If we are to have an influence upon the education of tomorrow, then we need to better understand today. This post explores strategies for getting to the heart of the matter.
Why would you? It is such an interesting question. I was asked this recently and it really left me thinking. More often than not, it calls upon the anxiety about making the right choice and implies that there is always one to be made. I feel that thinking about those things that such a question provokes can provide a useful insight into our beliefs and bias.
For example, why would you set homework? Why would you post work on a blog? Why would you deliver professional development collaboratively? Why would you do group work during a professional development session? Why would you open a school in the middle of business hub? Although for some such questions are clear, this is not the case for all.
Thinking about the Modern Learning Canvas, ‘why would you’ questions capture the pedagogical beliefs that are the foundation for understanding the intent and purpose of school. They also help illuminate the roles and strategies used in the classroom. This is all useful in helping to design education for tomorrow.
So what about you? What questions help you reflect upon your values and beliefs? As always, comments welcome.
Why Would You? – Using Questions to Extend Understanding by Aaron Davis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Thanks, Aaron.
Interesting conversation starter. “WHY” opens the door to consciously thinking about intent. “Does this change add efficiency or effectiveness?” “Does my thinking or behavior perpetuate a teaching culture, or does it support a culture of learning?” The purpose of school… hmmm. I’m gonna need more time and space for this one.
As you allude to, it’s important for us to have conversations about our values and beliefs regarding school and learning. If nothing else, it helps establish some common vocabulary in the spirit of change.
Bob
Thanks as always Robert for the comment. When I think about your blog I feel that there are many ‘why would you’ questions that could be used to create a clearer.picture, such as, why would you play games in the library or have a makerspace? Why would you use digital badges? Why would you use an LMS? Why would you use an automated grammar assistant? Why would you comment on a blog, rather than write your own? Why would you play Pokemon Go? Why would you use breakoutEDU? Why would you participate in a Twitter chat? Why would you get a web domain for every learner? There are so many ideas in there. I would love to see what you would make of the canvas? Feel free to copy mine that I developed for communities of practice.
Image created by [Silvia Tolisano](http://langwitches.org) in response to [my post](https://readwriterespond.com/2017/12/why-would-you/) and shared on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/langwitches/status/943889268124069888)