I’ll have a new role in 2011. Teaching and Learning Coordinator. I love the title because those are the things that matter to me. I’ve always been a teacher and never aspired to be any kind of head. I’m not interested in admin, budgets, management or dealing with complaints. I care about learning. And next year I’m going to try and change its face…
Most of my own learning in the past couple of years has come from online interactions. Through conferences, blogs, Twitter, Skype… I have made some wonderful connections and broadened my thinking enormously. I have shared ideas about teaching and learning with educators on every continent. I have interacted with interesting people who have made me think in different ways about big ideas in education, about the world and about myself.
While it’s tough for me to imagine not having my own class, I hope I can make a bigger difference in my new role. What’s taken place in my own learning will apply to students too. I know the days of just learning in a room with walls are over. Just as I have expanded my learning sphere, so can they…
Last week I thought it was exciting that some of my Year 5 students were teaching Hebrew to a 15 year old in Colorado. The fact that a group of Year 6 students were coming to talk to kids in India at lunchtimes was amazing. This week, it’s becoming ordinary. We’re getting to used to it! Both groups had conversations today and they are beginning to take the lead themselves. I try to stay out of the way as much as possible.
It’s a model for what learning can look like. Should look like. I’m hoping gradually it will become commonplace. Groups of students learning from and with other kids anywhere in the world. Learners on different continents sharing, debating and discussing. Kids communicating and collaborating across the globe.
I asked Manish at the SOLE in Maharashtra why he’d enjoyed talking to the kids in Australia. He thought for a minute, then typed ‘We have a common thing which is talk freely with another childrens’. Indeed.
And it’s not even difficult to achieve.
What Ed Said 
Congratulations Edna!
Sounds an absolutely perfect role for you: it will allow you to use your veritable talents for the learnings of the children and teachers, and will also allow you more scope for your own learning. Good call by whoever made the call!
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Well done on the appointment – sounds like a perfect role for you and you’ll continue to do a great job at inspiring others. Stepping out of the classroom gives you the freedom to see the bigger picture and help others develop, sharing those skills ultimately with a wider group of students than just those lucky enough to be in your classroom. Keep up the fabulous work!
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Edna,
Congratulations New Teaching and Learning Coordinator! I believe this may be called finding your PASSION. All the best to the lucky students that you will be collaborating with.
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Thanks so much 🙂
I’ve only described the fun part of the job here… There’ll be lots of slog with curriculum planning, documentation, assessment etc too! But the focus is on learning… so lucky.
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i think you are perfect for this Edna. i think one piece we often overlook – run out of time for – whatever – is really listening to our learners. and i think that is definitely one of your gifts.
matt mullenweg wrote in this http://ma.tt/2010/11/one-point-oh/ post:
usage is like oxygen for ideas.
we often forget the very oxygen for what we’re investing ourselves in.
lead on dear friend..
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Lead on? I think you have it the wrong way round. Thank you Monika… a word or two from you here and there have pushed my thinking hugely!
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Congratulations, that’s what I want to be when I grow up. What better job could there be for a person who is a passionate about learning and sharing of learning.
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Congratulations! I can’t think of anyone better suited for the title. You will do amazing things in your new role, I look forward to hearing all about it. You will have times when you miss the classroom and directly working with students immensely…keep connecting with students somehow (maybe SOLE) and you will be able to truly enjoy the new role!
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May I add my congratulations too – Well done. I know you will be magnificent at it. I can’t wait to read about your thoughts and learning throughout next year.
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So proud of you. You earned and deserve your new status. Lots of Luck
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It’s just so heart-warming to think of all that talk freely taking place, all because educators ARE passionate about teaching and learning. I love it when passion is acknowledged – congratulations!
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Congratulations Edna. I think it’s a post you are eminently suited to – and one from which you will get an enormous amount of satisfaction.
Does the position have no teaching component at all? Our coordinators all work 4 days in a classroom and have 1 day to “coordinate” – pretty difficult at times although, like you, I think I would miss the classroom bit 🙂
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Our primary school is across 3 campuses in different areas. Teaching a class means a time commitment on one campus, so difficult to do. Hoping to get into classrooms and team teach though.
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Congratulations Edna!
How lucky is your school to have such a passionate learner and educator as their Learning and Teaching Coordinator! Your staff and students will soar to even greater heights with you to guide them.
Kim 🙂
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Wow! Thank you so much for the amazing support and good wishes.
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