Why "Own Your Learning"?

Because of the questions he asks in his almost constant state of reflection, Alan November is one of my favorite writers, speakers and thinkers in education. The most essential question he has raised over the time I have followed him is, “Who Owns the Learning?” This is even the title of one of his books. AND, this is one of the key questions educators, parents and students have to ask if we are to advance education in this country. We have to ask who currently owns the learning and who should own it?

Realistically, we should be able to say that every student owns his or her learning. As owners, they should be taking responsibility for it, with a bit of guidance from the educators.

I say, “Own Your Learning” because I want everyone’s learning to be active rather than passive. I want students to take control of what they learn and how they learn it. I want them to have a say in how they use it.  I want teachers to work to guide the students to their learning rather than trying to fill them with wisdom on their own. The teachers also have to understand, at all times, that no matter the elegance of the lesson or the assessment, ultimately it all comes down to student learning when we gauge efficacy.