The “Future of Learning” Manifesto from the Mind[s] of Christian Long [and Me]
Point 3: “Nobody Cares if You Walked Uphill Both Ways Barefoot in the Snow and Could Diagram a Sentence.”
To the elderly people who blab and reminisce about their good, proper, well-rounded, appropriate past: don’t enforce “your/the old ways” on me- because it won’t help me [while it is interesting to hear those good stories]. It won’t help me prepare for my future. So if that’s what you’re aimin’ for, don’t do it. Instead, try to learn/understand “the ways and things of now” and work with me and teach me with that [and perhaps throw in some timeless lessons that you learned through your past experiences that would be useful to me and the preparing for my future]. ‘Cause that’s what I’m going to need; that’s what I’ll need to apply to my future (and to build my future).
Point 4: “Got Passion? If not I’ll Tell You What to Care About.”
Students: Don’t complain about all of your classes-accept it - ‘cause they’re all important. (But you can complain if you “have a dream you can articulate and are willing to put your life on the line for it.”) Otherwise, yeah, accept it. And teachers: understand this (and/or accept it): you need to start me off- give me the side of the matchbox to start a spark; “give me the words, the tools, the examples.” Then, step back and watch/let me work, let the fire spread. Let me do my thing [but remain a bystander with a “touch up” fire extinguisher to guide me if my fire gets out of control]. And once you see my interest and passion for the subject go from “lit match to forest fire,” stop spoon feeding me the necessary supplies and information and let me work on my own. That way I can learn better by doing it and discovering it by myself [, and showing myself I can do it].
Point 5: “My Memory is Only as Big as My Heart. Otherwise I’ll Stick With Google.”
Teacher: I’ll only remember what I’m really interested in and passionate about. Sure, I could try and memorize and regurgitate facts, but I won’t be so passionate about doing it because I have Google…and other search engines and the internet for that. And yeah, I could go to the good old-fashioned library to find the information you’re asking for or that I need, but why? Why do that when I have easy access to a quicker and much bigger, seemingly endless place to search? But, “I will remember anything you tell me”…as long as you do it in a truthful, interesting, story-like way to grab my heart and interest and make a passion.
Point 10: “Nobody Knows the Answer. Get Comfy with the Questions. [All in all…]”
Teacher (whether it’s a school teacher, parent, grandparent, pastor, or guardian): Help me prepare for my future, but do it in the “now way” rather than the way you did it when you were growing up. You know the stuff, the information, so don’t ask me. Teach me. And teach me to ask great questions (“like Socrates and the guys who actually code Google by asking questions nobody else dreamed of”). My future isn’t going to need the memorizations that you want me to “learn” so badly, because it is going to need the ability to adapt. It needs to adapt to the ever-changing environment and lifestyle, the ‘everything is moving so fast and changing all the time.’ And that is what my future is going to need/be. Can you help me with that? (Or do you need [me] to [help you] get there first? And then help me?)
“(Or do you need [me] to [help you] get there first? And then help me?)”
If your questions are the case in fact, moving Jerry Maguire back one click, how do you help me help you?
Elder/teacher: I need your wisdom and ageless past experiences to help me prepare for my future. Keep in mind I need you to teach me in the way of today for the way of today, which also benefits me so I can adapt to its ever-changing fads and necessities. In order to follow that, you will need to understand what is running the modern day, which is its technology. While you might have prior knowledge of how to work some of it, like how to operate an mp3 player or how to send an e-mail, I will most likely need to teach you how to use most modern day technology so you can begin helping me. Don’t feel embarrassed or frustrated though (you’re not alone), because it mainly comes to me so easily because I grew up (and am growing up) around it- its surrounding causes me to “naturally” absorb and understand how it works (and if not I can easily find someone else who can or look up how to online).
Once you understand how to use today’s technology and its programs, you can apply your wisdom and experiences to it to guide me. You will be meshing parts of your past lessons to modern society’s demand. I [most likely] need to teach you before you can help and teach me.
Awesome stuff Kathryn. I enjoyed it immensley!!
Katherine...One of the things I am interested in is leadership and how we will work our schools out of being a relic from the past. As more and more people from your generation leave school and become leaders and people of influence, how will schools change? If you have any ideas, you can post them here: http://www.randyz.com/index.php/weblog/baby_boomers_and_generation_x/
I enjoyed reading your work!
Randy Ziegenfuss
Katherine, I particularly admire your passion for “passion”. I have found throughout my life that passion is the quality that has resulted in my best work, my best accomplishments, and my greatest satisfaction. It also adds to the challenge of living life fully because passion arouses the emotions, and people who feel and think deeply can be touched by life very intensely. I am impressed with your ideas and your ability to think deeply and passionately.
Aunt Tracy: Thank you for taking the time and reading my blog! I appreciate it and your comment. [: )
Mr. Ziegenfuss: Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my interpretation and other personal thoughts. I considered your question and commented on your blog.
Ms. Beauchemin: Thank you for your comment, too. I’m touched you are impressed with my work. I considered what you posed as well:
Of course. I think you need passion in order to do your (you in general) “best work, best accomplishments, and greatest satisfaction"- and I mean your _best_. Otherwise, I don’t think it would be your best or greatest, because you don’t care as much for it. You’ll do exceptionally well with something you have interest in- ‘cause you _like_ it. And, your ‘best’ will come naturally[, making it all the more honest and true].
If you have a passion FOR life, it shouldn’t be a challenge to live it fully. (Again, if you like it, you will do well with it.) I think the challenge is more _being able to/finding time to_ live life fully and applying your passion(s).
Depending on which emotion is being aroused, passion (the “emotion-arouser") could “add to the challenge of living life fully.” If the emotion is negative, then yes, the “emotion-arouser” would create the challenge of living life fully, because that extra-negative emotion would be an obstacle to the path of full enjoyment and appreciation. If the emotion is positive, however, I think passion would _help_ you live life to its fullest. And yes, “people who feel and think deeply can be touched by life very intensely"- I strongly agree.
I apologize if I took your words too literally, or interpreted them in a way you didn’t mean them to be (let me know if I did). I appreciate your thoughts and views and the fact I was able to be a part of them.
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