Connections and Collaboration
Research. Poetry. Scientists. How will these topics connect with the Lead4Change Curriculum and 21st Century Skills? These topics, and other topics within your curriculum blend with Lesson 3: “Be an Avid Learner.” David Novak’s emphasis on how a great leader never stops learning is evident throughout this lesson and within the activities. Research and working as a team are essential parts of the educational process.
In the 10-lesson track, Lesson 3 has students working together to research, dig, and learn more about an issue in their school or community. Lesson goals include:
- Collaboration with team members to seek and build know-how about their issue.
- Identify specific ways students can seek and build know-how beyond the classroom.
Lesson 3 brings students together to become lifelong learners while developing their own research skills.
Students will be using the collaboration skills, teamwork, and critical thinking as they delve into finding the where, why, and who their topic most affects. Questions they answer include: “Who will benefit from our help?” and “Who are some community organizations we can partner with on our project?”
However, leaders do not stop at seeking out knowledge, they want to analyze and apply that information. They are always asking, “So what, now what?” They want to know why the information is important and how it can be used to make a difference. In addition, the lesson emphasizes the importance of listening to others. Both the 6-lesson and the 10-lesson track pose the question: What is ONE thing I can do to be sure I am listening to the thoughts and ideas of others? At this point, teachers may have students stop, reflect, and share some possible ideas of what it looks like and sounds like to be a good listener.
As students work together to share their findings and brainstorm how they can make a difference, the teacher can step back and watch it happen. As teacher Debbie Harris states in her video, ‘often the quietest student speaks-up with an idea they all connect with’. This collaboration is what teachers strive to make happen.
As you are in your classroom teaching poetry, reading a novel or researching a scientist, remember to connect these leadership lessons with your core subject lessons. Found on the resource page, the Interdisciplinary Guide has many suggestions how to extend and connect the Lead4Change lessons with your curriculum.
If you are teaching the 6-lesson track, this lesson is combined into Lesson 2.
Listen to Debbie’s enthusiasm and share your insights with us on how your students worked together while reading and researching to become a cohesive team.
“Watching students work as a team is the best part!” -Debbie Harris, Houston TX.