Now What?: Learning and Learners in the 21st Century



       

 

Dr. Peggy Patterson was one of the keynote speakers for SFU's Summer Institute for 2012, and posed some interesting questions:  What? So What? Now What?  These are questions every educator should be asking themselves.  She brings learning back to our own practices, and what the implications are for our own learning and our leadership of the learning of others.  She spoke of the 3-dimensional framework of the learner, and about how the learner, learning and leaders all enhance the learning experience. 

When she spoke of the qualities admired in a leader (honesty, forward looking, competent, and inspiring), I reflected on the teachers/educators and co-workers that have been very inspirational in my educational and career pathway.  I feel that the leadership qualities she listed existed in each and every one of them.

While I was listening to Dr. Patterson, and thinking about my work within the health authority, I thought about how leaders build excellence. Excellence is “being all you can be” within the bounds of doing what is right for the organization, and to reach excellence, we must first be a leader of good character (honesty, forward looking, competent, and inspiring).  Excellence starts with leaders of good and strong character who engage in the entire process of leadership.  Once we are leaders, and start practicing the five practices of effective leaders (model the way; inspire a shared vision; challenge the process; enable others to act; encourage the heart), we are in a role to influence and educate others. 

Using Dr. Patterson’s words…How do leaders connect learners with learning?  In my leadership role, I will ensure I focus on the learner, and ensure I am part of the process that will connect the learning to the learner. 

 Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. - John F. Kennedy

Sunny skies of Goa...

Thirty-one degrees temperature and the ocean waves along the coastal beaches are undescribable.  Goa is known for its white sand, and I must say, the marine life along the beaches is something to see and experience.  Crabs walk along the beach, and starfish float elegantly in the waves.  Spending a week in Goa, midway through our 4-week vacation was perfect.  It gave us all a break from the very busy city life and quiet village living, and gave us an opportunity to relax. 

Goa’s tourism season is from October to early April.  The local merchants rely entirely on tourism for income and support, and there really is no other means to support themselves, such as harvesting or farming of crops due to the extreme hot weather conditions.  Although we stayed primarily on the resort, we did venture off the resort once to see the local shops.  As we caught the tail end of their season…the shopping was fun…but I must confess, bartering is a lot harder than it looks…and I am sure even when I think I have gotten a good deal...I am sure I am still paying way too much…lol…

India...

We departed on Sunday Feb. 26^th…to a 13 ½ hour flight to Hong Kong, 8 hour flight to Delhi, and then after a 10 hour drive…we finally arrived to our destination of Punjab, in northern India….and it was Tuesday Feb. 28^th. 

Initially, my boys were very overwhelmed with the differences between Canada and India…driving on the left side of the road, lack of adherence to the basic rules of driving, sharing of the road with everything from vehicles to horses, water buffalos, donkeys, and even camels and elephants.  They then noticed the inequalities of resources between different levels of societal hierarchical groups.  They could not believe that landowners lived in 3 story bungalows, and just outside of their front gates, the straw hut belonged to the “help”.  Social marginalization is very evident here, and is indicative of social status.

We initially stayed in the village with my mother-in-law’s relative's family.  With no internet, Playstation, or IPods to keep them entertained, the boys have spent time interacting with children from the village…and even their language deficiencies were easily overcome over a game of “football” (as that is what they call soccer).

After 5 days in the village, we headed to Delhi, and visited the Taj Mahal, and then headed to the sunny skies of the resort town of Goa.

 

Many times since arriving in India, I have tried to find information posted about “health education”, and I must say, have not found anything.  I have seen numerous business sponsorship billboards, but nothing related to health promotion or health education. 

On the other hand, active living is a way of survival in India.  Most people either bike or walk, and I have seen very few overweight individuals.  

One of my husband’s aunts is a registered nurse, and she explained there are numerous health promotion initiatives in place, but they are not openly advertised.  There are programs in place to support individuals with AIDS, as well as family planning programs.  When questioned about other programs, she stated programs like smoking cessation are just not priority enough for the government when issues like AIDS and population control are much bigger issues that need to be addressed.   When asked about the “beggars”, and whether support programs are in place for them, she stated that the government is fairly corrupt, and although many make promises to help the poor, nothing ever gets developed. 

This has been an excellent experience for our children, as books and pictures cannot do justice to what they have seen and heard since arriving in India. 

Kiran Bir Sethi teaches kids to take charge

Our family is heading to India in less than 2 weeks…and I find myself seeking resources about the education system in a third world country.  I am amazed how one woman can be so inspirational and change the life of one child at a time, in a country with a population of over 1.21 billion people (2011 Census).

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/kiran_bir_sethi_teaches_kids_to_take_charge.html

Kiran Bir Sethi shows how her groundbreaking Riverside School in India teaches kids life's most valuable lesson: "I can." Watch her students take local issues into their own hands, lead other young people, even educate their parents.

The founder of the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, Kiran Sethi has launched an initiative to make our cities more child-friendly

My Struggles...while working full time, completing a MEd program, and being a mother

Since starting school in September 2011, some of my biggest challenges have been around time management and prioritization as my personal demands and commitments all compete with each other. 
 

My week consists of 45+ work hours (9-10 hour weekdays) and then 10+ hours weekly on the soccer field with my boys…and that does not include time for homework (my boys, as well as my own), grocery shopping, meal prep, laundry, housekeeping…and the list goes on… and most importantly…family time.  I struggle, as a working mother, to balance children, marriage, household, career, education, and selfishly…some personal time for myself.  At times…I feel like I am drowning…and barely able to keep my ahead above water.

My husband and I have had to find a balance with including our children in everything we do…as time together is very precious to us.  I am very appreciative and thankful for the help of my in-laws, as without them…my life would have been even more complicated as I would have had to figure out car-pooling.

Some days, I struggle to get things done, but at the end of the day, I reflect about my family and am very appreciative of the little things we do with each other…and are creating memories.  When the boys will be older, I know they will remember me attending school…but I want them to remember the quality time we have spent together and supported each other.

I know I will never feel perfectly caught up on all things that I expect of myself.  Balance isn’t something I will necessarily find in my multiple roles, but it is something I am always moving towards.  Some weeks will be productive for school work, and other weeks may require more “parenting” depending on what the boys may be going through.  In the long run, I may be able to figure out how to balance everything that is important to me.

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

“Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.

“A prolific short story writer and blogger since age seven, Adora Svitak (now 12) speaks around the United States to adults and children as an advocate for literacy.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html

Olympic Development Training Program…

Our boys have played soccer since they were both 4 years old.  They play in the winter with the Abbotsford Soccer Association, and then play the summer league with Abbotsford United Soccer Club.  Our younger son plays on the U11 rep team, and our older son plays elite level soccer and was selected for the U15 2011-2012 BC Premier League team for the Fraser Valley.  Competition at his age group is very intense and physical fitness is of the utmost importance. 

In December, we were elated when we found out that Daimon was invited to the 2012 Olympic Development Training Camp being held in Tampa, Florida from Feb. 22^nd – 26^th.  In order to be selected to attend this camp, he has been identified as being among the top 2% players in his age group in all of North America.  The ODP nomination is a tremendous achievement, and Daimon will be placed in an intense training and competitive environment, and being given an opportunity to display his soccer talent and work ethic to collegiate and national team scouts.   

He will be reporting to the IMG Academy, home of the US U17 Men’s National Team.  The Olympic Development Program used the following components in identifying players for the camp:

·         Technique - A player’s individual technique on the ball and how it is applied to the demands of the game is the focus, i.e., passing on the ground or passing in the air.
·         Tactics - Each player is evaluated on how they carry out their individual and team tactics during the course of the game. More specifically how they adapt when defending, attacking, time, score and adjustments made throughout the game.
·         Fitness - Each player is evaluated by their speed/agility, strength/power, recovery and overall game fitness.
·         Psychology - Each player is observed on their positive attitude on and off the field.
 

I am encouraging Daimon to enjoy the exciting experience of attending the ODP training camp…and want for him to be just as proud of his accomplishments as we are.  We are very aware that our younger son is following his lead, and want to be able to support both their dreams and aspirations.