A good example of a young learner’s ingenuity is with the science fair competition in fifth / sixth grade. Liked the idea of a young student who won a science fair this year proving that Tom Brady cheated by deflating the footballs. (I do not think) a teacher gave the student the project as an assignment. STEM is being introduced as early as K-6. Let’s allow students to find answers to their own questions– let them explore and discover whenever possible. Give all students in K-16 an opportunity to choose their learning tasks whenever possible.
Skills Label TM is a platform where learners make a basis of comparison between tasks –self-directed learning. There will always be required learning (tasks) that must be completed to satisfy a curriculum. However, there should be designated time for unrequired learning and with required learning, allow for students to choose from several tasks that accomplish the same learning objectives (choose one of ten possible tasks or projects). For example, in math, there are an endless number of tasks to apply algebra, geometry, or calculus.
There is no current standardized process or common display format for a provider to represent or illustrate what has been learned from a user’s completion of an educational task, or for a user to easily make a comparison of educational tasks against one another. There is significant value in establishing a consistent approach for analyzing an educational resource and representation of learning from the resource, as it provides a basis for comparisons and is useful in all learning stages. Learning labels is the solution.
Currently, there is a learning label layout for K-6 students and another one for 7-16 students (middle school, high school and college) and professionals. The graphic shows examples of the comparison of learning labels for each of these different stages. At every stage, the labels are meant to be read and understood by the learner (as well as the parents and teachers).
A learning label is a highly effective standard display, it reads well – understandable to children to adults, informs, creates uniformity (measurements), and aids in making a basis of comparison.