Learning Manifesto

Beginning this journey of digital learning, I have had to delve into many aspects of what I believe about learning. I have been challenged to assess my beliefs of what I hold to be “true” and how that applies to my future endeavors. This has not been the easiest of tasks, but it has been one of the most rewarding and revealing of my life.

“Knowing what you really believe about learning is important because this foundational belief should drive the way you create significant learning environments and the way you engage learners”. - Dwayne Harapnuik

My educational and professional journeys have been highly atypical in comparison to the perceived “norm”. I started my working life at the age of fifteen, and I was married at eighteen. I had our first child when I was twenty-three and our second at twenty-six. After spending my teenage years waiting tables and working in retail, I quickly moved into managing and then owning my own successful sign business for years where I created everything from car decals to billboards. Because of this, I did not go to college out of high school. From the seventh grade through graduation, I attended a private school. Most private schools weren't accredited by the state then, similar to homeschool, so a GED was required after graduation. I put off the GED after graduation since I was not directly enrolling in college. This meant that at the age of thirty when I decided to begin my college degree plan, I had to go back and get a GED just to start school. This is one thing that delayed my college enrollment before the age of thirty. I was embarrassed. I had been a stellar student and had success in my career, so it felt humiliating. I assumed everyone would judge me as though I had been a dropout. When I finally made the choice that I would do it, sitting in the GED testing room, I nearly passed out. My vision went black mid-test, and I had to steady myself to not fall out of the desk. It took a bit to regain my composure, but I finished the test.

Why did I feel this way? Why was I so ashamed even though I knew I would have no issues succeeding in college?

The feeling of being “good enough” is based on following the traditional societal standards that exist, and if you fail to do so, you are not a “success”. You can feel subject to the judgment of others for not having “checked all of the boxes”. I spent years being apprehensive about not having attended college yet. I was somewhat ashamed of it, even though I had found great success in my personal and professional lives. Then I moved to a new city, in the suburbs of Houston, where it seemed nearly unheard of to meet people that did not have an alma mater and goals for their children to follow in their footsteps. I felt like an outsider. While I knew this did not define me, according to the rulebook of life, I felt as if I had failed. I was determined to set an example for my kids to follow their dreams no matter what anyone else thought. So I did just that.

I am now in the ADL program for my Master's degree and have worked in online teaching for the last 5+ years since receiving my undergraduate teaching degree. I decided to forego the traditional classroom after graduating, turning down a brick-and-mortar job offer in favor of virtual teaching. It was hard receiving judgment from those in the field for my decision. Virtual teachers are not always well-respected, but I did not let that stop me. I knew it was the path I needed to choose. The experience I have gained as an online teacher, trainer, and mentor has been priceless. When Covid hit, my skill set became one of the best to have. I was contacted by friends in the traditional education setting daily to help them navigate the digital world they had been cast into with no warning.

I came to realize that the social standards of expectation for education and career is simply a made-up list that should not be given the chance to dictate our life choices. Sticking to the set path of expectations would not have allowed me to grow or gain a skill set that has been of immense value to myself and others. It would have never occurred to me to join the ADL program where I am not only learning digital skills but also learning about the growth mindset, which is changing my life in all aspects. I can pass along the insight that life has a way of working out for you if you're willing to trust yourself enough to grow and learn on your own terms and according to your own path.

It is now my goal to share this knowledge and my experiences in learning. My experiences have shaped and molded my beliefs of what learning is all about. I hope to use what I have learned and continue to learn to help others expand their horizons and remove the barriers they believe hold them back. I want everyone to realize that learning is NOT one-size-fits-all. I hope to provide educators with the path to choose and succeed at being a learner.

“Learning is not done to you, it is something you choose to do.”

-Seth Godin, Stop Stealing Dreams

The following is my learning manifesto, my beliefs about learning, and my goals for the future. This is just the beginning and will change as I learn and grow, developing a guide for creating growth in myself and others.

I Believe (COVA):

Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Learning are essential

We can influence others and create change
Collaboration is important
Aesthetics matter - Design shapes learning

Learners need to be given choice. Personalizing learning and allowing the learner to incorporate unique aspects of themselves allows learners to take ownership of their learning. This creates motivation and understanding that promotes sharing of content. Giving learners the opportunity to use their voice deepens understanding. It gives confidence in knowledge and drives the learner to be open to collaboration. Providing authentic learning experiences ensures learners can use choice, ownership, and voice. Through COVA, learners begin to influence and create change in their organization.

I Believe (Distance Learning):

Distance learning is quality learning
Distance learning is a positive, not a deficit - Do not give in to campus envy or try to emulate in-person classes…WE ARE THE CAMPUS!
All learning should not happen at a desk - Online learning should inspire to go beyond - motivate to be used and work in the outside world
Digital technology can be integrated and used for success (Many modes matter)

Distance learning does not have to be seen as a lesser option in education. In my personal experience, the best education I have had to date is the ADL program, which is 100% online. Covid pushed education into the digital world and showed us that we can adjust. We must view distance learning as its own entity and not try to mirror the brick-and-mortar classroom. We should design our online classes in a way that learners are motivated to go beyond the desk and take learning into the real world. I believe that technology can and should be incorporated in authentic ways to benefit the learning process.

"The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel they’re valued." -Sir Ken Robinson

I Believe (Data):

Learners are not only numbers or spreadsheet fillers
Qualitative, not quantitative - Data should be used as a guide to deepen learning
Rigor should not be built-in, it should be fostered - We should not overly design or make too standardized

Data must be viewed differently than it has in the past. Instead of using data to reprimand or use only as a stopping point, we need to use it as a guide to know what worked and what we can improve upon. It is necessary to view learning as qualitative and not quantitative. Learners should not be seen as a number to reach a goal. We should not require a certain level of rigor or effort from our learners but should foster an environment where learners are motivated to succeed in all.

I Believe (Educators):

We are all learners - Lifelong learning is the key
No one-size-fits-all in learning - Respect diversity - Be inclusive
Expertise does not equal good teaching - The internet is full of “experts”
Be comfortable with the uncomfortable - Mistakes are how we learn

One of the most important beliefs I hold is that we must all view ourselves as learners. The learning process is hindered when the goal is to simply cross the threshold of a numerical score or letter grade. Learning happens as part of the journey, not the destination. Being an “expert” does not mean you are a good educator. Experts are easy to find in the internet age. Helping learners to develop critical thinking skills and using COVA develops learners that can achieve personal growth. Learning is lifelong and never-ending. When creating a significant learning environment, we should create it around all learners. Respecting the diversity of all learners is necessary. Mistakes should not be looked at as something to be ashamed of or stop you from achieving. Mistakes or failures should be seen as a building block to gain experience and an opportunity for growth.

"If we do not put forth the investment in our learners,

the failure will be ours to own." -Tilisa Thibodeaux

In my organization, I hope to motivate every learner to realize their potential. I want everyone to understand that no matter their experience in life, no matter their accomplishments to date, they are worthy. They are capable of learning and growing to achieve in life. Mistakes are ok and without them, we cannot learn. I want to supply the tools for every educator to take ownership of their own path and realize that learning is a journey that is worth beginning.

In creating my learning manifesto, I was again reminded of a book that I read to my children when they were little. I never knew how often I would think back on this book throughout my life or remind and reread it to them throughout theirs. It is a book by Max Lucado called ‘You are Special’. This book speaks on not allowing the expectations of others to affect who you are.

You can listen to the book being read in the video below:

A page from the book:

However…

“...she had no dots or stars. It wasn’t that people didn’t try to give her stickers - it’s just that the stickers didn’t stick.” - Max Lucado

Knowing the effect that the expectations of others and the traditional education system had on my life, it is my goal to ensure that any learners in my path know about COVA. It is critical that we give learners choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning experiences to reach their full potential as a learner. Our rough spots and the areas of our lives that are the messiest should be areas of pride. These are the areas we learn and grow. Being ashamed will do nothing but hinder where we are headed and what we can achieve. Engaging learners in a way that fuels the fire to continue a lifelong journey of learning is my goal. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to learning. We must focus on creating significant learning environments that allow ALL to flourish. We must empower learners to take control and have pride in their own learning path, no matter how unique it may be.

"We MUST engage our students' hearts and minds, otherwise, our traditional methods of instruction will inadvertently produce bureaucratic cogs that will function as carbon copies of one another." -Tilisa Thibodeaux

References

Godin, S. (2012). Stop Stealing Dreams : (what is school for?). Seth Godin.

Harapnuik, D. (2021, November 10). Four keys to understanding learning theories. Harapnuik.org. https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=6344

Lucado, M., & Martinez, S. (2015). You are special. Candle Books.

Robinson, K. (2017). Out of our minds : the power of being creative. Capstone.

Thibodeaux, T. (n.d.). Learning philosophy – Learner’s mindset….. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from http://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=1539