COVA Reflection

Throughout my journey in Applied Digital Learning, I have experienced the COVA approach firsthand as a student. This model has empowered me to take ownership of my learning, express my voice, and engage in meaningful, authentic experiences. As I reflect on this journey, I see how valuable COVA is in fostering deeper learning and student engagement. I look forward to incorporating this approach into my own classroom, providing my students with opportunities to take charge of their learning and develop essential skills for success.

What is COVA?

COVA stands for Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Learning, all of which are essential in enhancing the learning experience.

Choice allows students to have a say in their learning process, increasing their engagement and motivation. While students are given the freedom to make decisions, their choices are shaped by the learning environment and guidance from the instructor, helping them make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.

Ownership is about students taking control of their own learning journey. When learners feel responsible for solving problems, they become more motivated and engaged, which strengthens their persistence and sense of personal responsibility.

Voice gives students the opportunity to express their ideas and structure their learning in a way that makes sense to them. This not only deepens their understanding but also allows them to share their perspectives with others, fostering collaboration and a greater sense of purpose.

Authentic Learning connects education to real-world experiences, making learning more meaningful and relevant. By engaging with real-world problems, students develop practical skills and prepare for their future careers.

My COVA Experience

I first experienced true choice, ownership, and voice through authentic assignments when I created my ePortfolio. With minimal requirements and restrictions, this was one of the first opportunities where I had the freedom to design and develop something meaningful without following a strict checklist. This experience allowed me to take full ownership of my work, carefully considering every detail and making intentional decisions about how to present my learning. While this freedom was exciting, it

also felt overwhelming at times. I was uncertain whether I was on the right track, which made me anxious in the beginning.

To navigate this uncertainty, I relied on my peers for feedback, asking them to review my work and provide insights. Engaging in this collaborative process pushed me to critically evaluate my own work and consider how it aligned with my goals. Over time, I adjusted to this new approach by seeking out exemplars and using feedback to refine my work. Looking back, I wish I had reached out to my peers for feedback sooner, as I initially hesitated due to past experiences where collaboration was not emphasized. However, once I embraced it, I realized how valuable it was in helping me produce more authentic and meaningful work.

A significant authentic learning experience in this program was developing my innovation plan to address a real issue within my organization. This project was not just an academic exercise—it was a genuine effort to create meaningful change. Writing and teaching kids how to type had been largely overlooked due to our strict curriculum, yet I knew this was a critical skill that couldn’t be ignored. Students need opportunities to write, self-correct, and build a strong foundation in computer literacy to succeed in their education and beyond. My innovation plan was designed to fill this gap by not only proposing a solution but also creating a structured implementation plan and professional development resources to support educators in integrating blended learning into their classrooms. This experience pushed me to think critically, plan strategically, and develop resources that could have a lasting impact, ensuring students are prepared for the future.

The COVA approach aligns with my learning philosophy in many ways. As a young learner in GT classes, we were given a simple topic and the freedom to create something that displayed our understanding, with only a few requirements. This approach encouraged creativity and allowed me to explore different ways to demonstrate my learning. However, as we got older, learning became more structured—focusing on essays or simple PowerPoint presentations, which left little room for creativity. What stayed with me, though, was the realization that giving students choice fosters deeper learning and true understanding. Because of this, I’ve always believed in providing my students with options, allowing them to go beyond my expectations. Read more about my learning philosophy here.

Leading Change

Leading change in my organization with my innovation plan will be a challenge due to several factors, including the technology aspect and the natural resistance to change, as many educators are comfortable with their current methods. However, to work beyond these challenges, I will focus on providing clear guidance, ongoing support, and professional development that makes the transition to blended learning more accessible and manageable. By demonstrating the benefits of integrating typing and digital literacy into the curriculum, offering hands-on training, and fostering a collaborative environment, I will encourage educators to embrace this change. To ensure successful implementation, I will use strategies such as the Influencer Strategy and the 4DX Model, which can be found in my Leading Organizational Change page. These approaches will help align the team, reinforce key behaviors, and keep everyone focused on achieving the goal. Ultimately, my goal is to create a supportive culture where teachers feel confident and empowered to implement new strategies that will benefit students and prepare them for the future.

COVA and Creating a Significant Learning Environment

COVA and Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) go hand in hand in fostering student success by creating an environment that promotes active engagement, ownership, and meaningful learning experiences. In my innovation plan, I will use both

COVA and CSLE to transform the learning environment at my school by fostering a culture that empowers students to take ownership of their education. To guide my innovation plan and ensure alignment with desired outcomes, I used Fink's Significant Learning Outcomes framework and Understanding by Design. These approaches helped me focus on creating a student-centered environment and designing activities that support deeper learning. By combining all of these strategies into my initiative for rotational blended learning, we make a shift that allows teachers to fill the role or facilitator allowing students more control over their learning.

One of the biggest challenges in adopting the CSLE + COVA approach in my organization is the strict curriculum we are required to follow. Each day, we are given specific content to teach and outlined methods for delivery, leaving little room for flexibility. This structured approach, which has been in place since this school year, is expected to continue into the next. Although opportunities to teach in our own way are rare, on the few days when we do have that freedom, we can truly give students the choice to create and take ownership of their learning. Despite these challenges, I plan to continue using CSLE + COVA strategies and integrate them into daily classroom activities to enhance student learning. By working with my admin team, we will develop a plan to expand on our current blended learning initiative, making it possible for my writing innovation plan to come to life. I will also support my colleagues by sharing resources, leading workshops, and fostering a collaborative community focused on these innovative approaches. You can read more about innovative education in my blog post.

Knowing what you know now about the COVA approach how will you plan to use the COVA approach to create significant learning environments in your organization?

Knowing what I know now about the COVA approach, I plan to use it to create significant learning environments in my organization by incorporating the rotational model of blended learning to foster a student-centered, collaborative atmosphere. This model will give students authentic learning opportunities, allowing them to collaborate on projects and tasks while also providing them with the flexibility to work at their own pace. For example, I will implement a typing course where students can choose when and how they work on it, taking ownership of their progress. By offering choice in how they engage with content, I will empower students to take control of their learning journey, while the collaborative environment will help them develop essential communication and teamwork skills. This approach will not only make learning more meaningful but also promote self-direction and accountability.

How will you give your learners choice ownership and voice through authentic assignments?

I will give my learners choice, ownership, and voice through projects and collaborative opportunities, such as group discussions. Students will choose topics and formats that interest them, allowing for personal engagement while meeting learning goals. They’ll take ownership by setting goals and reflecting on their progress. Through discussions and peer feedback, they will have a platform to share ideas and influence their learning, making the experience more meaningful and student-driven.

How will you prepare your learners and colleagues for the COVA approach and CSLE?

To prepare my learners and colleagues for the COVA approach and CSLE, I will start by introducing the concepts through professional development sessions and class activities. For colleagues, I will share resources, provide workshops, and model how to integrate COVA and CSLE into their teaching practices. I’ll offer strategies for creating student-centered environments, where they can foster choice, ownership, and voice, and demonstrate how to design authentic learning experiences.

For students, I’ll gradually introduce COVA by giving them opportunities to make choices in their learning, encourage self-reflection, and create projects that reflect their interests. I will also create collaborative environments that promote peer feedback and active participation, reinforcing the principles of CSLE. By modeling these approaches and providing support, I will help both learners and colleagues understand and embrace these innovative methods for fostering deeper, more engaging learning experiences.

As I reflect on the journey of integrating COVA and CSLE into my teaching and organization, I am excited about the possibilities for creating more engaging, meaningful, and student-centered learning experiences. By empowering students with choice, ownership, and voice, and fostering collaborative environments, we can cultivate lifelong learners who are motivated, self-directed, and prepared for real-world challenges. As I continue to work with my colleagues and students, I am committed to adapting and refining these approaches, ensuring they are impactful and sustainable.

References

Harapnuik, D. (July 14, 2018). It's about learning. Retrieved June 25, 2024, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991

Fink, L. D. (2003). Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses. Jossey-Bass.