Thomas and Brown (2011) stated,” learning is more than just regurgitating facts, figures, and data”(p. 31). As sheltered ESL emergent bilingual teachers, we are confronted with the issue of how to engage, grow, and provide fulfilling educational experiences while trying to establish background knowledge to communicate with newcomers effectively. English learner educators have witnessed technology increase communication, but the language barrier often overshadows students' ability to feel comfortable and vulnerable. Research shows that immigrant and refugee students with little to no English language proficiency turn out best when given opportunities to provide students with multiple options for taking in information, processing and making sense of ideas, and sharing what they are learning (Thacker, 2022).
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According to Thomas and Brown's (2011) research, play, questioning, and imagination lies at the heart of lifelong learning. Children embrace play as a central part of how they experience the world and constantly questioning the world is one key way to understand it. A new culture of learning states that people learn through their interactions and participation with one another in fluid relationships that are of shared interest and opportunity (p. 50).
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​My ePortfolio innovation plan allows students to display prior knowledge from their native country. They will share their stories through pictures and written experiences of transitioning to their new home country. Assess and give feedback on classmates who speak other languages with whom they usually do not communicate with. According to the research of Harapnuik, COVA — is a learner-centered active learning approach that gives the learner choice (C), ownership (O), and voice (V) through authentic (A) learning opportunities. In the ePortfolio, students have a choice, establish ownership, and share their learning authentically with their peers, teachers, and parents. COVA will allow students to take control of their learning by giving them choices over how they show what they know in the learning environment (Harapnuik, 2021). This approach allows for extensive self-evaluation and self-reflection (Fernandez, 2022). ePortfolios foster engagement and motivation in the classroom environment, something most students have never experienced. They now have control over their learning.
​​I will encounter challenges from teachers who may resist change in the classroom because many are reluctant to change routines. Some tenured staff may resist changing their routines, primarily if they've worked hard on a particular approach for the past 10-20 years or more. Another challenge on the horizon is that teachers are already exhausted. Teachers may feel like they're juggling too many responsibilities and don't want to take on another task. With the new culture of learning, teachers no longer need to scramble to provide the latest up-to-date information to students because the students themselves are actively helping create and mold it (Thomas & John Seely Brown, 2011). With the ESL department and administrative support, we can communicate the benefits and demonstrate how the change will benefit students, focusing on student outcomes. Also, teachers should be involved in the change process and provided with support and resources to inspire students and help them reap the rewards of this cultural shift in learning. I will model and promote diverse learning methods, encourage self-reflection, and foster collaboration with teachers to get them to think more broadly.​
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​Creating a significant learning environment (CSLE) is just as important as the material knowledge you are trying to instill (Thibodeaux et al., 2019). An educator must build positive relationships through class discussion, peer interactions, and staying connected with the students. Create projects students can be excited to start. Have order and routine. Promote a growth mindset. An ePortfolio is the best way for students to interact with each other, using technology and creative strategies and presenting information with a sense of ownership. Learning by doing hands-on activities is a teaching method where students learn new skills and abilities by actively participating in hands-on experiences. It helps students retain more information by practicing what they've learned by thinking critically and solving problems through trial and error. Students can learn to communicate and collaborate with others while working together to solve problems and, in turn, become more motivated and interested in learning, all while developing a better understanding of the material. Through the process of making, we are also learning how to craft context so that it carries more of the message, which helps solve many issues of information overload (Thomas & John Seely Brown, 2011).
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My approach is vital in empowering students to reach their full potential. By fostering a culture of innovation, acceptance, and strong connections, teachers can cultivate lifelong learners who are imaginative and empowered by their learning interests. This perspective is essential to the success of creating a new culture of learning.
References
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Fernandez, G. (2022, August 25). A Digital Digest: Using ePortfolio Assessments In The 21st-Century English Classroom. ELearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/digital-digest-using- eportfolio-assessments-in-21st-century-english-classroom
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Harapnuik, D. (2021). COVA. Harapnuik.org. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991
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Harapnuik, D. (2024). It’s About Learning. Harapnuik.org. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7007
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Thacker, S. (2022). A Report from the Field: How ePortfolios Can Improve Student Transition from Secondary to Post-Secondary Education in Alaska. International Journal of EPortfolio, 12(1), 17– 33.https://eric.ed.gov/?q=e-portfolio+alaska&pr=on&ft=on&id=EJ1370165
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Thibodeaux, T., Harapnuik, D., & Cummings, C. (2019, January 1). Student Perceptions of the Influence of the COVA Learning Approach on Authentic Projects and the Learning Environment. www.learntechlib.org; Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/181977/
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Thomas, D., & John Seely Brown. (2011). A new culture of learning: cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Douglas Thomas And John Seely Brown.