Educational Philosophy

I am a professional educator with a passion for learning. I am a firm believer that creativity is the most powerful ability we have, and our creativity exposes us to various opportunities for learning. We learn by challenging ourselves.

My role as an educator is based on constructivist and connectivist learning theories, as well as metaphors created by John Seely Brown, Clarence Fisher, Curtis Bonk, and George Siemens: Master Artist, Network Administrator, Concierge, and Curator.

The Master Artist creates an open studio-like space for students to create in full view of other students, allowing for collaboration, dialogue, and constructive feedback. The Master Artist observes the students' activities, offers feedback, and highlights exceptional pieces. The Network Adminstrator helps students form connections and create learning networks, critically evaluate sources of information, and understand how key concepts are related and understood. The Concierge directs students to resources or learning opportunities and acts as a soft guide, offering both directed and independent learning experiences. The Curator, as an expert learner, "creates spaces in which knowledge can be created, explored, and connected." The Curator allows students to independently explore and discover new knowledge while offering learning maps to help. (Siemens, Learning and Knowing in Networks: Changing Roles for Educators and Designers).

I believe:

• The desire to explore and create is an innate human instinct;
• Autonomy and the freedom to choose is essential to fostering lifelong learning;
• Networking communities, both in and out of the classroom, foster environments conducive to learning;
• Critical thinking and analysis are foundational to learning;
• Real-world tools can and must be used as vehicles for authentic learning; and
• The role of the educator is to create spaces and opportunities for learning and creating to occur while offering guidance as necessary.