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Dream Big, Start Small, Go Deep
In a previous newsletter, I described the necessity for Upstream Thinking to change the narrative of education
To recap, I said that
Upstream Thinkers:
Are led by North Stars = guiding principles that help them navigate towards a desired end…no matter the terrain
Dream Big, Start Small, Go Deep = They break their bold, big ideas into small, sustainable steps that pursue depth
Think systemically = Create healthy, sustainable systems for transformative growth
Are Legacy Builders = Give themselves to work they know they will not see completed in their lifetime
Upstream Thinkers are oriented towards a North Star—they are guided by a sense of “True North”
In this newsletter, I want to unpack the second requirement for Upstream Thinking
Upstream Thinkers Think Big Picture Over The Long Haul
Upstream Thinkers are 50,000 feet for 50 years type thinkers
They have the ability to see over the waterline and beyond the horizon
They have a vision of the world as it could/should be
They understand the setbacks, struggles, frustrations, obstacles, and challenges are part of the journey forward
They see their work as gardeners planting seeds that take time to grow
They are dedicated to the long haul, realizing transformative growth takes time
They Dream Big but Start Small with the goal of Going Deep
Dream Big, Start Small, Go Deep
Upstream Thinkers have big, bold, wild, crazy, imaginative dreams
But they know those dreams are shaped in small, consistent ways that pursue depth over the long haul
Upstream Thinkers operate with the belief that what they do is a “long obedience in the same direction”
How does this apply to transforming education?
If Human Flourishing is our North Star…Upstream Thinking means we must shift directions and begin to walk towards that with disciplined consistency
Unapologetically
Without excuses
Saying Yes to those things in schools that promote Human Flourishing
And No to those things that do not
One Big Idea = Transform the learning environment from “subject centered” to “student centered” to “learner centered”
One big idea to help you on the journey towards reimagining education as human flourishing is to shift the learning environment from “subject centered” to “student centered” and, ultimately, to “learner centered”
In a subject centered classroom, the teacher teaches ______ (the subject) to students.
I teach “math” / “English” / “science” to students—the students are “passive receptacles” waiting for the teacher to “fill their empty buckets” with knowledge
In a student centered classroom, teachers say
“I teach students to be ______”
I teach students to be mathematicians, biologists, researchers, authors, engineers, historians, etc
In the final stage, the learner centered classroom, everyone learns from everyone!
The “teacher” is invited into the learning alongside the “students”
In many cases, the students are invited to teach the teacher via student thesis projects, collaborative presentations, imaginative projects, e.g.
In the learner centered model, the teacher routinely says “I never thought of that before!” routinely experiencing her own a ha moments alongside the students
As this NC State University article states “Learner-centered teaching methods shift the focus of activity from the teacher to the learners”
These methods include:
Active learning, in which students solve problems, answer questions, formulate questions of their own, discuss, explain, debate, or brainstorm during class
Cooperative learning, in which students work in teams on problems and projects under conditions that assure both positive interdependence and individual accountability
Inductive teaching and learning, in which students are first presented with challenges. Inductive methods include inquiry-based learning, case-based instruction, problem-based learning, project-based learning, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching
Learner-centered methods have repeatedly been shown to be superior to the traditional teacher-centered approach to instruction, a conclusion that applies whether the assessed outcome is short-term mastery, long-term retention, or depth of understanding of course material, acquisition of critical thinking or creative problem-solving skills, formation of positive attitudes toward the subject being taught, or level of self-confidence in knowledge and skills.
**At the school where I serve, Odyssey Leadership Academy, we say that our job is not to number students (with grades, scores, GPA) but to name them
Marine Biologist
Forensic Scientist
Economist
City Planner
Social Anthropologist
Storyteller
Historian
Paleontologist
and so much more!
We believe that education should not merely serve to inform the mind, but to form the heart; that a proper education should help students rightly order their lives by properly ordering their loves. We are convinced that a vision of education rooted in health begins not with information, but with the in/formation of persons committed to the well-being and flourishing of themselves and their communities.
Thought Experiment: Consider transforming your teaching practice from “subject centered” to “student centered” to “learner centered”
Imagine the changes that need to occur to invite student voice into the learning environment
How might you change the way you think about your work as naming students…calling them to be “experts” in the learning
→ Today’s Action Step: Think of how your teaching and learning environment might change if you transition from “subject centered” to “learner centered”
key place in your area of influence you can begin to think, act, and lead upstream
Let me know what you think would change downstream if we went upstream and transformed our reason for educating towards the North Star of human flourishing!
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Join the Journey
I’m in the midst of creating some really powerful resources to inspire, uplift, encourage and bring together visionary, upstream educators and leaders just like you to curate a community of practice ready to change the narrative of education!
These resources will include
Digital ebook to help school leaders flourish and thrive as they foster human-centered education at their sites
Video courses aimed at offering inspired strategy for those ready to do something new and unique in education
Curated cohorts of like-minded, like-hearted visionaries to come together and learn with and from one another
Mountain retreats aimed at re-centering the work of education in human and communal flourishing
If that sounds interesting…hit me up!
Follow and share this newsletter and join me on this mission to reimagine education!!!