Philosophy
Teaching & Learning Philosophy
Teaching and learning are inseparably intertwined. I realized how heavily influenced my learning has become through blogs I have read, presenters I hear in electronic communication and face to face conversations. My personal learning has changed forever and in consequence my teaching has and is shifting accordingly.
The possibilities that open up, through 21st century learning skills, will allow us to see completely different patterns of studying, researching, connecting, creating and ultimately learning. Just as bilingual children are able to express themselves and switch effortlessly between two languages, I believe that our students need to grow up with a second (or third or fourth) language that is called “technology”. Language is the human form of communication and a way we make sense of the world around us and connect to others. Technology tools allow us to do just that. Through language we communicate and connect world wide. We understand different points of view and are able to express ourselves in a way that one language alone can only limit us. We are able to access resources that would otherwise be out of our reach. What an incredible opportunity.
These skills are vital in order for our students to succeed in a flattened world. There still is a giant divide between the theory of teaching and the practice of implementing them in our schools though. “Nobody can force change on anyone, it has to be experienced”. I believe that teachers have to experience the process for themselves in order to internalize it and then pass it on to their students. It is important for me to build a trusting relationship with my students and colleagues.
Albert Einstein said:
I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
I see it as my mission to expose my students to an environment that new tools of communication, collaboration and networking can offer. Literacy is not only learning how to read and write anymore, it is learning how to find and distinguish reliable resources to read, listen, and watch. Media is NOT just reading text on a piece of paper or in a book. We need to allow students to create and interact with media that come in many different forms. That is the beauty of being multilingual! Once you learn individual parts, such as vocabulary, sentence structure and speech melody you are off connecting your thoughts and previous knowledge by creating new sentences on your own.
