The COVA Framework
Meaningful connections is crucial to learning and knowing that drives transformational efforts. This is my second semester, the CLSE + COVA learning approach is already impacting my learning in the Ed Tech/ADL program, impacting the innovation project I am driving in my School and the implementation of my consulting work in healthcare systems. The COVA approach is to prepare learners to be leaders who can drive organizational and system transformation and drive innovation in an hyper-connected world. I now focus on how to give learners more freedom of choice, voice and supporting them to take ownership of knowledge and not force it on them as a must. I understand the power of not Yet for my students and how to model ways for them to move from fixed to growth mindset and keep challenging the limitations of fixed mindset. Now, I understood the need for authentic life opportunities for learning. With my understanding of the need to move from assessment of learning to assessment as learning, I have found more unique ways to get my students to reflect on their learning, collaborate for deeper understanding and make meaningful connections for their learning. Ultimately, the goal is to make learners relevant to their world and solve challenges with their abilities to synthesize ideas.
As discussed in this reading (https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=8517), constructivist theorists have advocated that learning should be “an active, dynamic, and social process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current and past knowledge and experiences.”. I have learned that these should be used to forge the way into the future to become transformational leaders. This program, the Master of Applied Digital Learning (ADL) at Lamar University is designed to make us digital leaders. Who will leverage the richness of computing power to drive personalized learning. It is also designed to run as a collaborative learner-centered program that embraces technological innovation through collaboration and active and authentic learning that will prepare learners to create meaningful change. This program is focused on making us bond in an educational community which will drive continuous collaborations and self evaluations. Self-evaluations are based on an assessment as learning model. It is formative and peer and learner driven. This strongly thrives on collaboration, reflection and evaluation which drives deeper learning and asking deep questions.
Continuous collaboration to drive learning will help with a growth mindset. You have partners who will ask questions which will birth self awareness. Also, reading the post of others and interacting with them will make one see that the challenges we face are not unique to us alone. Instead, we will be able to muster strength and keep driving on till the challenging areas become a familiar terrain. Then we get to master it and pursue bigger challenges with the strength gathered from the last conquest. CLSE + COVA requires diligent efforts and consistency just like what’s required to maintain a growth mindset. It therefore, requires leadership commitment, resources allocation and buy-in of all stakeholders to ensure appropriate implementation.
References:
- Applied digital learning – https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=8517
- Assessment of/for/as learning – https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=8475