 Exploring the Loose Parts Picnic at our Pop-Up Lab School | If you’re wondering, “hey! I could have sworn I saw something about a summer PD collection from ThinkinEd!” you are not losing your mind. We really did have a series of intriguing PD planned for July and August. And yes, they really have disappeared. Here’s why: buoyed by the success of our very first Pop-Up LabSchool at EdEx conference, we poured our efforts into meeting the needs of educators seeking more creative and innovative PD. We blended multiple theories and concepts together and presented them as a series of mix n’ match learning opportunities. It was very exciting. |
But then summer started. And reality set in. Sunshine trickled through the windows… a slower pace took hold. Daily routines loosened up and all we really wanted to do was kick back on a patio with our flip-flops and a bottle of wine! Suddenly it felt like the right time to take a breath and think deeply about where we’re at and where we’re going.
That’s when it hit us: We don't do PD!! – At least, not in its traditional form. After taking some time to research the meaning of Professional Development, we became convinced that PD is in need of a serious rethink. We can’t just infuse creativity into the existing PD structure and expect it to look and feel different. This realization stopped us in our tracks. We absolutely unequivocally cannot move forward with any programming that does not feel authentic and purposeful. Meaningful learning opportunities for educators need to reflect the unchangeable fact that idea sharing and knowledge co-construction are the key to progress. Anything else falls short of aligning with our values and beliefs about the future of education. We had no choice but to go back to the drawing board.
There is something keenly wonderful about going back to the beginning. Whenever we do this, we rediscover the moments that ignite our curiosity and excite our senses. The incredible connections that emerged from our Pop-Up LabSchool launched us into a fascinating exploration of Canada’s educational landscape. Among them – the vanishing role of traditional Lab Schools; the concept of the Creative Journey; and new theories about the fluidity of teachers as learners and learners as teachers. We recognize now that we need to honour these new learning trajectories by letting them develop organically. And we’ve got the sunny month of August stretched out before us in which to do just that! Stay tuned…
RSS Feed
