Learning Manifesto

I believe education should prepare students to be successful at any and all stages of their life.

I am passionate about:

• Ending educational inequity
• Closing the achievement gap
• Authentic learning
• Creativity
• Global-mindedness
• Constructivism

I believe:

• Educational environments should engage students in learning that is relevant to the cultural context they are living in.
• Thoughtful integration of digital learning deepens the connection between the classroom and the digital environment today’s students are growing up in. 
• Subjects are not meant to be taught in isolation from one another.
• Education should nurture creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Educators must be reflective, willing to take risks, enjoy new processes and change with the times.  

Emerging issues related to digital learning and leading:

• The world is becoming more interconnected every day.
• More and more youth have access to smartphones.
• Digital learning is helping close the undeniable achievement gap caused by lack of access in low-socio economic communities.
• The majority of youth use at least one form of social media.
• Social media is a powerful tool and ever-changing “way of seeing.” 

What’s wrong with education?

• Digital access is not equal.
• Access to education and quality instruction is not equal.
• One-sized fits all approached to learning.
• Standardized testing
• An educator’s goal should not be to fill students with subject-specific facts in preparation for the standardized test to be taken at the end of the year

Evidence education is shifting and on the right track:

• Rising leaders in education are coming from more diverse and global-minded backgrounds.
• Stories of resourceful teachers are going viral.
• Digital leaders are helping connect like-minded educators and learners around the world.
• Teachers and organizations such as NMSI are supporting transformational STEM education impacting millions of students across the United States.  

How can I make an impact?

My goal is to empower students with an array of skills, the necessary literacies and a sense of self-awareness that pushes them to think “beyond the test” and acquire lasting knowledge.  In my classroom I hope to use digital learning to create a rich and authentic learning environment.  In my organization I hope to lead change on how technology is embedded into classrooms, model constructivist methodologies and coach teachers to reach their own goals for holistic student-centered learning.

References:

• A Global Project Based Learning Community. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://www.penpalschools.com/
• Anderson, M., Jiang, J., Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018, November 30). Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2019, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/
• Berger, J. (2012). Ways of seeing: Based on the BBC television series with John Berger. London: British Broadcasting.
• Custom Word Art [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2019, from https://wordart.com/create8
• Dewey, J. (2001). Art as experience. New York, NY: Perigee.
• Dr. Ana Ponce [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://www.broadcenter.org/alumni/directory/profile/ana-ponce/
• Gardner, H. (n.d.). Intelligence reframed: Multiple intelligences for the 21st century. New York, NY: Basic Books.
• Howard Gardner [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8PluYpmM-Q/V3XPz7ReKHI/AAAAAAAABTQ/Yl9BlzTqLwUmwKj2lCnWfZ4bkHSYUbiEwCLcB/s1600/headshot.jpg
• Joe Troyen [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://humansofinnovation.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/joe-troyen/
• John Berger [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://artclasses.knoji.com/ways-of-seeing-john-bergers-marxist-arts-documentary/
• John Dewey [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://www.biography.com/.image/t_share/MTE1ODA0OTcxNjA4Mjc4NTQx/john-dewey-9273497-1-402.jpg
• Launder, M. (2018, March 17). The teacher who went viral for teaching computing without any computers receives a wonderful delivery. Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://www.indy100.com/article/owura-kwadwo-facebook-post-ghana-village-school-microsoft-word-blackboard-8229011
• Noguera, P., Boykin, A. W., & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (2011). Creating the Opportunity to Learn: Moving From Research to Practice to Close the Achievement Gap. ASCD.
• Our Impact. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2019, from http://www.nms.org/Our-Impact.aspx
• Richard Appiah Akoto [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://www.facebook.com/UpfrontshowVOA/photos/a.1017878678246876/1880210382013697/?type=1&theater
• Robinson, K. (2006, February). Do schools kill creativity? Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en
• Sir Ken Robinson [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://pi.tedcdn.com/r/talkstar-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/production/playlists/playlist_124/ken_robinson.jpg?
• Sir Ken Robinson [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2019, from http://waanaki.com/do-schools-kill-creativity/
• Stoltzfus, K. (2017, January 27). Pen Pal Programs Connect Students From Different Backgrounds. Retrieved February 4, 2019, from http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/01/pen_pals_connect_students_different_perspective.html
• The Broad Center. (2018, August 03). Ana Ponce – The pride of Pico Union. Retrieved February 8, 2019, from https://www.broadcenter.org/blog/leadership-lessons-ana-ponce/