Building Learning Communities

“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig." - Marcus Aurelius
Active teachers are always digging; always learning more about themselves and the surrounding world. In an active classroom, the teacher becomes a true role model, making his/her own learning visible to students. This is perhaps a new mode of education that involves deep trust, curiosity, and openness.

In this session, we will share different methods that teachers use to fill their own ""wellsprings of Good"", using curiosity as a guide. Examples include Harvard Project Zero's ""Out of Eden Learn"" module, and Project VOICE Spoken Word poetry. Teachers who are writers, artists, philosophers and researchers will share various techniques for nurturing personal passions (including creative writing, photography, historical research, etc.), incorporating personal practices into teaching practices. We will also discuss ways to use an online global community (the modern PLN!) for collaborative inspiration and support, as we look to build a network of like-minded, creative, collaborative educators worldwide. Bring your ideas, and get ready to share and form your own global passion network in this session!