SOLE
This acronym stands for Self Organized Learning Environment.
The concept means putting complete control in the learner's hands. In my reading today, the author paints a portrait of a fictitious child named Maam who speaks about electrons in her self organized learning group and is confronted by new learning when she asks her group about their understanding of the concept. Later, the concept comes up again on the playground during recess and the group laughs about her comment, "My goodness, I didn't know that at all." The laughter is whole hearted and the group continues to play, seemingly interspersing their learning with their play. After all, it is self-organized.
I try to imagine what my tech-obsessed teen students would do in a self-organized learning environment. Computers...or possibly just smart phones, would be a must. They would probably speak of their learning and simultaneously text "their mom" during the entire learning process. It is difficult to imagine that work or learning would be accomplished at all. They would feel no need to practice because their maturity makes them think they they understand a concept if they think they understand a concept.
Yes, already, you can hear the sounds of my reluctance to try this method of teaching. Not to mention, school rules forbid the unadulterated use of personal devices in the picture I just painted. I am so engaged by the content of this book, yet I am struggling with my possibly jaded idea that kids will be kids, and though they might love learning, they might not love learning about Shakespeare as much as figuring out how to operate the cool new piece of technology installed in their walls. Shakespeare is this old guy that the world has told them is obsolete. The computer is the shining beacon of the future - who wouldn't want to self-organize their learning around that?
I have much to learn.
Crystal
