You can’t be a teacher, if you are not a learner.
I’ve written many times about teachers as learners, professional learning, reading groups and learning through collaborative planning.
I once posted 10 ways to grow as an educator, based on my reflections on my own learning and growth at that point in time. This week, I’m fortunate to be at an IB workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand, training to be an IB workshop leader. Reflecting at the end of the first day, I have some ideas to add my list of ways teachers can learn…
1. Engage with teachers from different places and cultures.
Twitter is a fine place to start, if you can’t meet them in person.
2. Interact with teachers who teach other disciplines and different age groups.
Talk about learning in your context. Really listen to them talk about learning in theirs.
3. Get out of school!
Learn in a beautiful, natural setting. Be inspired by nature.
4. Visit another school.
Preferably one that’s very different from yours.
5. Watch other teachers teach or present.
Learn from what they do… and from what they don’t do.
6. Tweet from a conference.
Sum up the key points 140 characters at a time.
7. Interact with other people who share your passion.
If you’re lucky, you can find them in your school. If not, connect online.
8. Reflect on your own learning.
Stop and think about what you learned. Write it down. A blog is best, a scrap of paper will do.
9. Teach teachers.
Share your knowledge, experience, expertise and ideas with people who know as much and more than you do.
10. Be open-minded.
There is something worth learning from every person you meet and every situation you find yourself in…
IB Workshop Leader Training Day #1
What Ed Said 
Terrific List. Thanks.
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Edna, great post. The whole idea of learning from others is what we want to model for our learners as well!
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Exactly, Jason. This WSL training experience is a special learning opportunity because all the participants are knowledgeable, passionate and motivated You were right, I’m loving it
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Great post. I would add to #7 Interact with people who have different passions and who may not agree with you on some issues. You should also be prepared to change your mind. Keep up the good work.
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Hi Douglas, Yes I totally agree! I work closely with someone who thinks in a very different way than I do and we are constantly debating, ‘arguing’, justifying, rethinking… But that was in my original ’10 ways to grow as an educator’ post! The thoughts in this one are based on my current learning context.
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And of course: plan lessons, not outcomes. You should never be entirely sure where a conversation with a class is heading…
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#10 speaks to me so much – perhaps because I work with people and in an area where many are exactly the opposite. It’s challenging, but it also encourages me to hear everybody’s thoughts and ideas all the way through, and even give them a try before judging. Thanks, as always, for a great post! 🙂
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This post speaks to the power and value of the Personal & Professional Learning Network and how in today’s digital world can be even more inclusive spanning the globe. I look to build my PLN with a diversity of thought, passion, and opinion … this will stretch my thinking and and generate quality questions from all that bring forth great conversation, instill a desire to find answers .. cultivating collaboration .. the ultimate result will be to take disparate information and create new knowledge contexts.
Thanks for the post!
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Reblogged this on feliciapalmer.
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Hello Edna,
Nice post! Really liked reading it.
Completely agree with what you listed above and the things people said. In addition, I would say observe your students more, interact with them outside the class more, let them speak more etc. There are just so many things we can learn from them..
Cheers!
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Hi Edna,
I can really relate to having those professional connections and the ability to have a professional conversation without having to always agree. I dearly love to have someone challenge my ideas and provoke me to think further.
🙂
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