What's Your Superpower?
Prelude to Season 3 #2
Hi Friends,
Have you ever wished you had some magical way to get a project off the ground, get the master schedule completed, or finish all the calls on your list? Do you wish for superpowers? Yes, Superpowers.
The real superpower in the toolbag of the World of Learning is our TEAM.
I have been inspired by the book The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul (2021). If we rely on the powers that surround us - we can unleash our superpowers. On the first page of the prologue of the book, I was immediately drawn to the idea expressed by Fredrich Nietzche over a century ago and reiterated by modern-day philosopher Frederic Gros, that the moving body is a creative body. (We might consider encouraging more movement in schools),
Before I hit page one of the book more and more resonated with me. As the author probed cognitive limits, there was so much to think about and so many examples of how, when we think outside the brain, we accomplish so much more than we can alone.
Our team at the World of Learning helps us to extend our minds and limits when it comes to projects, schedules, and meeting deadlines. Paul describes three domains for extending the mind as she walks through ideas that educators might want to explore.
Thinking with our bodies
Thinking with our surroundings
Thinking with our relationships.
In the next few weeks, I will dive into some of the ways that you can use the research, tools, and strategies that apply to helping learners be curious and engaged in our schools and classrooms.
Today I want to highlight how relationships with our peers make the World of Learning awesome. We just added some amazing folks that help us to be better every day. Because they bring their talent to the team we can think beyond our own minds and expand ways of doing things, collaborating, supporting each other, engaging in creative banter, and sharing new learning. Together, we solve problems and create better experiences for our team - and the people we work with.
OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Sonya Yoder - is our new Secretary. She brings such a positive attitude and willingness to learn. She is a parent of 4 children and understands the power of both compassion and high standards in the classroom. She is organized and knows that asking questions is how you learn.
Melissa Henderson - is now a Virtual Learning Specialist. She comes to us after 28 years in the classroom teaching French and ESL. She had been working with our WOL team as a part-time Virtual Learning Facilitator for six years. Her work ethic and listening skills give her insight. She is supportive of her peers and colleagues and always willing to take on a new project to make the teacher and student learning experience rich.
Tracy Rains - is a Virtual Learning Specialist. New to WOL, but not IU8. Tracy worked in the Curriculum Department prior to joining our team. We are excited about her passion for the student experience and her knowledge of OER’s will be an asset as we continue to build our course catalog. This summer she is off to a busy start running our IU8 Summer School.
Erin, Lauren, Olivia and I are so grateful to have each of them join our team as we expand the opportunities of Extended Campus to our IU8 Districts. Our superpowers have multiplied and we are excited to keep learning with them.
Next week we will take a dive into our book study - and provide some awesome ideas for you to ponder about extending the mind in school!
Happy June,
Pat