Not By the Hair of my Chinny-Chin-Chin!

This week in my master’s program Applied Digital Learning at Lamar University, we discussed how we are feeling with COVA and our growth mindset. Let me tell you, my mind is growing. It is equivalent to when we have our growth spurt that makes us super awkward looking. I am learning so much, but it is more than I can keep up with.  I am a bit impatient. I want to apply everything and have it be successful so I can enjoy the fruit of my labor; which can be contradicting with the practice of COVA. (For more information about COVA check this blog post)

Harapnuik in his ePortfolio includes a side-by-side comparison between traditional and COVA learning. I want to take this time to be transparent. An ePortfolio does wonders for expression and learning. It is liberating to have choice; however, it can have a negative effect. 

Figure 1

The concept of failure is overwhelming. In education, failure is a determining factor in students' academic journey; this is useless. We are creating future students that will be a lot like me. Afraid of failing and taking it to heart. I have been a teacher for ten years and it took six for me to acknowledge I can’t do everything and it is not all my fault. Towards the end of the year, the realization that my time to teach was coming to end would throw me in a downward spiral. I would second guess my efficiency, my impact, and my role as a teacher. My trajectory didn’t matter, because the thought of my students not succeeding their potential took over. These last four years, I have been able to accept the impact I have. I know that when I mess up, I have to fix it and learn from it. Some of my mistakes have led to the most impactful teaching moments. 

I am still not ‘cured’ from this fear of failing. (I dream about failing: not fun). These courses at Lamar University are demolishing theis fear, picture Miley Cyrus: Wrecking Ball. Am I ready? Not at all! But I will get this. Ironically, there is no choice; it is just a matter of when. My worklife is currently a steaming plate of chaos and mayhem; thus, the effort I want to put in is not the same as I can. It took six weeks of internal struggle for me to have peace with my current place. It is getting easier. I am learning more than I could ever have imagined. If it seems unbearable, give it time. Most importantly, be forgiving and accepting of your life. 

Sincerely, 

Coralis Mollitor

More on COVA see below:

Harapnuik, D. (2009-2024). COVA+CLSE Mindset vs Traditional. It’s About Learning. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7007 

Harapnuik, D., & Thibodeaux, T. (2023). COVA: Inspire Learning Through Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Experiences. (2nd edition)