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| http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/6030 |
In a recent post, George Couros outlines a "process for innovation in teaching and learning." I agree that "teaching and learning starts with empathy" and continues on.
His post made me wonder, what does innovation look like driven by empathy, not processes? It's the heart that drives us for solutions in a world of needs, the heart that motivates millions to give freely of their time and money, crowdsourcing solutions and volunteering in communities. Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, heard about micro loans and "was so completely blown away by the idea that I quit my job, dropped everything and moved to East Africa to help."
Connecting...
Last Friday at a Manitoba Education Research Network forum, the principal and a teacher from Canada's only Big Picture school, the Seven Oaks MET School, presented some of the innovative things they are doing. They were asked by the director of Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning why what they were doing with learning wasn't going viral. Fantastic question. I've been rolling that question around since then. What's missing?
Many of us have seen examples of dynamic learning environments from our own school to around the world. There is a moment of "that's powerful, it would be awesome if..." I know I get excited when I watch videos of innovative learning schools and hear the learners share how much they are enjoying the way they learn. I'm emotionally engaged. And then. The virus dies. Reality. Too many obstacles. What-to-teach-tomorrow is enough of a challenge. The brain rather than the heart drives.
"I would teach differently, if I knew exactly what to do and how to do it."
Filter your what-how with why
Let your why start with empathy. Empathy is a choice. Connecting with another's situation may be painful and it certainly makes one vulnerable. A healthy relationship requires empathy.
What's "best" for the learner? What's meaningful for the learner? I better ask, listen and respond. Context matters. I don't think there's a "best" for an individual or a group that can be fully known before knowing the learners.
An empathy heartset should drive the desire to innovate as one discovers what the other requires.
Lead with your heart and your mind will follow.