Bright and early this morning I spent an hour with educators and support personnel having a conversation about Building Community and Empowering Students. I expect that each participant arrived hoping that I would be providing them with tips on how to "de-silo instruction" and integrate community centered project based learning activities across/within curricular stands...but that's not what happened.
You see, the meeting took place at The Institute for Learning Centered Education's Constructivist Design Conference at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY...and it was my intention to have the group teach each other about the topic. All it took was a story to hook their interest, an empowering framework, and they took ownership of the process.
What did we all learn? That several components were critical to the process: authenticity, mentoring, service, social connection...and celebrating growth. Without authenticity there can be no buy-in; without mentoring, no inspiration, without service, no grounding, without social connection no emotional development, without celebration, no impulse to move forward.
What did I learn? How to use a digital camera, favorite book list, mystery readers and a paper bag to boost library visits 30%!
And, I was reminded that allegory is as true a measuring standard as statistical analysis...if you know the right story to tell...
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