Leveraging choice, ownership, voice through authentic learning
Course Outcome/Goal
Learners will synthesize their knowledge, skills, beliefs, and values gained through their digital learning and leadership experiences and present a comprehensive plan on how they developed into digital learners and leaders that can identify and promote innovation, create significant digital learning environments, and lead organizational change.
Module Outcomes/Goals
Learners will:
- explore and analyze how the COVA approach has aided them in their learning process and
- apply the principles of the COVA approach to creating significant learning environments that provide their learners with choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning opportunities.
Module 1 & 2 Introduction Video
Readings
The following resources are available to help you in your final synthesis.
CSLE+COVA website
https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988
COVA eBook
Harapnuik, D. K., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Cummings, C. D. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7291
Peer Reviewed Book Chapters
Cummings, C D., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Harapnuik, D. K. (2017). Using the COVA learning approach to create active and significant learning environments. In Keengwe, J. S. (Eds.). Handbook of research on digital content, mobile learning, and technology integration models in teacher education. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Submitted for Publication. – Using the COVA Approach to Promote Active Learning-Chapter Draft.pdf
Thibodeaux, T. N., Harapnuik, D. K., Cummings, C. D., & Wooten, R. (2017). Learning all the time and everywhere: Moving beyond the hype of the mobile learning quick fix. In Keengwe, J. S. (Eds.). Handbook of research on mobile technology, constructivism, and meaningful learning. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. Submitted for Publication. – Learning All the Time and Everywhere-InPressDraft.pdf
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Thibodeaux, T. N., Harapnuik, D. K, & Cummings, C. D. (2017). Factors that contribute to ePortfolio persistence. International Journal of ePortfolio, 7(1), p. 1-12. Retrieved from http://www.theijep.com/pdf/IJEP257.pdf
Thibodeaux, T. N., Harapnuik, D. K, & Cummings, C. D. (2017). Graduate student perceptions of the impact of the COVA learning approach on authentic projects and ePortfolios. Manuscript submitted for publication. – Impact of the COVA Learning Approach_InPressDraft.pdf
COVA Reflections: Collaborative Discussions
Throughout the Digital Learning and Leading (DLL) program we have given you choice, ownership, and voice through authentic assignments which we formally refer to as the COVA approach. We have also created a significant learning environment (CSLE) within the DLL program and have modelled the use of the COVA approach and CSLE. Use the following two videos to help you recall the CLSE and the importance of Connecting the Dots:
What to Expect from the DLL
Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE)
In this part of your capstone reflection and discussion we want you to consider how the COVA approach and CSLE has aided you in your learning process and a summarize how you will apply the COVA approach to creating significant learning environments that provide your learners with choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning opportunities. Consider the following questions as starting points for your reflection and for your plans on using the COVA and CSLE in your organization:
- Where or when did you first realize that you genuinely had choice, ownership and voice through authentic assignments?
- What was your initial reaction when given the freedom and responsibility to choose to take ownership of your learning through an authentic project? Were you ready for this? If not or if so…what did you do?
- What did you do to adjust to this style of learning? Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
- How difficult was it to take control of your own voice and focus on your organization as the audience for your work?
- Some students had mixed feelings toward promoting change in their organizations—how has your attitude toward leading change grown throughout the program?
- How authentic is your innovation plan; did you just create it to get through the course work or did you really hope to change your organization.
- How does the COVA approach and Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) align or not align with your learning philosophy?
- How has your perspective on learning and your learning philosophy changed? If there hasn’t been any changes explain why.
- Knowing what you know now about the COVA approach how will you plan to use the COVA approach to create significant learning environments in your organization?
- OR will you not use the COVA approach and why?
- How will you give your learners choice ownership and and voice through authentic assignments?
- How will you prepare your learners and colleagues for the COVA approach and CSLE?
- What are some challenges that you will face in using the COVA approach and CSLE?
This assignment will be assessed as part of your course participation grade.
Week 1 & 2 Assignment – COVA Reflection & Application
Assignment Value: 150 points
Throughout the Digital Learning and Leading (DLL) program we have given you choice, ownership, and voice through authentic assignments. How has this process helped you and how can it help others?
Instructions
Part A
In this part of your capstone reflection we want you to consider how the COVA approach and the significant learning environment we have created in the DLL has aided you in your learning process. Consider the following questions that you used in the discussion as starting points for your reflection:
- Where or when did you first realize that you genuinely had choice, ownership and voice through authentic assignments?
- What was your initial reaction when given the freedom and responsibility to choose to take ownership of your learning through an authentic project? Were you ready for this? If not or if so…what did you do?
- What did you do to adjust to this style of learning? Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
- How difficult was it to take control of your own voice and focus on your organization as the audience for your work?
- Some students had mixed feelings toward promoting change in their organizations—how has your attitude toward leading change grown throughout the program?
- How authentic is your innovation plan; did you just create it to get through the course work or did you really hope to change your organization.
- How does the COVA approach and Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) align or not align with your learning philosophy?
- How has your perspective on learning and your learning philosophy changed? If there hasn’t been any changes explain why.
Part B
Summarize how you will apply the COVA approach to creating significant learning environments that provide your learners with choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning opportunities. Consider the following questions and you used in the discussion as starting points for your plans on using the COVA and CSLE in your organization:
- Knowing what you know now about the COVA approach how will you plan to use the COVA approach to create significant learning environments in your organization?
- OR will you not use the COVA approach and why?
- How will you give your learners choice ownership and voice through authentic assignments?
- How will you prepare your learners and colleagues for the COVA approach and CSLE?
- What are some challenges that you will face in using the COVA approach and CSLE?
Combine Parts A & B into one cohesive post. While the format and structure of the COVA reflection and application is up to you we do encourage you keep in mind that you need to create a cohesive post which will include links to your existing posts or resources you have created that will support or provide examples for your reflection. Your post can include audio, video, infographic, or other media to help summarize and reinforce your ideas.
Please remember – This assignment is unique to you, your circumstances, and your organization so you need to keep in mind who your audience is, why and how they will use this information, and what impact you are looking to make.
Submission Details:
To submit the assignment URL you will be required to use the provided document template: Assignment 1-EDLD5320-Submission.docx
- Download the document template,
- Past the URL into the space at the top of the document template,
- Add your name to the document,
- Rename the file with your name and assignment identifier
- Upload the file to Blackboard by or before the deadline.
The School of Education is using this submission process in its online courses for two reasons:
- We wish to provide you an offline copy of the assignment instructions that you can refer to.
- We want to ensure there is a consistent and permanent record of assignment submissions that can efficiently be converted to hard copy.
Formats:
- Use the APA format to cite your sources.
- Use the assignment name, your last name and first initial (assignment name + last name + first initial) to label your assignment submission document.
