I will put “think win-win” into practice when helping fellow staff learn new technological skills. I will be considerate of their perspectives and listen to their experiences. I will work together with them to create a workflow that will be both practical and meaningful to them, while simultaneously help them learn and use a new skill. Sometimes my suggestions for them may not be ideal in their eyes. So, we will need to work together to find a solution that does fit both of our needs. I want to encourage them to use the technology, and also give them a chance to choose and implement technology in a way that is meaningful for them. I hope a collaborative, “think win-win” approach will be a positive step towards accomplishing this goal.
It won’t be easy to teach my Mayan GB students how to “think win-win.” Popular culture has competition and comparison surrounding my students through a variety of advertisements, commercials, and videos. I will talk to my students about the concept of “think win-win” as we continue to plan Mayan GB Bootcamp. We’re planning a student-led tech conference for a Saturday in April, and there are more and more decisions to be made. I want to see them to talk about what is happening, and encourage each of them to have a voice in this process. I want them to learn that they can express their own thoughts and ideas and be positively challenged and encouraged as they hear others’ ideas. I know that collaborating is a challenge for my middle schoolers, but I want them to see how important a skill it is for them. When they can courageously express themselves and willingly work together to uncover solutions with each other, growth and progress can occur.