My Learning Manifesto

My learning philosophy is that it is imperative to provide students with opportunities to take ownership of their learning through creativity and to develop a skillset that can be utilized beyond the classroom. Please view Sir Ken Robinson’s TEDtalk on creativity and how it is the key to our future.

A point Sir Ken Robinson makes in his TEDtalk is that we cannot possibly know what the future looks like. Though this talk was back in 2006, this point still rings true today and will continue to remain true throughout all time. Despite research and predictions, no one REALLY knows for sure. So how can we prepare students for what is unknown?

In my mind, the best way to prepare students for the future is not by what we teach them, but HOW we teach them to learn. In an ever-evolving world, adaptability, creativity and resilience are necessary skills. As technology grows, willingness to adopt a growth mindset and associate unknowingness with opportunity will be keys to success.

Students should be provided with hands on opportunities to learn and make mistakes, but not be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, embrace those learning opportunities as growth points. Original ideas and input should be praised, not squandered. Progress and process should be rewarded, not just correct answers.

As an educator, I want nothing more than to positively impact the students I work with. By providing them with opportunities to have Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning, I believe that they will develop the skills they need to find fulfillment and success on their own terms.

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). COVA: Choice, ownership and voice through authentic learning (0.9) [Book]. Creative Commons

TED. (2007, January 6). Do schools kill creativity? | Sir Ken Robinson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&feature=youtu.be