In the past week, I've been in a large number of different teaching/learning meetings, events, and conversations, and my summary is that there are many, many, many points of view when it comes to teaching and learning well.
This fact is one fact that makes education so complex--so many are bringing ideas, experience, questions, and thoughts to the table that its difficult to discern where all those ideas fit together and what sets them apart. It's also challenging to see where your ideas fit as one's ideas may fit well in some spheres but seem quite foreign in others.
I actually am happy to have the opportunity to entertain a large number of lenses and thought as I move forward in education. Those who are willing to speak up and say what they really think truly help all of us discuss, debate, and think about our education path with depth. Those who are less vocal and more difficult to discern don't help as much because you have to make a lot of guesses about what they're promoting or believing.
As much as possible, we need to share our thoughts, beliefs, experiences with respect and transparency--no one has all the answers, but when the information is clearly desseminated, more people are able to take part, and when more people are able to be part of the process there's usually a better chance that we'll arrive at good resolve.
