Learning: The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught. (https://www.lexico.com/definition/learning)
For me, 2019-2020 was bound to be a big adventure. I had retired from my role as K-12 Board Mathematics Facilitator at the Sudbury Catholic DSB at end of June 2019. My husband and I had a game plan which included travel, fitness and healthy living. Our nest was empty and we were ready to take on any challenge. I was set to take a break from teaching and focus on learning instead. I had no idea then just how much time I would have for that once March rolled around... Learning after retirement was a very different beast for me. I was used to being in a busy office, working with a team, supporting educators, leaders and students. We planned our learning and connected it directly to our district’s improvement plan. I had deadlines and targeted reading, viewing and workshops provided for me. I was accountable to others for my learning. I was directed toward a treasure trove of research-based materials, privileged to learn alongside amazing people. Suddenly, the reins were in my own hands. I could learn anything, study anything, listen to anyone. I learned how challenging free choice can be. As a lover of ideas and learning, I felt pulled in a million directions at once. Every hour was a genius hour. |
10 Lessons from Albert Einstein: | I found myself doing three new things:
It struck me that these are learning strategies that educators everywhere have been using these past few months in order to make it possible to teach from home. We’ve all been learning in ways we may not have learned before. As a result, in a time where education has undergone such a dramatic, forced shift, many educators are stressed and exhausted, feeling overwhelmed. I’ve been wondering how I might be able to provide some support. This blog series is intended to look closely at how we learn independently, with a vision to inform how we might teach our students and feel even more effective. Hopefully, you will be able to see your own learning and teaching and find something to help you move forward. Connecting the 10 lessons from Albert Einstein to our practice as lifelong learners, I’m hoping to spark thinking about what learning and teaching might look like in our new, uncertain reality. I hope you join me. Please reach out with any sparks! Thanks so much to @LisaCorbett0261 for giving me a push to blog this month. Follow Lisa and many other fabulous educators on Twitter! |