Legit

My teenagers use the word "legit". Is it a real word? We were recently on vacation and stopped by the Westin in St. Louis to pick up our rental car, then drove to our hotel, the Residence Inn. The kids described the Westin as "legit" as opposed to the Residence Inn, which I describe as "homey".


On my recent visit to Turning Point Learning Center, I considered the term legit as it relates to school. I would compare legit to the term authentic - closely related to real life. The learning activities I saw throughout the day are legit - not a one time special project, not put on as a show for visitors, but a real part of an authentic learning experience. I have visited the school for 10 days (more than any other visitor - my badge of honor). Each and everyday is full of learning opportunities that reflect real life - learning opportunities that are so engaging, I wish I were a young student again. Here are some great activities that I observed - just in the morning!
1. Brain Attack (my term) - Students are given 30 minutes to become an expert on a topic; this time it was some aspect of life in Haiti in preparation for the Global Nomads video conference. They work in a small group and share the responsibility for locating information, creating a deliverable (a paragraph description of the information) and adding the information to a Google document that is being collaboratively created by the whole class. The teacher is continually reminding the students to work together and work quickly. Talk about reflecting what many of us are expected to do in our "legit" jobs or other real life situations!
2. Teachers share how they organize the desktop of their computer with a tool called BumpTop 3D Desk Enhancement. They compare the desktop computer screen to the top of their desk at home or work and discuss their personal organizational styles and how this tool can enhance their own style. I know I could use a little more organization of my virtual and real desk tops.
3. Book Club - TPLC students are partnering with students at the local high school to read and discuss the book "The Art of Learning". Through Skype, both groups hold an interactive discussion about the first few chapters of the book. A book club is a natural extension of reading. I know when I am reading a book, I often feel compelled to share with others - my husband usually. When I find someone who has read the same book, I seek out that connection - What was your favorite part? Why do you think that happened? Did you like the ending? Sharing with each other is a natural or "legit" part of reading.
4. Collaborative Sticky Notes - Wallwisher is a website where users can post virtual sticky notes with brief messages or links to other websites. The teachers and students at TPLC prepared a wallwisher to share with students at the local university in the Introduction to Teaching course. In about 25 minutes, the class brainstormed a virtual collection of online presentation tools that (future) teachers could use to present information. The group agreed that the tools should be universal (not specific to Mac or PC). One student started the wall and others added sticky notes to create an amazing collection of tools - many of which I have never heard of! This activity reminded me of the power of collaboration - each of us adds a bit of what we know to make a powerful collection of knowledge. Thus what we know becomes more "legit". http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/intro2teaching

I want the learning for my college students to be legit. I have always tried to make the assignments in my class authentic - ones that closely relate to what they will actually do as teachers. Now I want to focus more on what they will do as learners when they are leaders in their own classroom.