Reflections on COVA

The COVA Model makes a distinction between Guidance through Discovery and Step by Step Instructions. When students are dependent on the teacher for each stage, they can't possibly make connections for themselves. They are focusing on staying on task or checking off the boxes of actions that needed to be completed. Natural discovery comes from when the teacher acts as a facilitator to learning and provides guidance through "landmarks along the way" as Harapnuik puts it. The teacher needs well defined "landmarks" through a lesson, unit, activity, etc. where students can self assess to know if they are on the right track. These self assessments could be differentiated depending on the level of the student or class.

In my AP Macroeconomics class, there is this one particular unit that throws a lot of content at the students over a very short time period. Many kids over the years can't see the forest through the trees. When I first started teaching, I would usually do some intense review session in class which was based in step-by-step instruction and explanation. For the sake of classroom management, I would try to keep everyone on the same step as I retaught and made connections For them... I'm shaking my head as I write this... What was I thinking? As of late, I offer them a chance to assess themselves which certain skills and their comfort level with assignments. I have broken up the class into 3 separate groups: The Hungry, The Comfortable, and the Terrified. (Those are my names for them, they just usually identify themselves as Thumbs up, sideways, or down). I offer "landmarks" in terms of skills and abilities that they should be comfortable or more comfortable with by the end of the lesson. I differentiate those skills based on which group they identify as and focus on growth from where we were to where we reach.

In the past, when I focused on step-by-step instruction as I made connections for them, my focus was on classroom management. Little did I know that when you offer guidance and choice with how they make connections, classroom management no longer becomes an issue. Students enjoy learning. They enjoy being given a choice. This turns a lesson into making connections and growing through guided discovery. Sometimes the best teacher comes from when the teacher can let go and give the student the opportunity to take ownership in their learning.

References:

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (n.d.). COVA: Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning [Https://gallery.mailchimp.com/1bdbac4d4fbdff334a642eb11/files/8b18ae2a-8696-4d58-9b80-192f4cc6624c/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.02.pdf]. Creative Commons License. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from 6/18/2020