Are you that teacher? Teach through learnership

Today I had an interesting conversation with a colleague that led to a statement:  I'm the teacher and I am in control.

Really?  Are you totally in control?

What about the kid(s) who do not turn in homework and frustrate you to no end?  What about the all of the doodles in margins of notes that demonstrate the outrageous boredom students are experiencing in your class?  What about the students you know should be passing tests, or at least scoring better on tests, and are not? Are you really in control? Clearly not so ask the tough question now:  Why are you struggling to reach learners knowing you are doing everything possible, but are addressing the right things?

You are missing a vital piece of practice - learnership.  Combine leadership, pedagogy, and technology.  Are you learning with your students, or standing in front demanding they learn?  Are there opportunities to build knowledge in your class, or are you giving every answer and note to your students? Do offer opportunities to learn using technology - BYOD or other? Today's teacher has to do things differently.

Learnership offers you a chance to stop being the dictator and become the learning guide - the one with the ultimate expertise to lead learning to a new plane.  Of course, there is always a choice.  Status quo or change.  Be relevant or irrelevant.  Transform to lead students into the 21st century or disintegrate into abyss of boredom.

To be an education leader today means you have to give up the power in favor of the learning.

photo credit: Σταύρος via photopin cc