As an educator, I need to step outside my “comfort zone of content” by sharing my own self: things that I myself am passionate about. I need to stop peddling content and show that I am a learner too.
So, what interests me is how educators can help young people (or anyone, for that matter) find and pursue their passion?
Genuine passion cannot be ignited with a podcast or a blog. Instead, we need to give our students the freedom to learn and engage with ideas that they find relevant and important.
It begins, it seems to me, when the teacher becomes a learner and replaces the static curriculum documents with inquiry, conversation, knowledge-building, and personal networks.
learning today can be “passion-based and deeply personalized.”
Are passion based teaching and learning incompatible with NCLB and standards based assessments? Or do we just need to take some time to create a bridge between the two?
