I like to try new things in my classroom. I like to learn. Mistakes are a crucial part of that, and a humbling one. It is risky business to do something you've never done before and to try to become proficient at it. Yet, is that what we ask of our students on a regular basis? If it isn't, shouldn't it be?
I do not like to settle into familiar paths, especially if I see my students failing to thrive in those paths. My course changes as they need me to change it. Sometimes these changes lead me in directions that are uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and have a high potential of being (in my student's words) an epic...fail. Despite the skill I may feel I have in determining learning gaps and prescribing individualized anecdotes, sometimes things do not go as I planned. It is a scary place and can leave me feeling silly for trying in the first place. Little voices around me can tout, "Stick with what you've always done"..."It's easier just to recycle your plans"..."Why go to all that work for the same pay?"..."Who are you trying to impress?"
But then again, there are those risks you take that pay off in extraordinary measures. Some of the finest moments I have had in the classroom have come from a risk I took, a gut-feeling that paid off.
Consider my most recent risk - a CyberSurgeons simulation with my Anatomy & Physiology students. A tip from a colleague spurred my research into this potential experience for my students, and I went for it. There were funding set backs, which ended up resolving themselves when CyberSurgeons provided our initial mission using their own education grant funding. There were moments when I wondered if the weeks of preparation beforehand would be worth the experience,...an experience I had not had for myself. The encouragement of a parent (who is also our Tech Coordinator) compelled me to move forward.
The literature that I read about CyberSurgeons was limited, but from what I saw, it looked like a great opportunity. Should it be a hit, I thought ahead to inviting possible benefactors to watch the simulation for potential funding in the future. So, I went through the teacher training and then I trained my students. Overall, I was just excited for the mission. And then reality set in.
I had invited community members, local representatives from the school board, a few foundations, the local hospital, and my own administrators in to watch something I didn't know would fail or be successful. In addition, I did not even have my own experience with it to bank on, as it would be my first time, too. I had invited an audience in to watch a first time experience for my students and myself. The night before the mission, this is the thought that kept me awake throughout the night.
The morning of the mission came, and I knew my students were a bit nervous, too. However, both the morning and afternoon missions went off without a hitch! My students were incredible in their missions and had nothing but positive feedback to share two days later in our reflective conversation. I confessed to them how it was one of the most rewarding experiences I had had as a teacher in my twelve years, and I thanked them for taking a leap with me into something that was unknown to us all. I am so thankful to each of them for going with it and for their hard work.
I do not know if they realize what a risk I felt I was taking on both them and myself, but they were taking a risk too. They were doing something new and most reported, "It was a rush." CyberSurgeons, for those science teachers out there, is an experience worth checking out! I had several students tell me they were looking into jobs like clinical interventionist and medical surgical specialist after learning through the simulation what valuable positions these are in the medical field. Bonus!
And lastly, I'll leave this thought. Taking risks is a gamble you take on yourself. Can you imagine if we as teachers model this for students, how many of them may become that much more comfortable with taking risks (or chances) on themselves? How far could we see ourselves go? or grow? How far would they go? Can our courage beget their courage? Our risks beget theirs? Should we provide encouragement to try, and help them to find the lesson even amongst possible utter failure, I believe more of our students would take risks with us. Otherwise, the fear of failure can leave many of them paralyzed yet comfortable in the stagnation of daily education.
Tomorrow, most of us will be in an in-service. Let us dare to learn something new and pay attention to an opportunity for taking risks, and remember the fun in learning along with our students. Go on, you risk-taker you...
