Quote: “Play, questioning, and – perhaps most important – imagination lie at the very heart of arc-of-life learning.”
I chose this quote because questioning the world is one of the key ways we understand it. I have seen the significant difference that inquiry/discovery type lessons have on learning compared to the traditional “model then try” approach. Inquiry and discovery lessons engage more students and enhance understanding because students are questioning, exploring and testing ideas.
Question: Where can we find more inquiry/discovery based resources and activities to readily use in the classroom?
Connection: One of many connections I made to the chapter revolves around the story of Tom when he was recently diagnosed with adult-onset diabetes. Being a Registered Dietitian in my former life, I had hospital patients to educate that had just learned they had diabetes. I had only a few minutes to give them a brief overview of the disorder and things to consider for diet modifications. Hearing his heart felt connections to those he met with in the online community was inspiring. To be able to pass this on to my patients would have been an invaluable tool at the time.
Epiphany/Aha: The common thread throughout each of the five stories was that the individuals were sharing interests, developing passions and engaging imagination. My Aha take-away is to look for opportunities to fuse a vast informational resource with something personally meaningful.
Quote: “…learning should be viewed in terms of an environment - combined with the rich resources provided by the digital information network - where the context in which learning happens, the boundaries that define it, and the students, teachers, and information within it all coexist and shape each other in a mutually reinforcing way.” I chose this quote because I like the idea of a learning environment where students and teachers are co-creating and co-learning together.
Question: As teachers how can we find more resources that focus on learning through engagement within the world?
Connection: In the new culture of learning the point is to embrace what we don’t know, come up with better questions about it and continue to ask questions in order to learn more. This connects to my experiences with meditation in my life. The idea is that miracles lie in the unknown. Just having a question or intention in mind plants the seed for answers to unfold and reveal themselves over the next few days or weeks.
Epiphany/Aha: The goal is for each of us to take the world in and make it part of ourselves. In doing so we can re-create it.
Quote: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” This quote ties in nicely with my Aha moment from last chapter. Change is the only constant; we are always creating, attracting, and manifesting our environment simply by our existence – our thoughts, words and deeds. The more we connect and interact, the faster and bigger waves of change we can create.
Question: How can we change the learning dynamic from memorization by practice to absorption through engagement?
Connection: In my technology class I have been encouraged to publish my work, curate content, document my life and connect with authentic audiences. It has been a wonderful experience that has both inspired and changed me. I am making these connections in my personal endeavors too and also sharing these ideas with my friends and family.
Epiphany/Aha: Learning is a cultural and social process of engaging with the constantly changing world around us.