Rising to the challenge: Reflections from a first-year ExploraVision coach
As a first time ExploraVision coach, leading a variety of students of varying grade and skill levels was an intimidating idea. As I perused the website in September and read about impressive final projects of last year’s winners, it seemed in all honesty, unattainable.
“Who is teaching these wonderful kids?!” I thought, looking at the smiling educators standing proudly with their students. “And could that be me?”
After a moment’s hesitation, a trusted colleague who had recommended ExploraVision for my class assured me that if I followed the process, put students would pull it all together with my support and guidance (Thanks, Ms. Q-B!). I love a challenge and thankfully took her advice and committed to this meaningful teaching journey for myself and learning my students.
When introducing the project, I was concerned my students would sense my simmering trepidation. But still, I stayed true to the notion of this linear, pragmatic process, believing deeply in the resilience and natural curiosity of my students. And they blew me away!
I knew the amount of the learning and exploration would be vast for these students, and I wasn’t mistaken. Researching and examining current cutting-edge technology while imagining where it might go in the future fills children with wonder, excitement, and a bit of overwhelm, but I couldn’t be more amazed and proud of how their projects turned out.
The chance to learn about incredible awe-inspiring new technologies taking shape, but also connecting them to UN Sustainable Development goals through the lens of international problem solving gave these students wings like few projects ever could. Now, to think these ideas might shift to the realm of the real, the tangible, is exciting for these kids who have also made lifelong friendships over the course of this challenge.
The three students who developed CyberSchool – Anjali, Aubrey, and Ellen – meet only once a week for 3 hours in my congregated learning environment and are otherwise part of three very separate schools and geographic communities. They had not met before this school year. Now, their stories are intertwined. They have visited each other’s homes and bonded, they have arranged virtual meetings and sessions to complete their project and did so with enthusiastic joyful spirit. Their families have connected, and a positive change has occurred in all their lives.
ExploraVision brought them together to become not only a team, but a collective of dedicated and thoughtful friends who through a common vision rose to a challenge, and now allow me to be one of those beaming teachers I had first spied on the ExploraVision website. To all potential teachers considering ExploraVision: this is an extremely rich and meaningful opportunity for your kids, and yourself as an educator; I recommend it highly.
Author:
