"A Life Worth Living"
By Tara Fox
During my time in the MAED program, I took a class called
Concepts of the Learning Society. Though
all of my classes focused at some level on personal learnings outside of the
classroom, this class spent its duration on the idea of learning in all phases
of life. We looked at the lives of medical
professional Atul Gawande and anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson as examples
of how learning takes place in the day-to-day, if we are open to and looking for the
opportunity. It is under this model that
I see my future as a learner. I do not
know that I will ever pursue more graduate work or if I will ever look to
doctoral work, but I do know that I want to constantly be learning, whether
that continues in a formal setting or not.
As an educator, this seems to be the most authentic way to model
learning in front of my students.
I see my future learnings playing out in several different ways. Of course, technology will continue to play a pivotal role in any education I undertake, whether formal or informal. A couple of years ago, my graduate courses made me aware of resources like iTunesU and MIT’s OpenCourseWare, and my view of education was rocked. Suddenly, there was an array of podcasts and lectures from top-tier universities like Standford, Oxford University, and more, covering an incredible variety of subjects. And it was…free? I could not believe it! Not only could I learn more about educational technique and strategy at will, but I could also investigate other topics of interest. The only downside was that while information technologies like these have made learning more accessible than ever, I was occasionally overwhelmed by all of the possibilities. As I continue learning then, I must always examine the best ways to learn and the best ways to weave through that information, all while reflecting on how I am learning. Another important aspect of utilizing technology will be keeping my portfolio website active and evolving, hopefully becoming a resource for other educators in my school and community.
In addition, I see in my future as a learner a desire to have a substantial knowledge of the goings-on in the world around me, both stateside and overseas. Again, technology will play an important role in this aspect of my learning, as I have found that it is important to stay up-to-date on current events to better provide an interpretive framework for what is going on in the classroom. If as teachers, our lessons are merely units meant to be contained within the four walls of our classrooms, then we have missed the point. When I taught Animal Farm, for example, I made it a central goal to not only examine the historical aspects firmly entrenched in the novel, but to also have the students find current examples of socialism in the world today. After all, synthesizing what we are teaching with current information that may be relevant to the subject can only help our students become better learners and more informed American and global citizens.
Throughout the last several years, I have begun to realize that certain people can be a tremendous part of my growth as a learner, much like in the experiences of Mary Catherine Bateson. In particular, a big part of my learning experience has come through my relationship with my church. American churches today often get a bad rap because their representatives (usually the preacher) often advertise their ignorance with foolish or inaccurate comments regarding various ideologies or events. I have been fortunate, however, to attend a church with many learned, older men and women, who themselves are students of history, philosophy, theology, politics, and so on. They have been incredibly kind and gracious to me and other members of my (younger) generation in their conversations. We are always welcome to listen to, talk with, and debate with these older men and women as they listen to, talk with, and debate each other, all in a thoughtful atmosphere very conducive to learning. Here, books and ideas can be shared, and disagreements can be had without anyone getting upset. It is one of the best examples I have ever personally encountered of a learning community, an example even more remarkable since it does not have the structure of formal educational institutions. These conversations will continue to be an important part of my life as I continue my learnings in the future.
Now, this final section may not be the most popular one, but if I'm going to remain true to myself, then it cannot be left out. For at some point, I cannot talk authentically about my future as a learner without talking about my faith in Jesus Christ, which is inextricably tied up with everything I do and every decision I make. This especially comes into play when the question is inevitably asked:
“So, Tara, you’ve been teaching for a while now. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?”
The honest answer is easy. I don’t know.
It’s not that I don’t know because I don’t have goals or ambitions. I just feel...open. Open to possibility, any possibility. Sure, I hope to still be in education and working with young people every day, but that could play out in several different ways – continuing as a teacher leader, or perhaps as an administrator of some sort. Maybe one day going overseas to teach English, or maybe doors will open to do something else entirely.
But the truth is that plan as I may, I can never know now what might show up in life to alter those plans. I do know that I will continue learning, no matter the scenario and with whatever resources available. So I suppose the best answer that I can give for where I see myself in the future as a learner and educator is simply this - I intend to pursue my passion for education, yes, but in whatever I am doing, I want to be in the center of God’s will for my life, seeking after Him. Because as I have personally learned, that is a life worth living.
I see my future learnings playing out in several different ways. Of course, technology will continue to play a pivotal role in any education I undertake, whether formal or informal. A couple of years ago, my graduate courses made me aware of resources like iTunesU and MIT’s OpenCourseWare, and my view of education was rocked. Suddenly, there was an array of podcasts and lectures from top-tier universities like Standford, Oxford University, and more, covering an incredible variety of subjects. And it was…free? I could not believe it! Not only could I learn more about educational technique and strategy at will, but I could also investigate other topics of interest. The only downside was that while information technologies like these have made learning more accessible than ever, I was occasionally overwhelmed by all of the possibilities. As I continue learning then, I must always examine the best ways to learn and the best ways to weave through that information, all while reflecting on how I am learning. Another important aspect of utilizing technology will be keeping my portfolio website active and evolving, hopefully becoming a resource for other educators in my school and community.
In addition, I see in my future as a learner a desire to have a substantial knowledge of the goings-on in the world around me, both stateside and overseas. Again, technology will play an important role in this aspect of my learning, as I have found that it is important to stay up-to-date on current events to better provide an interpretive framework for what is going on in the classroom. If as teachers, our lessons are merely units meant to be contained within the four walls of our classrooms, then we have missed the point. When I taught Animal Farm, for example, I made it a central goal to not only examine the historical aspects firmly entrenched in the novel, but to also have the students find current examples of socialism in the world today. After all, synthesizing what we are teaching with current information that may be relevant to the subject can only help our students become better learners and more informed American and global citizens.
Throughout the last several years, I have begun to realize that certain people can be a tremendous part of my growth as a learner, much like in the experiences of Mary Catherine Bateson. In particular, a big part of my learning experience has come through my relationship with my church. American churches today often get a bad rap because their representatives (usually the preacher) often advertise their ignorance with foolish or inaccurate comments regarding various ideologies or events. I have been fortunate, however, to attend a church with many learned, older men and women, who themselves are students of history, philosophy, theology, politics, and so on. They have been incredibly kind and gracious to me and other members of my (younger) generation in their conversations. We are always welcome to listen to, talk with, and debate with these older men and women as they listen to, talk with, and debate each other, all in a thoughtful atmosphere very conducive to learning. Here, books and ideas can be shared, and disagreements can be had without anyone getting upset. It is one of the best examples I have ever personally encountered of a learning community, an example even more remarkable since it does not have the structure of formal educational institutions. These conversations will continue to be an important part of my life as I continue my learnings in the future.
Now, this final section may not be the most popular one, but if I'm going to remain true to myself, then it cannot be left out. For at some point, I cannot talk authentically about my future as a learner without talking about my faith in Jesus Christ, which is inextricably tied up with everything I do and every decision I make. This especially comes into play when the question is inevitably asked:
“So, Tara, you’ve been teaching for a while now. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?”
The honest answer is easy. I don’t know.
It’s not that I don’t know because I don’t have goals or ambitions. I just feel...open. Open to possibility, any possibility. Sure, I hope to still be in education and working with young people every day, but that could play out in several different ways – continuing as a teacher leader, or perhaps as an administrator of some sort. Maybe one day going overseas to teach English, or maybe doors will open to do something else entirely.
But the truth is that plan as I may, I can never know now what might show up in life to alter those plans. I do know that I will continue learning, no matter the scenario and with whatever resources available. So I suppose the best answer that I can give for where I see myself in the future as a learner and educator is simply this - I intend to pursue my passion for education, yes, but in whatever I am doing, I want to be in the center of God’s will for my life, seeking after Him. Because as I have personally learned, that is a life worth living.