In skiing, trail signs pretty clearly indicate what you are about to get yourself into! Any skier knows that the green circles are the easiest way down. You can expect wide, flat trails and no obstacles in the path. To ski a green you need to know how to make a wedge, to turn and to stop. At the other extreme are your black diamonds- steep, narrow and/or full of obstacles. In both cases the characteristic shapes and colors of the sign lets any skier know what to expect. That way each skier knows what specific skills they will need to use to tackle the trail or can choose trails that will help them practice particular skills! My favorite part of skiing is when I can push myself to tackle that trail which stretches my skills- but won't lead me off a cliff!
Skiing and learning really aren't all that different. As a teacher I must create clear and coherent signs for my students. I need to articulate what I want them to know, be able to do and what to expect. I need to use targets and scales that help students see what skills they have and what they still need to practice. If I can't do that it's unlikely that they will truly engage with my learning activities in a way that will foster transformation. It's also only fair. How can I expect all of my students to succeed if they don't really understand what success looks like? How can they work toward a goal that is "secret" or unclear. Articulating clear targets is the best way to help my learners move from beginners to novices to experts!
Skiing and learning really aren't all that different. As a teacher I must create clear and coherent signs for my students. I need to articulate what I want them to know, be able to do and what to expect. I need to use targets and scales that help students see what skills they have and what they still need to practice. If I can't do that it's unlikely that they will truly engage with my learning activities in a way that will foster transformation. It's also only fair. How can I expect all of my students to succeed if they don't really understand what success looks like? How can they work toward a goal that is "secret" or unclear. Articulating clear targets is the best way to help my learners move from beginners to novices to experts!