Thursday Thoughts: Taking Risks

Is it a coincidence that this quote showed up on my Facebook wall after coming home from watching many of our Emerson alums perform at the Maine South musical today?   It was quite the experience to see these kids we knew all grown up and fearlessly performing on stage.  It also reminded me of something I had noticed previously from the Student Technology Survey results.

When asked how often they are asked to do the following things at school:
    83% of our students said they were always or often able to problem-solve.
    80% of our students said they were always or often able to be creative.  
    76% of our students said they were always or often able to collaborate with peers.
    48% of our students said they were always or often able to take risks.

I'm not sure if the kids were giving us the answers that they think we want or if this is how they truly view what is happening in the classroom.  Either way, it revealed that we have an opportunity to show students the value of taking risks in their learning even if the "right answer" isn't guaranteed.

Personally, I have learned a lot about the benefits of positive risk-taking this year.  Every time I suggest a new idea for your classroom or vice versa, you are asked to take a leap.  While there have been many ups and downs, I have tried my best to have the successes outweigh the failures and appreciate your willingness to always keep trying.

With all this in mind, take a moment and think about what you would attempt in your classroom with technology if you knew you could not fail* Feel free to let me know what I can do to help make your answer a reality.

-If you want to experience a little "Where are they now?," stop by the LRC to check out the "Legally Blonde" program.  As you know, the musical itself is playing this weekend if you want to see it first hand.

-If you want more information about the Student Technology Survey, it was part of the April 8 BATC Report to the Board found here.

*My answer was starting this blog since I am not nearly brave or talented enough to sing on stage like our former students.