Session 4 Aim Academy Roundup - EES & DS
Aim Family -
Was this session more about learning to do, learning to be or learning to learn? (A question posed to the Eagles on the last day...)
The iterative process of designing, building, coding, testing and reviewing played out daily in the EES & DS Studios this session - not only in their Robotics Quest/Adventure, but also within their silent learning and their studio systems.
The Eagles naturally dove into this iterative process with their robots. And, of course, it had to be iterative. They intuitively knew their robot's performance wouldn't perfectly match their design plan the first time they launched it. Yet, they embraced the process with enthusiasm and grit. They put in the work needed.
And as they learned and practiced this iterative process with their robots, that way of thinking and handling problems transferred to other areas. Once you learn how to learn, you can learn anything. And once you learn how to handle problems and face challenges, you can handle anything that arises.
So, when problems and challenges surfaced within their studio systems this session, the Eagles faced it the same way they had learned to handle it with their robot's design -- debating, planning, implementing, testing & reviewing.
This process is messy (especially when it involves abstract concepts, ideas and systems), and it's usually harder for those watching. Bystanders (often adults) who "know more" will want to jump in and 'show how it's done' or try to take over from the sidelines. But they've got this!! At times, they do need some support - someone who can shine a light on parts they might not see, ask questions to encourage them to think through their plan, and invite reflection on what worked and what didn't. This kind of support allows the Eagles, the ones in the arena, to continue to be in control and grow from the experience.
Was this session really about learning to learn? What about all the things the Eagles learned to do? Create, code, build, lead, write, calculate, manage their time, etc. Each Eagle learned many skills over the last 6 weeks in a variety of areas. About half the Eagles voted that this was the focus.
And yet through this learning and skill building and iterative process, could it have really been more about learning to become someone? Was the focus more on learning to be a creator or a coder or a builder or a leader? About half the Eagles voted that this was the focus.
So what's the difference between doing the coding and being a coder? Between designing the robot and being a robot designer? Between leading your team and being a leader?
What would your Eagle say? Did they learn to do something or did they learn to be someone this session? Or was the learning to learn what was important to them?
Watching your Eagles, these young heroes, each on their own road of trials, facing down the obstacles in their robot game and in their studios-- watching them not draw back when encountering struggles in learning, challenges within their studio or stumbling through an exhibition-- this is what inspires me. They learn, they fall, they get up, they do it again. And again. And again. They are resilient.
When I face similar challenges in my own life, it is to these young heroes that I look for inspiration. And I hope you do too.
Serena Cofer
Aim Academy Guide
