Here is the link to an article about the Se Anima project of two American researchers in Nuestra Escuela: http://www.bucknell.edu/x79283.xml?utm_source=TopStory&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Homepage&fb_action_ids=431671493556079&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
Thurs 27 Sept: I was a fly on the wall this afternoon at a Nuestra Escuela staff professional development meeting, at which the school's Education City coordinator, Josué McGrath Rosario, introduced the methodogy of Self Managed Learning as a structure for supporting student autonomy within a learning community. I have notes to read up on from the presentation today which will hopefully assist my understanding given my limited comprehension at this stage of spoken spanish... people tend to speak quite fast in Puerto Rico.. still, with the aid of powerpoint notes, & my companion dictionary, I was able to pick up enough today to follow the key ideas within the concept & some of the general points of discussion..staff were asked to consider how this type of methodology might fit alongside the school's own unique approach to helping students realise their potential: 'Todo por Mi Estrella' (All for My Star)...a programme which utilizes the star as a quest symbol.. representing the self-identified person or purpose for which one is prepared to give their all... in order to strive to be the best person they can be (personal development & integrity) as well as achieve that which is important & necessary for them in reaching their goals (PEPs, Personalised Education Plan/ pathway for achievement)...I found it invigorating to be listening to a professional dialogue about a topic which resonates so profoundly with me..reshaping the perception of what facilitates learning... & how best to support learners to discover for themselves what is essential to their own personal growth.. & what their hearts & minds desire to know..am looking forward to part 2 tomorrow when staff have had a chance to digest the ideas & come back with queries for discussion. Just prior to that I have a scheduled meeting with Josué regarding his Education City role..with the remaining weeks I have left here I hope to get as much info & experience as possible that will be of use to assist educational development in NZ...so if any of you have any burning questions I can put to Josué or others let me know within the next few weeks..however I can always contact Nuestra Escuela once I get home with further queries as they eventuate...have mixed emotions about heading back to NZ..I love it here..will be hard giving up my Puerto Rican sanctuary to go back into the rat-race of managing a maniac lifestyle to pay the mortgage..anyway, lots of awesome events to look forward to when I do get back..see you in a month.. Arohanui Besos y abrazos Taan :-) x
Self Managed Learning Structures...the Taoist view of appropriate structures is that they should be like a glass..empty (to allow for choice of what gets put in); rigid (in order to be useful); transparent (so that appropriate support & challenge can be offered) & resilient (thin enough to cope with change..overly thick glass, like thick stuctures with too many constraints, doesn't allow easily for internal/external differences) Loosely translated this is about leaving aside genetic disposition& consequent physical development, all that we are capable of doing must be learned. If we want to change an aspect of what we do or don't do then the way to do that is through learning. 'Unlearning' an interesting concept with relevance in this day and age when new experiences awaken us to realise that what we have been conditioned to believe may not in fact be true..think global economic crisis for starters..and The Matrix trilogy ! Todo por Mi Estrella..Nuestra Escuela's own unique programme designed to support learners to understand themselves, identify their passion, plan their learning pathway & realise their potential. Hola! In case you might be thinking that the lack of lengthy blogs recently is an indication that nothing much has been happening here in Puerto Rico, the opposite is true! It has been a very busy time for Nuestra Escuela & for me wanting to be a part of everything going on... have been living in the moment; experiencing the glamour of graduation the Nuestra Escuela way; dancing a little salsa; getting to know some fabulous Puerto Ricans of all walks of life; hanging out with the cute & cuddly, with the young & curious, with talented adolecents finding their way in the world, with those still young at heart & with a playful puppy called Pilon; seeing some stunning scenery, eating some delicious Caribbean cuisine and sampling lots of local ales & liquors... so there is much to catch my post followers up on... and hundreds of fotos to sort & upload. Bare with me...this may take a while! Abrazos y besos, Tania :-) x PS I think that Purple is starting to catch on! LOL |
Tania CorbettThrough my Puerto Rico experience I hope to gain valuable insight to further contribute ideas for city & educational developments within our local region. Archives
November 2012
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