So I’m taking an MOOC led by the London University Educational Institute (I think I have that right…?), and the main assignment each week is a reflective journal. Why not make it blog form?
In the first unit of this course, I’m already seeing some educational theories with which I’m unfamiliar. In particular, there was some discussion of humanism — a sort of holistic approach to learning. While the concept is not unfamiliar, the specifics of the humanist theory are new to me, and I’m quite looking forward to learning more about them. I’m also looking forward to creating a reflective journal. In my student teaching at Mills College, a large part of our practicum grade was a journal which we had to create each week. I’ve tried to keep up this practice in my private childcare, but with little success — I didn’t have anyone to share it with, and I didn’t feel beholden to anyone to make it, and so I never really created a practice of it. However, I’m hoping that with this course, I will get back into the habit. I also hope to use this opportunity to work on my observational skills, and to really relate my work back to theory — I feel a little ungrounded in theory these days, and I know that my work is suffering as a result.
Through listening to the interviews this week, reading the articles, and participating in the discussion boards, the main idea that sticks out for me about the future of education is to have spaces such as this, where those working in — and learning about — education can have open, guided discussions about the topics that matter to us. Some of us work in vacuums, and in traditional educational settings, staff members gather only to discuss practical matters, or when their students are having problems in school. I was taught in the Reggio-Emilia tradition, where observation, documentation, reflection, and discussion are a part of the curriculum-making process, and are used to facilitate the learning of all children. This is the model which I like to work in, while being informed of other important developmental and educational theories. The basis is transparency and communication, between teachers, students, and families.
Sarah Blake, R.G.S. 