The COVA ( Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning) approach rests on the teaching principles of active learning, collaboration, and technology integration to create significant learning environments. COVA is based on the idea that people learn by doing things and thinking about them (constructivist principles). The COVA approach encourages learners to build knowledge through meaningful activities and interactions. This activates critical thinking on the part of the learner. Under this approach, the student builds his/her own learning experience, which is why the student gets involved and learns to investigate independently, guided by a learning facilitator.
This approach allows students to make their own conclusions and justify them. From COVA's perspective, learning is especially effective when people are involved in building artifacts that they can share with others. In COVA, students are encouraged to make things like projects, presentations, e-portfolios, or digital media that show what they know and how students can share their points of view with others, having authentic, meaningful conversations with their peers and others. By working together, students can talk to their classmates, teachers, and experts about their thoughts and ideas. They can work together to build up knowledge, so in this way, COVA also instills a sense of community.
COVA encourages learners to take responsibility for their own learning. It changes the focus from teacher-centered to learner-centered, where learners have more control over their learning goals, methods, and ways of assessing their learning experiences. COVA is an active learning-teaching methodology that integrates the following principles: Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning.
From my perspective, the most beneficial part of COVA is that the learner takes an active part in his or her learning experience, which can be driven by personal choice. This allows the student to own his or her own learning experience, and at the same time, embarks the learner on a task of collaboration when debating their ideas and findings with others.
Reference
Harapnuick, Thibodeaux , & Cummings. (2018, January). COVA. Lamar University. COVA ebook
Comments