Impact of Failing Forward and COVA
Trust The Process
In this section, I would like to point out two strategies impacting my learning throughout this course. (Failing forward strategies and the COVA Model) have made an everlasting impression in relation towards my learning.
Failing Forward Strategy
I would like for you to pause and think about how young children function. Toddlers are the epitome of people who are not afraid to fail at any given moment. They explore every new reality around them and fail at almost everything they try. They don’t care about what they look like or how others view their mistakes. They are continuously driven by curiosity and discovery.
As kids age, they pay close attention towards reactions of adults as they exhibit failure. Facial expressions, emotional responses, and grief are some of the indicating cues. Immediate attempts to correct their wrongdoings are seen and embraced. These reactions can trigger embarrassment and shame. As a result, kids will often feel ashamed of failure. Quickly, they will avoid failure by any means necessary. This will create inaccurate results and limit growth towards learning and trying.
From this example, the question arises, what can be done? How can I overcome this issue within my studies? How can I avoid doing this to my students? All questions can be answered by following 5 simple steps.
Have no regrets. To my surprise, we have an average of 30,000 days on this planet. I was alarmed to find this out as well, it seems short. By knowing this, there’s no turning back. If you haven’t been cherishing every single second, minute, or hour, further time should not be wasted. Having such focus will enable you as well as me to achieve any and every goal imaginable.
Accept reality. The biggest issue with failure is admittance. One year, I had a student that was having a difficult day. Frustrations ran rapidly through her mind and actions. On any other day, happiness was present and on this particular day there was no trace of it. I felt defeated because I was the one that could always reach her. Instead of giving up, I accepted the failed attempt, recollected myself, tried a different approach, and found the root of the problem. When we accept failure, learn from it, try a different approach, success is right around the corner. This should be applied towards education and general life.
Don’t be a victim, be a strategist. When you try something and it does not work, don’t be so quick to throw in the towel. The best option is to correct your strategy. Examine what took place and how it went wrong. Bring others in with a good mindset for a little constructive criticism and evaluation. We’re in this together and sometimes help is needed. Afterwards, fine tune strategies and reconstruct another angle.
Be focused. With a lack of focus and discipline, any task will not be attainable. Start with simple weekly routines to help increase focus. This helps me to be productive and attain a clear focus towards my studies.
Approach every day as a school day. Fail forward and fail fast, and every day will be a school day. There is always a lesson to be had and failure is one of our greatest teachers. You have to be open to every experience as the opportunity to learn something new. The faster and harder you fail, the less and less afraid you shall become of it because you have come out on the other side of it and are usually stronger and better equipped for it.
COVA Model
There are many key aspects of the DLL program. The COVA model is a major contributing factor towards the entire program through Lamar University. I was unaware such a format existed. Although, the steps that are involved are known, the methods promoted are unique in every aspect. This is a prime example of how modeling my studies and teaching through COVA will have an everlasting impression towards success.
C "Choice." Having a choice to create my digital platform that will ensure a strong digital presence throughout education is remarkable. Choosing gives me the power to decide how I want to present what has been learned. This is also effective for students. Giving kid’s choices related to learning create a sense of belonging. Feelings of not having a choice, opinion, or one set guideline is quickly eliminated. We’re presented with choices daily, why not have choices when it comes to learning? This step is considered highly favorable.
O "Ownership." Ownership is needed. If I do not feel like my work is a reflection of self-progress, then what am I doing? Having the feeling of ownership will enable me to learn more and constantly search for ways of improvement throughout the program. Students need choices as well as ownership. If they own their work and steps to obtain mastery, no one can be blamed. What they put in, is what the end result will be.
V "Voice." My voice can and will be heard by taking ownership of my work. We all have a voice and it’s up to each individual to use his/her own voice. Empowerment with a sense of control will make any one able enough to obtain any goal set forth. It’s a beautiful experience to witness students grow in character by finding their voice. It’s a sign of maturity and knowing that they get it. The real “foot work” has begun. Having a voice alongside strong intellect and character is a good indication of leadership. Hence, Digital Learning and Leading. Being able to voice my work through presentations that can be viewed as inspiring and relatable by my colleagues is what I set out to do all along.
A "Authentic." This is the backbone of my learning and progression. Without choice, ownership, and a voice, authenticity could not be established. All three present a genuine experience in learning. With this, the creative process will flourish. Students will be eager to learn. I look at learning as a never-ending game. Having fun will generate an individual to explore whatever comes to mind. More often, exploration leads to unlocking other qualities that were not thought of. I want my students to remember to always be authentic in every task attempted. In order for this to occur, all aspects of COVA have to be incorporated. Just like my studies, whatever I touch has to be mastered before completion. If not, I will not stop until the task has been completed. Afterwards, moving on to the next task/goal.
COVA Method (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2018, from, Harapnuik, D. K., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Cummings, C. D. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities. http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7291