is more to learn.... the concept of " work in progress" and for better alternatives... are now emerging, becoming evident and Excellence and Drive for the same is now part of reflections.
Leading School program has helped me create a better perspective and reflect upon my practices as PBL teacher. The year was full of excitement and this year is mix bag of emotions as independent learner, practitioner of PBL.
This year is more challenging as compared to previous year/s for me. We have PBL implementation for middle school which we initiated last academic year. This year will be crucial as all stakeholders have expectations that PBL will answer and will be what to them seemed as ray of hope in changing times and for needs of our learner for 21st century.
PBL is my passion and thinking, creating , fine tuning, following protocols - for projects, collaboration, integration and connecting the same with curriculum standards is routine. It has many challenges, expectations, from self, from my team- my collaborative co workers who have shown faith and willingness to explore more about PBL and be the team that connects to 21st century skills and is attempting to relearn from textbook -exam oriented- teaching and learning practices.
Being democratic helps in collaboration and connect with team members. I see PBL team as strong team refining its practices!
Another task as School leader i have is to be the practitioner - efficient user of learning management system- Compass learning. It is another tool that will help teachers to use technology in classroom effectively and use Compass learning as co-teacher for differentiation, acceleration, remediation to cater to needs of different learning styles. This also means additional responsibility of understanding the Compass learning, curriculum mapping with international, national curricula and helping teams to create age / standard appropriate materials for effective classrooms.
What will help me measure my accomplishment this year?
There is some anxiety about this aspect, mainly due to higher expectations from PBL! This unit is under scanner from stakeholders and success / failure of this approach of teaching and learning is connected to student achievement/ expectations.
I am sure PBL team will have helped students to understand and work in accordance with Habits of Mind, identified for each age group, work as collaborative learner, understand the personal projects for each student and complete them and have final presentation of learning as per identified learning outcomes.
I am sure Compass learning ( CL) will be a effective teaching and training tool and will we will be able to match curriculum for middle school from grades 5-8 for all subjects. This also means working and uploading texts/ materials/ links/ presentations/ assessment criterions/ quizzes etc for subjects like History/ Geography which in our schooling environment is more region/ country specific rather than world history/ American History.
PBL team will also accomplish projects envisaged in the beginning of the term this academic year.
I will be teaching my IB Diploma students 28 of them this November 2014 batch !! which is exciting, challenging and rewarding... and also will be working with grades 5-8 for Habits of Mind and offer training sessions for teachers for Rubrics/ Math/ Sciences in middle school. I also am hopeful that i will be a good critical-friends to 4/5 members that will be part of my group as TGES explores learning with PBL and follows the model of HTH in its daily routine.
My Project with IB DP " taste of Protest" is emerging well and has presentations in October 2013.
My role as School leader, would also mean diversity in administrative role, parental queries, student counselling, exam deadlines, results recruitment and retentions and other tasks identified by organisation and examination boards. I am coordinating iPad text book project for our school and also a Lesson Plan site for TGES. This keeps me on my toes for reading/ use of technology in classrooms.
I feel me and my team is ready for fierce conversations on PBL/CL !
Strangely no fears ... as i attempt PLP 2013!!!
I also need to work on my art - painting which needs fresh look and efforts from my end....and for writing more stories on my blog this year.
Here is sample of my art work - Form to Faith - Ganesh 2013. ( 9th September 2013 till 18th September 2013)
We make eco friendly idol from clay at home, without any mould/ any other ingredient... and then the clay form is painted to form a "belief"....
Book that i am passionately reading:-
Why School? Reclaiming Education for all of us - Mike Rose
Here is sample of my art work - Form to Faith - Ganesh 2013. ( 9th September 2013 till 18th September 2013)
We make eco friendly idol from clay at home, without any mould/ any other ingredient... and then the clay form is painted to form a "belief"....
Book that i am passionately reading:-
Why School? Reclaiming Education for all of us - Mike Rose
Leading Schools Personal Learning Plan (PLP)
Name: Shekhar Hardikar Critical Friend: Randy Scherer.
The Personal Learning Plan is an evolving touchstone document for developing your Leading Schools Project and reflecting on your learning with your critical friend. For each PLP reflection (3/year), you will review/refine your plan and describe the related Wicked Awesome Learning Opportunities (WALOs) that you have pursued at your school site. After sharing your written reflection with your critical friend, you will have the opportunity to have a reflective conversation about your work. This document will lead into your Leading School Project Program Reflection.
1. What are you working on, and what do you hope to accomplish, in terms of …
The craft of teaching/working with students?
Our School system follows both, Indian national curricula and international curricula. Most classrooms have “lecture method’ as system! IB has influenced some teachers to think differently and find more than one ways of connecting with students. From the very beginning I have priviledge of being associated with IB/ CIE and that has helped me stay away from lecture methods. Though, I must admit that Lectures amounts to 60% of my class structure.
My subject also makes it binding to have discussions, games, online games, TED videos, and sometimes guest speakers are part of my classroom. Currently I am working on creating awareness/ understanding and working knowledge of PBL for self and with students and colleagues. I hope to accomplish learning and mastering PBL. I teach ToK and My Co-learners would say that my Classroom is a safe environment wherein my co learners love to talk, share, and build on their views, have freedom of expression and know boundaries that may hurt sentiments of others,. I would certainly like to have this democratic fabric of my class, identity stay with me always.
I have experienced that students over a period of time pick up the art of posing questions and share responses that show their deep understanding and their outlook towards issues in the society. May be at times they present their thoughts in a manner that is different and at times forms/ formats / language that they use to represent their views may require some inputs for better representation.
I like to identify learner’s need first and then create a plan that helps them deal with the exam challenge! This actually helps me look at individual’s needs, strengths, skills and also their reading habits. As part of their final examination each one of them has to write an Essay of about 1600 word on topic chosen by the student.
I like the way students eventually pick up reading Philosophy, History, Ethics, Reason, and learn to use language! “Thinking” becomes their second skin. Their ability to identify “knowledge issues” and represent their ideas mazes me! I would want this “challenging” attitude of students to create a positive habit for them and one that helps them build on tier skills of present to needs of future. “Reflective classroom” and “thinking students” is default outcome of TOK!!!
My biggest challenge would be integrating ToK with PBL and managing the learning curve along-with my co-learners and completing the project envisaged.
Being a leader and collaborating with colleagues?
My colleagues would say that Collaboration and Integration is my strength! Collaboration and cooperation comes naturally to me! This again could be because of the role that I play in the team and organization! Also my subject introduces me to worlds of integrating learning and connecting to the broader aspects of building knowledge. As part of introducing TOK to students integration with each subject is mandatory. As a matter of fact IBO provides guidelines to new teachers for easy integration! Textbooks of various subjects have topics set aside for TOK integration, this helps teacher to integrate various topics in actual classroom scenario.
I had never thought of a product for my subject. It still mystifies me!!
ToK essay that is written by students is actually property of IBO and I never thought beyond that!! Now I am looking forward to create a unique Product apart from the prescribed Essay by IBO for the ToK…. My current thinking is asking students for creating a reflective journal for them!
I am excited about PBL and collaborating with a critical friend at HTH, who has already probed me and helped me identify my learning curve and build me on that path professionally.
I am excited about mentoring other team members of my organization with my learning’s from HTH. I am sure writing Reflective Journal, will help me grow and consolidate my learning from LSP@HTH.
2. As you think about your Leading Schools Project…
What fierce wonderings are emerging? What do you hope to learn?
PBL is provocative and energizing!! Will I be able to handle the “fascination”? Will this fizzle out with routine and daily rigor because of my role?
I am also able to connect the missing links! My earlier understanding of ‘projects” and the current understanding of PBL, is helping me bridge the gaps. I am able to comprehend my own mistakes and I can now reflect on processes uniquely. I am reflecting on my readings articles shared / introduction from “Ethics of Excellence” and I am asking tough question to self about my practices and challenges that I foresee.
As I grapple to deal with these questions… all my excitement/ enthusiasm tumbles!! I am sure that I will start small, baby steps that will lead me to big steps and will have scope for learning from my mistakes on this path of PBL. (I guess I will have to work on fear of unknown)
I am aware of the time frame and budgets and collaboration required but I am not sure about my project, its feasibility, End Product!
How will I use “power of peer critique” in my classrooms to make them more accountable?
My Million dollar question to self: - “do I have enough expertise to trade on this path”? What if I fail and Project backfires!! What I want to learn/ experience most… shouldn't be my negative experience.
Connecting to “protocol” and imbibing them as work culture is another aspect that I aim to learn and share with my team, colleagues.
I hope to learn to deal with all that has been mentioned above J
I also hope to learn documentation and best practices in my field, I hope to learn to crate Digital portfolio that reflects my work and one that can be considered as a model portfolio. I want to “learn” and not to “imitate”. Power of learning lies in creation!!
How might these be framed in an essential question or project?
When I started working on this document, I had couple of questions to self! Am I just answering the questions or reflecting on the process of learning? Am I dealing with what I know? What am I aiming to learn? Am I attempting to understand the process or just following steps? My Essential questions are still emerging and I am yet to finalize my project.
I still have dilemma, about Project and Product. (Not about the concept- but related to my project, my thought process and with my current understanding of Product)
I think , I will work to create one personal project which I plan to accomplish for me with my students from IBDP class and another project in which I would like my team/ school organization to get involved. I need help for this whole school project.
For PBL and School project:-
I am struggling to frame essential question here for the whole school project. I do not want to be more than usually ambitious! I may need some pointers, questions, from your end that might help me frame this project.
Here are some questions that I have, I think these will be eventually become part of the essential question for the project:-
Here is my (essential) question:-
To what extent Media plays a major role, especially films in creating stereotypes for Gender Bias in society. How do films impact “beliefs” of teenagers for such a bias?
(Breaking this into subtopics and week by week activity- each week discussion will flow on some of the questions listed and new questions arising from the discussion- these are pointed towards learning outcomes and may need some refinement )
Product would be reflective journal for students. This will be a milestone that will suggest their journey as they grow and explore the world with issues like this in their surroundings.
c. What do you hope to accomplish?
1) I would certainly like to have my digital portfolio for sureJ
The Personal Learning Plan is an evolving touchstone document for developing your Leading Schools Project and reflecting on your learning with your critical friend. For each PLP reflection (3/year), you will review/refine your plan and describe the related Wicked Awesome Learning Opportunities (WALOs) that you have pursued at your school site. After sharing your written reflection with your critical friend, you will have the opportunity to have a reflective conversation about your work. This document will lead into your Leading School Project Program Reflection.
1. What are you working on, and what do you hope to accomplish, in terms of …
The craft of teaching/working with students?
Our School system follows both, Indian national curricula and international curricula. Most classrooms have “lecture method’ as system! IB has influenced some teachers to think differently and find more than one ways of connecting with students. From the very beginning I have priviledge of being associated with IB/ CIE and that has helped me stay away from lecture methods. Though, I must admit that Lectures amounts to 60% of my class structure.
My subject also makes it binding to have discussions, games, online games, TED videos, and sometimes guest speakers are part of my classroom. Currently I am working on creating awareness/ understanding and working knowledge of PBL for self and with students and colleagues. I hope to accomplish learning and mastering PBL. I teach ToK and My Co-learners would say that my Classroom is a safe environment wherein my co learners love to talk, share, and build on their views, have freedom of expression and know boundaries that may hurt sentiments of others,. I would certainly like to have this democratic fabric of my class, identity stay with me always.
I have experienced that students over a period of time pick up the art of posing questions and share responses that show their deep understanding and their outlook towards issues in the society. May be at times they present their thoughts in a manner that is different and at times forms/ formats / language that they use to represent their views may require some inputs for better representation.
I like to identify learner’s need first and then create a plan that helps them deal with the exam challenge! This actually helps me look at individual’s needs, strengths, skills and also their reading habits. As part of their final examination each one of them has to write an Essay of about 1600 word on topic chosen by the student.
I like the way students eventually pick up reading Philosophy, History, Ethics, Reason, and learn to use language! “Thinking” becomes their second skin. Their ability to identify “knowledge issues” and represent their ideas mazes me! I would want this “challenging” attitude of students to create a positive habit for them and one that helps them build on tier skills of present to needs of future. “Reflective classroom” and “thinking students” is default outcome of TOK!!!
My biggest challenge would be integrating ToK with PBL and managing the learning curve along-with my co-learners and completing the project envisaged.
Being a leader and collaborating with colleagues?
My colleagues would say that Collaboration and Integration is my strength! Collaboration and cooperation comes naturally to me! This again could be because of the role that I play in the team and organization! Also my subject introduces me to worlds of integrating learning and connecting to the broader aspects of building knowledge. As part of introducing TOK to students integration with each subject is mandatory. As a matter of fact IBO provides guidelines to new teachers for easy integration! Textbooks of various subjects have topics set aside for TOK integration, this helps teacher to integrate various topics in actual classroom scenario.
I had never thought of a product for my subject. It still mystifies me!!
ToK essay that is written by students is actually property of IBO and I never thought beyond that!! Now I am looking forward to create a unique Product apart from the prescribed Essay by IBO for the ToK…. My current thinking is asking students for creating a reflective journal for them!
I am excited about PBL and collaborating with a critical friend at HTH, who has already probed me and helped me identify my learning curve and build me on that path professionally.
I am excited about mentoring other team members of my organization with my learning’s from HTH. I am sure writing Reflective Journal, will help me grow and consolidate my learning from LSP@HTH.
2. As you think about your Leading Schools Project…
What fierce wonderings are emerging? What do you hope to learn?
PBL is provocative and energizing!! Will I be able to handle the “fascination”? Will this fizzle out with routine and daily rigor because of my role?
I am also able to connect the missing links! My earlier understanding of ‘projects” and the current understanding of PBL, is helping me bridge the gaps. I am able to comprehend my own mistakes and I can now reflect on processes uniquely. I am reflecting on my readings articles shared / introduction from “Ethics of Excellence” and I am asking tough question to self about my practices and challenges that I foresee.
As I grapple to deal with these questions… all my excitement/ enthusiasm tumbles!! I am sure that I will start small, baby steps that will lead me to big steps and will have scope for learning from my mistakes on this path of PBL. (I guess I will have to work on fear of unknown)
I am aware of the time frame and budgets and collaboration required but I am not sure about my project, its feasibility, End Product!
How will I use “power of peer critique” in my classrooms to make them more accountable?
My Million dollar question to self: - “do I have enough expertise to trade on this path”? What if I fail and Project backfires!! What I want to learn/ experience most… shouldn't be my negative experience.
Connecting to “protocol” and imbibing them as work culture is another aspect that I aim to learn and share with my team, colleagues.
I hope to learn to deal with all that has been mentioned above J
I also hope to learn documentation and best practices in my field, I hope to learn to crate Digital portfolio that reflects my work and one that can be considered as a model portfolio. I want to “learn” and not to “imitate”. Power of learning lies in creation!!
How might these be framed in an essential question or project?
When I started working on this document, I had couple of questions to self! Am I just answering the questions or reflecting on the process of learning? Am I dealing with what I know? What am I aiming to learn? Am I attempting to understand the process or just following steps? My Essential questions are still emerging and I am yet to finalize my project.
I still have dilemma, about Project and Product. (Not about the concept- but related to my project, my thought process and with my current understanding of Product)
I think , I will work to create one personal project which I plan to accomplish for me with my students from IBDP class and another project in which I would like my team/ school organization to get involved. I need help for this whole school project.
For PBL and School project:-
I am struggling to frame essential question here for the whole school project. I do not want to be more than usually ambitious! I may need some pointers, questions, from your end that might help me frame this project.
Here are some questions that I have, I think these will be eventually become part of the essential question for the project:-
- * How will I share learning with my team to create awareness about PBL, its implementation and breaking away from standard practices followed in national curricula.
- * What will be part of my digital portfolio?
- * What is CORE that I would want to reflect as part of my accountability and standard for Digital portfolio?
- * What is a good time frame? Will this time frame help me achieve all that I would want to accomplish?
Here is my (essential) question:-
To what extent Media plays a major role, especially films in creating stereotypes for Gender Bias in society. How do films impact “beliefs” of teenagers for such a bias?
(Breaking this into subtopics and week by week activity- each week discussion will flow on some of the questions listed and new questions arising from the discussion- these are pointed towards learning outcomes and may need some refinement )
- How characters played by Artist become part of the schema in the society? Do these characters reflect true images of society?
- 1) What are my existing view about “gender bias”
- 2) Do I experience gender bias? What are my basic feelings when I experience this bias?
- 3) Am I aware that there exists bias? Or do I take this as privilegdge?
- 4) Being a “male”! Does it boost my ego and do I take things for granted even with my siblings?
- 5) What are views observations about “bias” in my family, culture, state that I belong to?
- 6) Do I see and am I able to associate with these stereotypes in my class, family, and community?
- 7) Do I have a say?
- 8) Do I want to exercise my rights if I have a say?
- 9) Do I take stand on these issues for me my family members?
- 10) Am I gender sensitive? What aspect of my behavior would reflect this?
- 11) What changes would I have to being in my personality, thinking, situations If I have to learn being sensitive?
Product would be reflective journal for students. This will be a milestone that will suggest their journey as they grow and explore the world with issues like this in their surroundings.
c. What do you hope to accomplish?
1) I would certainly like to have my digital portfolio for sureJ
- 2) Sharpen my skills and explore the realms of PBL
- 3) “Protocol” and “Power of Peer critique” to become my guiding forces!
- 4) Work on my fears
- 5) Getting Students to reflect their views in form of a Journal and my aim will be to make this reflective journal memorable for them as a guiding lamp.
- 6) Share my learning with community.
- 7) Last but not least!!! Successful completion of LSP, with its essence and core!
- Some learning’s are undefined at this moment …. The one which will be part of the journey and learning process.