What would it look like if twenty percent of our time in a school setting was dedicated to exploring and learning about things that interest us? What would it feel as educators if this was embedded into our work week?
What shifts would need to occur for us to encourage students and staff to document their individual learning processes and provide them with the tools in order to do so? The result is worth the effort and would yield a grander authentic audience with an endless supply of ongoing educational inspiration.
Documentation of "process" is not a foreign concept to society. Artists did not keep their paintings locked in studios but instead shared the product for others to see. As a result, a domino effect of inspiration ensued. The exposure to artist products and "documentation" resulted in others beginning to think as a result of the art they experienced.
In the post-pandemic world, we have an opportunity to shift the focus from What we learn to How we know, all while having the ability to share and inspire others. Over the last two and half years, technology and its impact on communication have pushed the boundaries of class learning and work environments. The key for us now as educators now find ways to use the changes in communication to provide ownership and depth within our learning our educational communities today as we transition to in-person settings. The quicker we recognize that we must move from a "require" mindset to a "desire" mindset for students, teachers and school leaders will be able to successfully promote & create opportunities for students to explore and develop their strengths and interests.
If we think like artists and harvest our interest as we strengthen our craft, we have endless opportunities to inspire others as we share our learning with the world.