When Proctoring Midterms Leads to Journaling

In a "teacher's" world at the end of 2015, we are called and challenged to change the way we teach our students, in order to develop future leaders of the world that is going to look far different than the one we currently live in. As I sit and proctor students taking midterms, I realize that what I have just done, because of the directive of only what has been done, is in no way shape or form, encouraging students to be creative, innovative, or forward thinkers. I have asked them to remember what they have learned, answer questions on a sheet of paper, and apply it to a scenario that means nothing to them, but a grade on a test. 

A self-imposed (and not so self-imposed by the message others in the field are sending)  challenge proposed by our future way of teaching is not overcome due to my own limitations based off of norms for what has been required when giving students midterms to test their knowledge. What would accomplish meeting and surpassing that challenge would be to test their ability to see a problem in the real world and come up with possible, testable solutions. It would be having them share those ideas with others and initiating a change in our society, whether it is a calling for a change in action, or a change in thought processes, but in both cases, to deal with real world, relevant issues.

Mighty are they to be wise enough, strong enough, and empowered enough to make strides and changes in our field to do just that. Those that challenge students in ways that will benefit them in the future, and challenge our own constraints to be the type of teachers they need to overcome those challenges. I have ideas, I have goals, I have a different perspective of how and what I want to be teaching my students, and… I am scared to fail. I am just like my students. I do what I need to do to succeed, but succeed in the world that we have known is not the same as being successful, as being courageous, and ingenious. This hereto is my own personal challenge: to be brave enough to take a leap, try, and possibly fail, but continue to try new ways of being the type of teacher these kids need. Knowing that the time it will take to become this forerunner in becoming the best educator I can, will be dominating. The energy needed to do it all, in the face of opposition and naysayers, will be surmountable, like Mt. Everest, but surmountable nonetheless. Blessed am I, however, for having a team that supports me, encourages me, motivates me, and never doubts my ability to accomplish my goals and meet my ambitious notions, both at home and at work. With this, and the New Year approaching, I am determined to be a different type of educator than I have been in the past