What's your passion?

Ever since I read The Element by Sir Ken Robinson, I have been wondering about passion and teaching.

And now I just read this article on Edutopia:
Using Music in the Classroom

I have heard that teachers have a passion for teaching, but I think it might go further than this. I have been on a journey to understand how to integrate technology. I'm on a quest to understand how to truly get to a personalized learning environment. So let's see if I can articulate how all of these pieces fit together.

First. Technology integration is developmental. Nothing new. It's obvious - our whole education system is built on a process of development so why should it be different for adults? To reach a transformational level of teaching means there is growth and development. Transformation use of technology means a shift in thinking so that a personalized learning environment is achieved for each child.

Second. Designing a personalized learning environment is not what we grew up, so this is different, hence the word transformational. The key word is personal. I think that in order for a teacher to understand how to truly implement a personalized learning environment for each child, they have to understand how their own learning is personal and that means tapping into their own passions.

Third. Infusion is the step that happens right before transformation. This is the process of adding a new element so that there is something new. New instruction. New ways of learning. New ways of teaching. What happens when a teacher taps into their own passions and bring that into the classroom? I think this is that "new element" that will result in change and help us understand how to personalize learning for each child.

For example, I know a teacher that is passionate about the sensory features of the classroom, one that is passionate about exercising, one that is passionate about farming, one that is passionate about plants and music.

What if each of these teacher brought their own element into the classroom ? Imagine the change if each of us brings our own unique element to education!

It's not about the technology.

adding value

I was going through the Top 25 Apps on my iPhone just to see what was out there and I found the app by CNN. The cool thing about this app is that anyone can register and submit a story. So here's the deal. I was eating supper with my daughter at this wing place and glanced at a news story that read - How to Fix Education. I told my daughter and then my friend who is also a colleague of mine that one day, we'd be on CNN with the real scoop on education.

The plan? To submit our stories along the way until we get notice by CNN : ) We will see what happens.

But wait - there's more! I am reading the news and come across a story called San Diego Zoo is Connecting People to Conservation submitted by Chris Morrow. Now this is what I call adding value. There's tons of these examples in the world, so why isn't it happening in schools enough?I think it could be and what's significant about it is that it adds value and it is based on something that is important to someone - and therefore builds connections between people.

What is the trick for tapping into this passion so that learning adds value?