"Learning is at once deeply personal and inherently social;it connects us not just to knowledge in the abstract, but to each other"(Senge,2000,p.4).
If I look back over my life as both a student and an educator, Senge's understanding of learning rings true for my life and I believe for the lives of the students with whom I was fortunate enough to connect. Why is it that we connect with some students and not with others? Why was it that I connected with material that was taught by teachers who connected with me? And did not connect with material taught by teachers who did not notice or pay any attention to me? Learning truely is personal and social. This insight is critical for educators in trying to create learning environments where teachers say to their students, "Sawu bona" and students enthusiastically respond, "Sikhona" (p.11). Moving learning from four walls of the classroom to the reality of the community surrounding the school also brings meaning and relevance to the learning at hand. Great partnerships can be built if members of the surrounding community (business, civic, and religious leaders)are encouraged and welcomed into the inner sanctum of the school property. Significant opportunities for learning that is both personal and social can enter into the life of a student and teacher when the "outside world" is brought into direct contact with the "inside world" of the classroom. Several studies have shown that when students are engaged in the outside community during their high school years, they are more likely to be both civically and socially engaged in works of service far beyond their high school years. What I enjoyed about this section of Senge was his approach to making connections to other disciplines of learning, once again, proving that what happens in one classroom should not be considered separate from "real life", but becomes authentic when connections and bridges can be made to other classrooms, disciplines, or world events. In this way, learning does become deeply personal and social at the same time.
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It really is all about the connections we make with our students. I find that the most stimulating part of my job is figuring out just what will make a concept "click" for a kid. It can also be the most frustrating but that's what keeps us coming back year after year. Great insights John!
ReplyDeleteI just had this conversation today with a faculty member. Last year, we had a child leave the school for another local school. The reason this 7th grader lest was that he could not make a connection with his teacher. Today the conversation was about making a personal connection to each student; to find out something about each student, possiubly a hobby or talent, and make that student know that he / she is more important than just how well he/she performs in the classroom. Once a child knows that yoyu have a personal interest, I believe it sets the stage for a more comfortable relationship where the student is more apt to ask for help if needed or to try that much more in all areas of the school journey.
ReplyDeleteYour comment on bringing the outside world into the classroom was interesting. I have always felt that bringing the classroom outside of the school provides some of the best learning for students. I am employed at a small school that has been part of the community for 56 years. Many field trips are taken in the community from visiting local wineries to learn about our county and its agriculture to visiting a local olive oil company to learn about the business of making olice oil. The fish hatchery is a well toured site especially during steelhead season. A retired gentleman comes to the school to teach Greek dancing in 6th grade and the 6th graders go to his home to release the steelhead they have raised in the classroom. The students truly enjoy their community and, I think, the community truly enjoys the school community.
John- connections are huge. I look back at times where I remember learning something new; but I also remember the "have to's" that got in the way. The hours of homework that prevented me from reading the books I wanted to read, the projects and building the silly missions for the sake of building it. Making connections with our kids is of utmost importance; helping them connect the subject to the world is our life's work.
ReplyDeletetalking about connection, they say that things are easily accomplished depending on the person that you know. It is really a common human behavior that we remember something from the person with whom we can easily get along with. As a teacher i will now find ways on how i can connect to the students. Connecting to the students is part also of having a learning-focused curriculum. If it is one way of transmitting the lesson, let me learn the art of connection.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great connections you made.
You wrote, "Several studies have shown that when students are engaged in the outside community during their high school years, they are more likely to be both civically and socially engaged in works of service far beyond their high school years."
Can you point out some of those studies to me? I'd love to refer to them in my work.
Thank you,
Justin