Global Impacts: Efrat, Israel
Aviva Stern teaches 8th grade Biblical interpretation (פרשנות) at Orot Etzion Banot (Girls' School) in Efrat, Israel. She sat down with the Modern Classrooms Project to share her experience as a Modern Classrooms educator.
Q: How did you discover the Modern Classrooms Project (MCP)?
I discovered the Modern Classrooms Project when Kareem Farah was interviewed on Jennifer Gonzalez's podcast Cult of Pedagogy. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more. The model sounded sustainable and innovative, and I decided to go through the free course to learn even more. By then I was hooked! I joined the Facebook group of educators and listened back to the MCP podcast. The more I immersed myself in learning about the model, the more excited I was to dive in and bring it to my classroom.
Q: What first stood out to you / attracted you to MCP?
There were two things that initially attracted me to MCP. The first was the model itself, which synthesizes technology and excellent pedagogy, and gives teachers a framework for thinking about their teaching and implementing effective strategies in the classroom. The second was the organization itself and the community surrounding it. This wasn't another tech tool or a paid subscription. MCP is a non profit whose goal is to empower educators and improve learning for students. I immediately felt that they were invested and investing in educators, and this was a winning team that I wanted to join. This inital impression has most definitely been confirmed! I have received so much support from the Modern Classrooms staff and community of educators, and because of this I have been able to begin implementing the model successfully.
Q: As you started implementing the model, what impact did you notice it having on your own practice as a teacher?
I have always been blessed with the ability to "wing it" as a teacher. I can have a general unit plan and then get up in front of a class, teach, and engage students pretty successfully. But as I look to improve and deepen my practice, I realize that backwards planning is essential, teaching with the end in mind is critical, and "winging it" just isn't enough. MCP has forced me to focus on what is fundamental in terms of teaching towards mastery, and it has also enabled me to step off the stage and empower my students to become the drivers of their own learning. I appreciate that my presence as the teacher isn't lost; rather it is redirected into instructional videos and therefore given its proper, balanced place in the classroom. The professional support that MCP provides, informally through the Facebook group community and formally through the mentorship program, is invaluable!
Q: As you started implementing the model, what impact did you notice it having on your students?
I am at the beginning of my MCP journey. To start, I have implemented elements of the model in one of my subjects, and I continue to teach other subjects to the same students with a traditional, frontal approach. In this short time, I have already received feedback from students that they love learning in my MCP class. They prefer having videos that they can speed up, slow down or pause and rewatch, they enjoy being able to sit comfortably (they often spill out of my room into the hallways!) and work at their own pace. I have also noticed that some students really struggle with the unstructured time, and I am grateful for the opportunity to guide them in a self paced learning environment. Although it is challenging, they are gaining life skills which will stay with them long after they leave my classroom and graduate from a school setting.
Q: As you started implementing the model, what impact did you notice it having on your peers and/or wider school community?
When I first told my admin about MCP and my desire and intent to implement the model, they were extremely excited and supportive. As an English speaking teacher in a Hebrew speaking school, I am in a unique position to receive guidance and mentorship from the MCP team, and then turn around and provide PD to my school faculty, which I can translate and tailor to our specific needs. I really appreciate all the support I have received from Modern Classrooms, and I can attest to the fact that they really do want each and every teacher and school to customize the model and reach as many students as possible. My colleagues are intrigued and curious when I describe what is going on in my classroom, and I sincerely hope that I am able to support them if and when they decide to learn more and implement MCP.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about MCP’s impact?
Implementing MCP has been a turning point of my career. The Covid-19 pandemic challenged our notion of effective education and pushed us all out of our comfort zones. I, like so many educators worldwide, innovated in ways we didn't think were possible. Now I have a new appreciation for in-person learning and the immense value of teacher-student relationships, but I also value the opportunities that technology and outside the box thinking can provide. Modern Classrooms provides a framework which combines and leverages the best of both, and I am thrilled to be a part of it!