These are exciting times at my house. Today as we were walking home from the hardware store, my husband and I stumbled into a conversation that lead us back to a dream that started before we were married. It was a vision of a learning center, an environment that fosters our inherent desire to learn, one that nurtures learners at all age levels. In the vision, learners and facilitators are collaborators who support one another in their educational journey. Subjects are integrated, covering all areas of development, including material (the development and support of healthy daily living), human (human progress and civilization, such as arts, sciences, trade, government, invention and discovery), and spiritual (the development of the higher nature, or virtues such as truthfulness, compassion, courage and tolerance). Students, their peers and instructors assess learning to identify strengths and opportunities for further study.
What is most exciting now, though, is that, because of recent conversations and my re-introduction to the digital world, the vision has become more concrete. It includes a picture of students learning in discussion circles, both locally and at a distance through blogs and personal learning networks. And because of our family’s needs, my vision is a dual language environment, so that learners can become fluent in both English and Chinese.
Maybe we’ll only start by designing such an environment for our family. Maybe it will extend to a few others who would like to supplement their children’s education as well. But maybe a vision has been re-awakened that will grow into a dynamic, flourishing enterprise that is self-sustaining and contributes to the greater community, locally, nationally, globally.
For the time being, I am going to write…about this, about other things. It is a vision that deserves time and lots of dialog. But I’m interested in what others think about this vision.
References to three types of education, “material”, “human” and “spiritual” come from the writings of the Baha’i Faith.
I love the idea of such an environment. I think you picked the right picture, Explora! has turned into such a valuable resource and amazing place for children, teens and adults. We went there while on vacation in Abq. last year and my kids just couldn’t get enough. It’s wonderful to see little minds just thirsting for more knowledge of everything around them. They were quite literally like kids in a candy shop, let loose and told nothing was out of bounds. They still remember it and can’t wait to go back. Now the question that presents itself is how to get the other two integrated? To give children an atmosphere where they can feel free to explore spiritual concepts without being told that something is “off limits” so that their minds can expand just as freely? When you find out a way to do both of those, the human learning will come naturally through the interaction and cooperation with other children. I love your concept of a dual language environment, it forces people to slow down and really think about what somebody else is saying, rather than just letting it flow in one ear and out the other.
I really love blogs and online interactions, I have learned a lot and feel that I have been able to help others as well through simple dialogue, conversation, and laughter (because who doesn’t appreciate a good sense of humor, right?).
A focus that I’ve had recently is something you mentioned in your post:
“…learners and facilitators are collaborators who support one another in their educational journey.”
I think of teachers being ‘lead learners’, role models as to what it means to be inquisitive, to want to learn, and to learn by making mistakes.
Fear seems to be a driving force in education, fear of getting in trouble, fear of bad marks, fear of being wrong. Where does that come from? It isn’t in a 2 or 3 year old, yet kids get to school and develop these fears… of learning!
When we get teachers and students learning together (and making mistakes along the way), we create an ideal learning environment.
You’ve got a wonderful vision here, hold on to it and make it a reality!
Hi Amalia,
I can relate to the conversations and dreams you describe!
My oldest just started middle school and I’ve initiated conversations with the District about a pilot program for gifted learners at that level – to create relevant, empowered learning within a socially supportive context (talking about project based, cohort learning). And I see it as a wonderfully subversive project, because I hope to see it set a foundation of experience and proof of concept, so that we can create that kind of learning for ALL kids!!
My goal is to have a program in place by next school year, with a small group of kids – because District’s are willing to spend money on “special needs” kids and I plan to take advantage of that to build exemplars and a business case for expanding the model to a larger scale.
Change in eduction is hard because the fear that Dave mentions isn’t just in education – it’s a pervasive fear and self doubt throughout society. So we’re not just trying to change education, we’re trying to change the hidden beliefs of an entire generation (or maybe multiple generations??).
The easiest thing to do is what we already know – whether that’s a good thing or a horrible thing. Not because we choose that path, but because it’s well worn and “the devil we know”.
The hardest thing is to struggle through the jungle of self-initiated change! But it’s so important too!
So keep going – keep dreaming, keep trying to figure it out, keep blogging about it! We’re learning together and I know it helps me to find people like you, who are walking with similar purpose – because I feel less alone…
Welcome to the blogosphere!
I look forward to many conversations!
Heidi