COVA: Choice (C), Ownership (O), and Voice (V) through Authentic (A) learning opportunities

What is COVA? It is defined as, "a learner centered active learning approach that gives the learner choice (C), ownership (O), and voice (V) through authentic (A) learning opportunities. (Harapnuik, C. 2018)

In short, it's helping student learners reach their potential while having a choice in their learning, which in return creates ownership and interest in their understanding of content. Their voice is what allows them to create authentic learning and therefore, it will create a better understanding of the topic and solidify that content and personal growth.

Does the COVA model appeal to you and could this work toward fixing the issues identified with traditional didactic models of teaching and learning?

So, I try to incorporate this model into my teaching style for the last 8 years, The funny thing is I never knew this model existed before this course/ lesson. I teach Digital Art & Animation as well as Video Game Design. Because we are an elective, I want my students to push themselves out of their box of comfort. One of the things I tell my students in class is that I will never be made, take off points, or get on to them for going further than where we are in the lesson. I understand that they don’t have Photoshop at home and so they are not able to play with that software except in our classroom. Therefore, if there is something they want to learn to do, or if there is youtube video they want to research on how to do in Photoshop, then to do it. If my students give me more then what I’m asking for then I’m happy. It shows me they are trying to master their skills but also take learning into their own hands.

What part of the COVA learning approach might challenge you the most?

To be honest, this lesson was a challenge. Our discussion board was due yesterday, but I was still researching this topic to better understand the meaning of what COVA is. Therefore, I didn’t get to post my entry until today. I would say that some challenges would be my ELL/ ESL learners. Since I don’t speak Spanish I often have to use Google translate to explain the lesson, and when it comes to the instructions/ videos I post on how to do our work, it’s not always available for them in their native language. So, sometimes I’m spending 15-20 google translating on the basics of the lesson for them to be able to create what I’m asking for.

Which part(s) do you perceive as beneficial? What resources (content, video, media, etc.) might you use to help you develop your own voice in your ePortfolio?

I love the idea of making a website and incorporating videos I make, YouTube videos, or photos of my work, and links to my work. It lets the viewer see the information in different formats. I love this idea of being able to come up with my own way of displaying/ showcasing my information.

Consider the role that COVA plays in the Learner's Mindset.

I think with traditional school (as stated in the Youtube clip by Seth Godin), school and the setup of how it operates was the result of the industrial revolution. They needed workers so they sent them to school to teach them how to do the job they needed. We do that exact same thing in our classrooms. We tell the students exactly what we want, how we want it, etc. There is no out of the box thinking. No creative way of looking at stuff. There is only one way to get the math answer, even if there is really two ways. I also believe that there are teachers out there looking at this concept and trying to change it. They understand that there are different roads that lead us to the same destination and we don’t all go down the same one. So when the teacher lets students explore their own way of ownership, then the student has started to become the master of their learning. They will be excited to continue on that journey and pursue their learning on the topic.

Do you have a Learner's Mindset? If not, what can you do to adopt it, and if so how can you improve it?

I would say yes. For starters I am enrolled in this program to further my education. To think outside the box of what I know to learn and grow on information I did not know before. Case and point, this topic (COVA). I didn’t know there was a term for it until this lesson, but have been doing it for some time in my classroom. Keep researching ways to reach students that is not in the traditional sense. Maybe even take a psychology course to understand how the mind works when making connections and growing, etc.

References:

Harapunuik, C. (2018). COVA. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991#:~:text=COVA%20%E2%80%94%20is%20a%20learner%20centered,authentic%20(A)%20learning%20opportunities.

Seth, G. (October 16, 2012) STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS. [Video]. YouTube Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXpbONjV1Jc