Witnesses to educational truth

We need more teachers and classroom bloggers like Doug, author of Borderland. In his post “Bearing Witness” he writes:

I want to shine a light on problems so that we can perhaps begin to understand them and grow from that knowledge. I want to discuss implementation, as well as reform because literacy is a doorway to the self. Self knowledge is what students remember us for. I firmly believe that students remember teachers mostly for how we made them feel, and not for what we tried to teach them. I want to celebrate our humanity, and to urge that we look to one another for reassurance that we’re doing what is necessary to bring the world forward out of darkness, fear, hatred, and suffering comes from forgetting who and what we are. We don’t need tests’ results to tell us that, unless the tests are the kind that can be read in the smile on a child’s face, or in the sound of laughter, or an “Aha!” moment, all of which are magical to a teacher. I’m writing to simply bear witness to my experience as a teacher, whatever that might mean.

The educational research agenda is important, but I think stories and conversations have the most potential to really change our practices. We all need to be shining light on the realities, truths, and challenges in our own spheres. The edublogosphere is a great place to have conversations about that process, and about these issues. This is the authentic professional development path of the 21st century teacher-leader. And it is not just a theoretical pursuit without practical application. This is where we can challenge and further shape our perceptions, which will translate into changed behaviors in the classroom and the boardroom. We should join Doug in being witnesses to educational truth, so we can carry the torch of authentically engaging and meaningful learning into our interactions with other learners each day.

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On this day..

• Why is Oklahoma Education Policy So Screwed Up? – 2014
• Create an iPad Stand for Stopmotion from Cardboard – 2014
• Document Field Trip Learning with AudioBoo – 2013
• Create an Online Radio Show with Spreaker DJ for iPad – 2013
• Add Photo to KidBlog Post – 2012
• Is your school network ready for multi-platform collaboration? – 2011
• Thanks for making a difference for kids every day – 2010
• Online Student Portfolios: What Tools Are Best? – 2010
• Digital Storytelling as THE Disruptive Change Agent for the 21st Century Learning Revolution – 2008
• RSS: Ready for Some Stories – 2008