After designing my Learner Profile based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), I learned things about me that surprised me. I also knew from the skills and dispositions we will need for the future, I got it that I wasn’t prepared. How could I support teachers if I wasn’t sure about me? Especially if I was not keeping up with the emerging tools and apps that teachers and kids will need to support and enhance learning.
I decided to create my own Personal Learning Backpack. I needed to add the skills, competencies, tools, apps, resources, and strategies I will need to succeed and become future-ready. I’m using the term #futureready for me and any learner because I believe learning is about preparing ourselves for whatever is ahead for us.
I love technology and have always experimented with tools and apps. However, I find that there are way too many apps to know and to determine which ones are appropriate for me. So I reached out to others in my Personal Learning Network (PLN) for help and about ideas on different apps to include in any backpack. First, I needed to spend some time experiencing some of the apps and see how they enhance and support what I do. Here is a screen capture of only four of the apps I wanted to learn more about and use.
Links to apps: PearDeck, Flipgrid, Wakelet, Buncee, and Trello
After I pulled together different apps, strategies, skills, and competencies, I aligned those with what I came up for my Learner Profile. I ended up adding more apps, tools, conferences, and other resources I realized I might need and included those in my Personal Learning Backpack. Here is an example of different apps, tools, and other resources with strategies, skills, and competencies that I included in my Personal Learning Backpack to guide me so I can learn on purpose.
This is just a beginning for me. This process helped me discover more about me. I figured when I start using these apps and learn how they can support me and others, I’ll be sharing more in other posts.
I found out the first thing I needed to do was to build my self-confidence around defining my purpose, my WHY. I wanted to go through the process of developing agency so I could help teachers. I wonder what my backpack will look like in a year.
I used this process in several workshops with teachers. So far, the feedback was great and helpful. I’ve been working with teachers who have adapted the “Me as a Learner” form and had their students create their Learner Profiles, capture evidence of learning as they learn in their portfolio, and are excited about the Personal Learning Backpack. I plan to share examples in future posts.
As I said before, I am still learning so I probably will make some changes with what I will need for my future. I am curious to see the backpacks learners create and the conversations they have about their learning.
Who knows what the future will hold for us?
How will you become future-ready?
What will you need to have agency?
I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way.
Really helpful article. Its importance had increased more in the current covid era. Thank you for sharing!