Last week, I decided to bring my guitar to class. I had hoped to share what I was learning with my students, but the demonstration developed into something much richer than I had expected.
Our class teaching our art teacher chords on the guitar #NipRockArt @ColleenKR pic.twitter.com/oKFEkzW4Xb
— kayla-lynn (@kaylatoykkala) May 8, 2015
On a whim, we experimented with Periscope, allowing us to share our discussions and lessons with anyone who tuned in. Unfortunately, our first broadcast wasn’t recorded, but with a simple adjustment to the settings on my phone, I was able to save the rest of the videos to my camera roll.
.
.
.
When we were asked if the camera man was the teacher, it gave us something to think about. It was a case of mistaken identity… or was it?
Our school board has been learning about growth mindset & conditions for learning. We’ve also considered the shift from teaching to learning. I thought it was pretty cool that it’s happening with my students. Somehow, by exposing my weakness, we became stronger together.
@ColleenKR here’s some chords pic.twitter.com/uEpJH4bNMP — Bordie Lawrence (@BORDIE98) May 8, 2015
.
.
.
.
.
You get discouraged [from] failing. That’s what I don’t like about school. … You have to learn how to fail to progress. ~ Bordie
.
.
[Teachers] are so used to being a teacher, they’re not used to learning.
You’re teaching kids, but you can learn a lot from them too. ~Bordie
~
~
Our discussions brought some great insights and questions. This one is our edgiest (as seen on “Teacher Learning pt. 4” at 19:28):
“How do you teach your teacher a different way to teach?”
We immediately wanted responses, so we sent out a few tweets…
How do you teach your teacher a different way to teach? @ColleenKR#niprockart
— Chels Marie☆ (@chelsey9989) May 14, 2015
How do you teach your teacher a different way to teach? @ColleenKR#NipRockArt
— jo zechner (@joryzechner) May 14, 2015
~
Some people would see this as a waste of time.
But it’s not.
.
It helps to have a bit of encouragement from friends too…
@ColleenKR Tweet me when you own F bar chord.😜
— royan lee (@royanlee) May 6, 2015
@ColleenKR There’s no greater feeling when u finally get that F chord. It’s like cruising on that 2-wheeler for the first time.
— royan lee (@royanlee) May 6, 2015
— royan lee (@royanlee) May 6, 2015
@ColleenKR Seriously though, good luck and congrats for learning from your students.
— royan lee (@royanlee) May 6, 2015
@ColleenKR Thank you for the lunchtime entertainment of a few chords and conversation via Periscope replay — jlucas (@jlucas) May 7, 2015
@ColleenKR I’m watching! Supercool! — Lisa Noble (@nobleknits2) May 13, 2015
@ColleenKR being able to see your growth (more and more chords) is huge! — Lisa Noble (@nobleknits2) May 13, 2015
@ColleenKR it was amazing – thanks for letting me sit in. 🙂 (you need to bring your guitar for Jam at #bit15)
— Lisa Noble (@nobleknits2) May 13, 2015
Our Superintendent, Nancy Petrick, stopped by to find out about our project!
~
Northern Art Teacher 
I’m still thinking about how great it felt to be sitting in my classroom, wishing I was sitting in the sun with you in convo #3. I think to me this is how we really co-learn with our students, by genuinely sharing our knowledge, and talking about what that means to us. The conversation you were having was deep and honest and kind of blew me away. Thanks so much for sharing what you’re doing.
Pingback: Walk The Walk | Northern Art Teacher