Learning Manifesto

Learning Manifesto:

“Education is not about things; it is about living beings.

 It is about creating conditions for growth.”

 Ken Robinson.

 

Passionate students:

Olga Lidia Gonzalez Pérez was a very common name. The one who patiently took my fragile little hand to write my name. Her lessons exceeded the textbooks: they taught us VALUES, showed us how to face challenges, and encouraged us to dream big. I still remember when she read us the fable “The Shepherd and the Wolf” by Aesop. At first, I found it dull; it transported me to a very distant time both in time and geography, but once I got into the story, we were already part of the pack. We were afraid of the wolf's presence and feared for the shepherd boy's life in a field surrounded by sheep. At the end of the story, we feel deceived by that little shepherd who used the entire town to put together his sinister entertainment, without ever imagining that when he most needed everyone to believe him, the miracle never happened.

The importance of being honest, the truth always prevails, and lying only generates problems and mistrust. These lessons left an imprint that I would carry throughout my life.

 

Yes! My teacher had a common name, but her teaching and inspiration were EXTRAORDINARY.

 

Education: A lifelong process!

Six years ago, I was a professor at the University of my country of birth. At that time, I didn't even stop thinking about primary education. That possibility became an appropriate option upon my arrival in the United States. I was able to accompany my children's learning actively. I became a Volunteer, then a Teacher's Assistant, and finally a teacher. Each one of them gave me the possibility of entering an unknown world. My only memory from elementary school was that TEACHER  I had!!  Then I discovered that:

 

     That is my PASSION!

 

When I enter my classroom, no matter how much worry I have, everything is forgotten before the arrival of a battalion of little giants who almost helplessly carry a backpack full of emotions: I love you, Mrs. Pérez! I missed you a lot! I love coming to your class! I do not want to go! I feel happy with you; you are like my mom. Thank you for teaching me and making me a giant! It is impossible to get them out of my mind, to talk about them without a tear, without feeling an intense emotion from the bottom of my heart. The possibility of transforming my environment, of helping to overcome fears and needs in students and families. See the joy reflected in the eyes of many parents with a THANK YOU TEACHER: “Now my child is different.” Helping each of these families fills me with happiness and well-being; it makes me feel good about myself. Finding my purpose in life for a common and social good has been the key to my happiness.

 

The value of error and experimentation:

The perception of right or wrong in education can vary according to different contexts and points of view. Some areas of concern may include excessive focus on memorizing facts that limit the development of critical thinking and creativity. On the other hand, many districts emphasize standardized testing, which can lead to assessment-oriented instruction rather than meaningful, collaborative learning. The need for more attention to individual needs is another element that leads to exclusion and poor student performance. Teachers fail to link academic concepts with real situations, leaving students without the skills to face real-world challenges.

One element that can be considered positive in education today is equitable access, which guarantees that everyone has equal educational opportunities regardless of origin or social status. Developing practical skills and critical thinking empowers the student to assume different roles. Education has become an essential instrument for change. Today, it faces challenges: it has been entrusted with training the "necessary" citizens. Modifying our thinking to face the complexity of continuous and accelerated changes and the unpredictability of our world today. In summary, educators should raise our voices to promote a practical education that focuses on the student as the subject and object of the learning process that supports equitable opportunities that develop critical thinking and inclusion with an updated methodology that addresses the needs of today's student and prepares them for success in life.

 

Digital learning: an act of empowerment.

Today's digital teaching has revolutionized learning. It was very different from when my teacher, Olga Lidia, only had a printed bibliography, blackboard, chalk, and imagination. Technological empowerment generates infinite opportunities for continuous growth and self-management of the training process. It is a model that emancipates the opportunity to change our perspective on teaching and learning effectively. However, we must also be aware of some emerging problems that arise from it. Only some have equal access to devices and a quality internet connection, which creates a digital divide and limits some student's access to online learning. Another element of vital importance is digital fatigue;  we are forming a generation of total dependence on having a device in hand, making opportunities for social interaction between students and teachers impossible, which can negatively affect academic performance and the development of social and emotional skills. In most scenarios, we see how the interaction of each other is reduced to a phone screen, leaving null the possibility of creating environments rich in dialogue and social interaction.

 

As Harvard professor Clayton Christensen explained, I embrace the idea that technology is a disruptive virtue. It has become good enough because it brings impossible things; people are absorbed by the old by the new and come out to adopt the new. Including some of its technological tools (COVA, ePortaflio) in our organization (elementary school) will foster collaboration and mutual support, recognizing that learning is enriched by interaction with others. It will help you accept mistakes as a natural part of learning from them and use them as opportunities to grow and improve. Be open to new perspectives and points of view, recognizing that learning comes from diverse experiences. Practice perseverance and understand that progress requires constant effort and dedication. It will allow us to SEE continuous learning throughout life, recognizing that the world is constantly changing and that we must adapt and evolve to SUCCEED.

 

“Education will have to be a great priority in the future. The world will have to shake up and revolutionize almost everything: contents, methods, buildings, spaces, and above all, the vision of reality.”

Lampert, 2003, pp. 16-17)