Jul 11, 2016
(Tuesdays with Jane is a virtual learning series for those wishing to read or re-read Jane’s books and immediately apply their new learning to their workplace. In preparation for this task, read Chapter 9 of Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach.)
Learners as Decision Makers: Harnessing the Power of Self through Respect
The memory of those weeks in Nepal gave me chills of joy and excitement as I read Chapter Nine! The snow capped mountains, the Himalayas! The spirit of that group of Save the Children Nepal expert staff! The laughter in that dirt floored stable!
I think this is my favorite story in the whole book because it is dense with learning: principles, practices, examples, situations used to evoke new thinking, and new actions!
Wouldn’t you love to talk to Durga today?
I must confess that I was in tears as I read page 145 on Ram Bhal’s design for the closure of the workshop!
Some great lines from Chapter Nine:
- “The content of a course is sheer potential, waiting for learners and teacher to develop it to fit their context.” p130
- “Durga … pointed proudly to himself, saying, ‘Subject!’” p130
- “Imagine a toothache six days walk away from a dentist!” p131
- “They named the stable gaiko got: ‘the place of learning.’” p133
- “Education and training are only as good as they are accountable.” p134
- “’Talk, talk, talk,’ she had said. ‘All they do is talk, and we… we learn nothing!’” p136
- “Perhaps the best part of this dialogue education approach is that the teacher learns, changes, and grows.” p146
A LEARNING TASK:
What struck you most in this chapter? What ideas, attitudes or skills from this chapter have you used in your designing and teaching?
Where is your personal gaiko got?