Make the Most of Learning Time

Meet the Maker

Matt Watson, Maker Outreach Director

Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
Fred Aldrich was my high school history and government teacher. Most of my classmates avoided his class like the plague. He was strict and demanding. But he taught us to think analytically. And he taught with such incredible passion that it inspired me to teach as well.

What are your three favorite movies?
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Three Amigos, and Bull Durham. (I know, right?)

If you could spend a week either in the past or the future, which would you choose?
Definitely the future! I’ve already lived in the past; it didn’t impress me much.

If you could ask your pet three questions, what would they be?
Who’s a good boy?
Who’s a good boy?
Who’s a good boy?

What is the “why” for this week’s “Making Magic”?
We have such precious little time with our learners, and that has never been truer than right now while many of our learners are on all-virtual or hybrid schedules. We must make sure that we make the most of the time we do have. We need to be constantly analyzing how we are using that time to make sure that we get the most out of it.

This Week’s Focus

Maximizing Learning Time

Driving Question

How can we maximize learning time during live/synchronous sessions?

Watch

“How to Get Better at the Things You Care About” is an 11-minute TED Talk that focuses on how we can improve/learn more efficiently by being intentional about the time we spend in the “learning zone” vs. the “performance zone.” What if we were to do this as a habit of mind? And what if we inspired our learners to do the same?

Read

I invite you to read this post from McRel International, which focuses on the key things teachers should think about within the
“Be Intentional Imperative.” In addition to the article, the infographic within summarizes the imperatives well. Click below:

More Magic

Take this self-guided journey to challenge yourself to plan more intentionally. It is a 30-minute, asynchronous professional-learning opportunity that helps bring about a mind shift. Click below:

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Being Makers

Being Makers is a team of change-making leaders from Maker Learning Network and iLEAD Schools focused on project-based learning and social-emotional growth.

Latest posts by Being Makers (see all)

• How Do We Adapt PBL to a Constantly Shifting Environment? Three Suggestions for 2022! - January 18, 2022
• First Things First: Research-Based Strategies to Address Post-Pandemic SEL Needs - January 10, 2022
• Design Thinking and Project-Based Learning - December 14, 2021
• The Magical Power of the Read Aloud - December 9, 2021
• 5 Tips for Staying Motivated When the Going Gets Tough - December 1, 2021