How do we want to learn together on this land? (Lesson 3)
Reflection
I find live online teaching particularly challenging in that I really appreciate real time feedback by those in the room, and in this lesson, I found it even more difficult because I have a limited relationship with Ali, Gurpreet, and Melody (as much as several weeks of an online course can afford!). So while I thought the lesson and sequencing went well, I certainly missed out on the community building aspect typically incorporated into the first lesson in the unit. I think it is important, especially when working with other educators around an inquiry topic, that the facilitator is perceived as a co-learner and collaborator, and I tried to be intentional about being a participant-facilitator in this lesson. In this role I tried to synthesize and connect the experiences and stories that everyone shared in the discussion, and use that information to guide our [predetermined] direction from examining learning as a sensory experience to an introspective one.
One of the things I was thinking about afterwards was around my intentions for the inquiry and the lessons and how I was trying to design processes for educators to look inward. I felt a bit anxious in that it seems a fine balance between asserting or even suggesting my own beliefs and creating a space for educators to reflect on their own. Some people, too, might not even be in a place where they are willing or open to that inward journey. Within the larger inquiry I think I would have felt less anxious as educators would choose to participate in the workshop and we have used the first day to collectively come to an agreed upon commitment to be used in the experience from today’s lesson (rather than me just telling people today that this was our one BIG idea!).
I really appreciate the feedback and suggestions that Ali, Gurpreet, and Melody shared with me. I think it was valuable receiving their perspectives as “outsiders” to the inquiry topic. Ali and Gurpreet both offered resources (https://sierraclub.bc.ca/ and the works of the poet and philosopher, Tagore) that I intend to explore. Melody shared the common concern with outdoor learning around safety and legal issues that might arise in routinely taking students outside. I thought this was a really relevant comment based on the learning task, and if we had more time we would have fleshed out these worries and fears as hidden commitments and assumptions we hold about teaching and learning. This was an indicator that the lesson sequence within the unit should work well.
