“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
I often think about this quotation by Leo Bruscaglia, a special educator, when I am teaching. Will my students remember this lesson, this novel, this project next year or even years later? Does it matter? Am I using their time (and my time) wisely? Even before I arrived at Brilliant Stars School in Tripura, India, I was impressed. I watched a couple of videos about the school and I corresponded regularly with Principal, Sir, Biswajit Sinha. These students and teachers were engaged in projects and learning that would last long past the end of the school year. Identifying problems and designing innovative and creative solutions is at the heart of their curriculum. Change is their bread and butter, their stock in trade. In order to get to BSS, I took a 4.5 hour flight and then a two hour very bumpy car ride. I drove through what looked like a lush, green jungle at times and at other times, small, but vibrant villages. How could educators who live in such a remote area be so progressive? I am still not sure I could answer that question, but I do know that I would put these teachers up against the very talented OHS teachers any day! In small classrooms with no air conditioning and intermittent electricity, these teachers brought the magic. I observed engaged and eager students. I observed teachers discussing growth mindset, joyful learning and other ways to meet the needs of every learner. I observed group work, the use of technology, and student centered discussion. I watched students present beautiful powerpoint projects while their classmates gave meaningful suggestions for improvement. Most importantly, I witnessed true joy. During a day long PD session, I was asked how I use joyful learning at OHS. I realized that although I think about the emotional health of my students, I was pretty perplexed by the question. I gave a rambling answer about enjoying my job and my desire to get to know my students as people along the way. It turns out that there is a whole philosophy called “joyful learning.” The idea is to bring a playfulness, excitement, wonder and love to the classroom. I certainly witnessed this in every classroom I observed at BSS. This year’s project, chosen by students at BSS, is gender equality. Students will research this issue in their community by reading, surveying and studying the topic. They will come up with a plan for creating more equality and then they will put this plan into place. True change will occur in this community because of talented educators and joyful and engaged students at Brilliant Stars.
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Jane PhillipsJane Phillips is a teacher at Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan. In the summer of 2017, she travelled to India with the U.S. State Department as part of the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. Archives
August 2017
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