education
I think, create and live with an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility. I always ask “why” first, and then try to determine “how.” I am devoted to designing experiences that promote individual empowerment. I want to affect the way that people approach the world; to open doors, to make it so inviting on the other side that they ask how to open that door for themselves...and never want to go back.
I invite students to take ownership of their education by posing exciting and relevant challenges, by introducing them to authentic experiences, and by engaging them in critical thinking and questioning. I firmly believe that creating an inspiring learning environment is the best way to engage people in self-motivated learning, which is something we all need in order to succeed in this world. In order to truly understand something, I believe that it is imperative to connect conceptual and procedural knowledge, to discuss and to prove, and to make learning real.
Encouraging students to wonder, to be curious, and to inquire for a purpose is a through-line in the way I plan my lessons, structure my teaching, and interact with my students. Questioning is extremely important, and I encourage my students to ask questions and present opposing viewpoints by modeling this every step of the way.
One piece of advice that I gained from my undergraduate design professor was, “Don’t be afraid to mess up; and if you do, mess up brilliantly," which led me to abandon erasers and timidity, and to think and live big and bold. These are qualities that I encourage in my students, and I consciously create spaces and relationships with them to foster this fearlessness, this presence, and this hunger for learning and growth.
Click here if you're curious about how I got here, what inspired me to shift my focus from design to education, and where I plan to go with it.
Let's collaborate! I created a Teacher Idea Swap site where teachers and students can share ideas, methods, questions, and create a shared learning network. if you'd like to contribute any of your own thoughts or resources, please e-mail me.
