Learnch

Another great day at the GTS, even if I spent most of it in a vehicle travelling back from Halifax. We made it back to Cornwallis in time for supper (the 5-7 pound weight gain learning objective is well under way), and the evening session.

Two great activities tonight. First we were broken up into four smaller groups and asked to discuss the following four questions:

1. Define Teach
2. Define Learn
3. How are they the same (if they are)
4. How are they different (if they are)

Our group decided to take the stream of consciousness route and here is what we came up with:

1. Teach
1. Setting stage for learners to uncover knowledge
2. Modelling
3. Creating the atmosphere
4. Providing tools to allow learning to happen
5. Sharing experiences
6. Supporting possibilities
7. Crafting the learning environment to allow for success
8. Loving those you are teaching (the Person Part)
2. Learn
1. Gaining skills
2. Changing your reality
3. Allowing understanding
4. Experiencing life
5. Uncovering the unknown
6. Thinking outside one's own box
   
7. Processing new information
8. Learning is irreversible
   
3. How are they the same / How are they different? (we looked at them together)
   
1. Not really - cannot do one without the other
2. No teach without learn
3. Learning cannot happen without reflection
4. Learn and tech are inseparable - it is a continuum

Turns out they were trick questions as David guided us to our next AHA! moment. Education is at its best when learning and teaching "confuse" - fuse together and become "LEARNCH" - some languages (Russian, Hawaiian, and Welsh were mentioned) don't even have words for learning and teaching, just education. As educators we need to negate the dichotomy of teaching and learning, fuse them together as one - hence "Learnch".

So simple and such a clear way to look at what they do - learning and teaching cannot be separated, they are in fact parts of the same thing - they are "Learnch". If we as educators can keep that in mind than we will go a long way towards truly being great teachers.

The evening's second activity consisted of folding a piece of paper three times to get 8 boxes or quadrants. The following words (in no particular order) were each placed into one of the quadrants:

1. Course Outline
2. Course Objectives
3. Motivation
4. Methodology
5. Student Goals
6. Faculty Development
7. Course Content
8. The Learning Process

We were then asked to arrange these eight phrases on their eight pieces of paper in a fashion that pleased us. Here is the layout of my brilliant friend and colleague Sharen:


It is so cool that she has linked together "Student Goals" and "Course Objectives" - what an amazing thing - without that synergy of what the learner's goals are and the course objectives, learning cannot occur. A very cool and very deep observation. We need to pay attention to the connections between student goals and course objectives to ensure that our courses continue to be meaningful and relevant

So what else did we discover - if you want creativity - don't give instructions - the eight pieces of paper were laid out in all sorts of different orders and patterns, and each pattern served the same purpose - to get us thinking. Tell what to do, not how (so cool - I do that now!).

So now when i get back to my learning environments, I will take eight pieces of paper, and eight related concepts and get my learners to interrelate them. Let the learnching begin!!remember to learnch from learners, they make connections we cannot. Hmmm...

Applause, Applause

This morning started with just that - applause, applause. A round of applause to start the session. As David puts it, applause is a great way to start as it draws people as they want to see what the applause is all about and if there is applause, it must be good. I think it's a great idea and well worth a try in my classes.

In the morning session, we broke into small groups to discuss innovations. Prior to coming to the GTS we were each asked to write one page on an innovation that we used in our own practice. Everybody had a turn to talk about their innovation (and there were some AMAZING Ones), and everybody had to comment or speak to the innovation - it was a very powerful experience - lots of free-flowing ideas and suggestions.

David kicked off the afternoon with more incredible words of wisdom (and I am paraphrasing because I spent more time listening than writing) - "If you want something to last, don't organize it. Use oral tradition and don' take ownership". It's worked for the Great Teacher Movement which is now 40 years old. The term David uses is "Rigid Minimal Structure" - less IS more and I'm going to try that too in my practice.

We talked a little about problem solving (one of my favourite topics) and some interesting points came up:

1. Have a well-defined problem (know what it is)
2. Define what cannot be changed
3. Recognize to what degree you are part of (or the whole) problem

In the afternoon we talked about issues that we were asked to bring with us - again a very illuminating and stimulating session - we may not have solved all of our issues, but we did come up with strategies that are worth a try - the power of the group. We talked about how to engage the learners we were not getting to, how to best implement technology, what to do when our passion may not be that of our learners, what happens when an icebreaker doesn't work the way we want it too, and how to engage online learners. While we had no definitive solutions we all left with lots of things to try.

End of Day One and my toolkit is bursting at the seams. Applause, applause - I can't wait for tomorrow...

Off To A Great Start

Well, we all arrived safe and sound in Cornwallis, got checked into very comfortable accommodations and were fed a great meal (this is not a place for dieters, and in fact one of the takeaways as we discovered at tonights' opening session will be an extra 5-7 pounds. The struggle will be keeping it that low). I think that morning "walkies" will definitely be in order.

Had a great opening session - David Gotshall is amazing (that's him on the left)! I could feel the stress of a long academic year melting away as he spoke. So much of what he said just made so much sense (I need to start taking notes). His premise of "Less is More" is so true - this week I hope to figure just that out - how do I cut out all of the extra unnecessary "stuff" and get to the core of the matter - the critical "Less" that is so much "More".

We did an interesting "ice-breaker" - we broke into pairs after some "structured rambling" to mix us up and then interviewed each other for five minutes to report back to the larger group, but with one catch - we could not talk about work! I now know things that I never knew about people that I have worked with for years - a VERY cool exercise.

We then adjourned to the Wooden Fish (I'll explain as the week goes on) for a social gathering - the energy and power in the room was amazing. I can't wait - I plan on spending the week CASEing the joint (Copy And Share Everything - thanks Libby!) - I have so much to learn from everyone and an amazing place to do it in. I cannot wait...

Welcome To The NSCC GTS 2007 Blog

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog about the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Great Teachers Seminar being held at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre at Cornwallis Park Nova Scotia from 29 April- 4 May 2007.

I will be posting here about my thoughts and experiences at the GTS. I hope that you will find it of use and interest!