TAKE FIV E ASHLEIGH HUDSON V anier Element ary, St . John's, NL We interviewed Ashleigh to learn why she became a teacher and what inspires her. You've been a teacher for how many years? I’ve been an educator for 8 years now. I currently teach Grade 4 at Vanier Elementary in St. John’s. Why did you become a teacher? I come from a long line of teachers, so it’s always been in my blood. My favorite part about my job is that it’s always an adventure and I get to explore new challenges all the time. In your lifetime has anyone inspired you to change your mind, for the better, to overcome an obstacle? I would say my family, they instilled a strong work ethic in me. My grandfather was an educator, and at one time NLTA president. He was very passionate about student learning and I take a lot of inspiration from his leadership style. My grandparents lived through the depression so my grandmother never wasted a thing. She was always repairing, upcycling and finding new uses for things. She was a creative and crafty person. My mother was a pioneer kindergarten educator, and always believed in hands-on learning. Her classroom was an exciting place for me to visit when I was young.
What does Project Based Learning (PBL) mean to you? This is a really interesting time in education. There is a strong movement now towards more project-based learning and student centered learning. I think back to my childhood. The things I remember most were the hands-on projects I worked on and creative myself. This is where I learned many skills that took me into adulthood. What it means to be literate is changing. To prepare students for the world ahead, we as educators need to focus on skill development, which is at the heart of PBL and Maker-Education. What inspired you to first bring making to the classroom and what makes it brilliant? I’ve always approached my curriculum in different ways. I like to look at outcomes, and think : “How can I turn this into a cool project for my students?” From making podcasts for social studies, to creating videos to explain science units, to creating videos to explain science units, I’ve always seen the most benefits to all learning styles and abilities through these projects. I was inspired to develop a classroom Makerspace when I saw the successes my colleagues were having on Twitter. I thank Melissa Lee from Brilliant Labs for her guidance in what she learned from her own experiences. I also thank Wylie Butler and John Barron for helping with the setup of our 3D printer.
Both the addition of the Makerspace and 3D printer has really cemented the “maker culture” in my class. Students are always creating, even on inside days. How is this style of teaching different than a traditional classroom experience? Why is it important? PBL and Maker Education give all students a chance to succeed. I see so much more student engagement and learning happening. Students are given a way to explore and express themselves in non-traditional paper and pencil ways. Students are excited to make and produce something, it gives them a sense of ownership and pride. My role has changed too. I have now become more of a “facilitator”. I begin the school year, teaching students a lot
"Th e voice t h at PBL & Maker Ed ucat ion h as given m y st ud en t s, even on es t h at seem sh y or d isengaged , is in cred ib le. All h ave a ch ance t o sh ine." - Ashleigh Hudson Grade 4, EFI