While I am grateful to be part of a community of educators that pushes my thinking daily, there is a group out there that influences me even more, our students. In fact, I'll tell you that the question on the picture above (Who is doing the teaching?) is really a trick question. The real question that we need to ask ourselves is who is doing the learning? Or better yet, as individuals, we need to consider whether we are continuous learners ourselves.
Personally, I am constantly looking at my own daily routine and thinking about whether or not I am practicing what I preach. Am I spending too much reading, blogging, tweeting, etc? Am I just consuming details about the efforts of others? What am I contributing myself?
The moments that tend to impact me most are opportunities to learn with others (in-person). I feel fortunate to be in a district where there are formal and informal opportunities to learn with and from both students and staff. In looking ahead to 2013, I hope to see the line between teachers and learners continue to blur in our schools. I hope to see more public examples of this to share within and beyond our school community.
Here are a few of my favorites from 2012!
Personally, I am constantly looking at my own daily routine and thinking about whether or not I am practicing what I preach. Am I spending too much reading, blogging, tweeting, etc? Am I just consuming details about the efforts of others? What am I contributing myself?
The moments that tend to impact me most are opportunities to learn with others (in-person). I feel fortunate to be in a district where there are formal and informal opportunities to learn with and from both students and staff. In looking ahead to 2013, I hope to see the line between teachers and learners continue to blur in our schools. I hope to see more public examples of this to share within and beyond our school community.
Here are a few of my favorites from 2012!
#1 Burlington High School Student Help Desk Website
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#2 Marshall Simonds Middle School Students PSA On "The R Word"
#3 Learning Every Day in Burlington - Features a daily post from a learner in our school community.
Patrick,
ReplyDeleteThe voices of young people are powerful and true when they are liberated from our agenda. They have much to offer, and know how to use their voices to influence when they are powered up by possibilities and opportunities in school, not powered down. We need to constantly ask what we can learn from the voices of young people? How do we create many to many learning spaces, not just one to some teaching places? Fabulous post - thank you for sharing the examples and your reflections as we go into a new year.
Hi Patrick,
ReplyDeleteI think you are contributing when you listen to and feature great things that are happening in your schools. Such recognition contributes to a positive school culture where both teachers and students take pride in their work.
All good!
Janet | expateducator.com
Thanks, your comments are always positive and useful. Keep blogging in 2013!
ReplyDeleteMike
http://motivationalschoolleadership.blogspot.com
Thank you for leading us in what is right and good for schools with students as the focus. You post illustrates the next, important step for our technology integration--putting students at the center of tech communications and use. I appreciate your inspiration, practice and innovation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to comment Maureen! Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete