So here I am, ten weeks into my foray of taking on the Digital Learning and Leadership (DLL) program, not really sure if I had the “time” and wherewithal to handle the demanding requirements and the rigors to go along with it. Truth be told, my daughter and son, in whom their mother and I invested a significant amount of time (happy invested labor, painful laboring, laughter,…and tears)  throughout the years to  see them leaving the nest, challenged me to go back and do my master in education. They insisted that I had much to do, offer, yet still learn, and can continue being an effective mentor to many. Personally, I believe they were just concerned I would not know what to do with myself now that I had so much time on my hands, and that could possibly drive their mom nuts!

Seriously though, I took up their challenge, their encouragement. The first five (5) weeks of my journey has taken me through

1. Identifying, examining, and properly contextualizing the fixed mindset versus the growth mindset; and why the growth mindset is where I really needed to be. With joy, I can say I have embraced the growth mindset, and plunged in headfirst to digging into resources that support the same.
2. A thought-provoking review of the question, “Can preoccupation with the growth mindset limit students’ grades?”, helped strike a balance that at the end of the day, assessment must be measured against the traditionally in place indicators. However, in a digital age of the insufferable availability of online knowledgebase information, the role of the teacher suddenly becomes the focal point as it relates to facilitator, coach, and mentor. The classroom is being flipped.
3. Contemplating the goal, I am shooting for in the DLL program.  What goal am I trying to accomplish in taking this program? What is it that is so important to me? Turns out that, that answer is totally dependent on my “Why” am I doing this. The “Why” quickly establishes my connection with my learner audience and gets to the point. They are engaged from the “get go”, and afford me an attentive ear in listening to, and ready to authentically learn from the real-world opportunities I can present or steer them to. Nailing my “Why” takes care of the “What” I need shopping lists to get there.
4. Creating a Significant Learning Environment (CSLE) where my learners have a clear Choice, can exercise Ownership, and resonate their Voice in delving deep into the Authentic (COVA) learning opportunities I must present them with has become a resounding engram that I can regurgitate without looking it up. It helps greatly because I have bought in completely to the rubric and concept.
5. No one is an island. The best laid plans typically live or die based on one’s ability to network and be a team player. But to be an effective and successful team player, in my case, I have to intelligently assess my strengths and weaknesses as an educator. Know when to ask for help, input, or just seek out thought processing different than my own. Equally important is that I cannot be the “dead sea”. Taking in only and never giving out or contributing back. My blog and network sections on my ePortfolio is helping to address this to a large extent.
6. And now to “WHY COVA”? My “Why” is to contribute to facilitating education without borders for targeted learners in the third world countries that are not as privileged as others. The ePortfolio is a great start in being my road map to getting there.

  The next five (5) weeks and second course in the DLL program was about really solidifying the important concepts of why it is important established a firm ePortfolio foundation. After all, I was taught the parable as a child of two men. One built his house on the sand, and the other built his house on a rock. The winds, hail, and storms came. And of course, we know which one endured.   

Each of the five weeks topics were unique but systematically served as solid scaffolding in guiding me to thoughtfully reflect, edit, make changes and intentionally listen to my peers, and appreciate their extended professional courtesy as they in turn listened to me. Their suggestions were always constructive, whether positive or negative; and after additional reflections I willingly and gratefully implemented some of those suggestions. It was challenging for me as I adjusted to many other personal responsibilities, but extremely rewarding. Among my classmates I genuinely believe I have positively expanded my professional network. And have produced a solid framework and foundation for my ePortfolio to continue to grow, typifying the growth mindset for me personally, and for my learners. And last, but not least, adding my certification to the CSLE+COVA environment.