Thoughts on Learning Commons, Inquiry and Literacy

In my early writing for this course, I explored the Makerspace movement and examined David Loertscher’s UTEC Maker Model and its usefulness in fostering the NCTE’s 21 st Century literacies. I was intrigued by Loertscher’s presentation of the Virtual Makerspace – a digital manifestation of the physical Makerspace and a unique take on the typical STE(A)M content of the Makerspace.  So, what’s a Virtual Makerspace? The Virtual Makerspace is a webmix of websites, webtools and web-based programs curated to launch students into the deep learning of creating and producing innovative designs in a virtual format. This may look like using GarageBand to produce new music and experiment with new sounds, or CodeMonkey.org to design a video game or stitchfiddle.com to invent crochet patterns for innovative physical creations. Useful links are stored in an online organization tool and curated for particular contexts. My proposed project is to a create a Virtual Makerspace page,...

For me, a theme that continued to surface throughout these inquiries was that of connection - with peers, with colleagues, with the local and global communities. It may seem like a simple idea, but it can be all too easy to enclose oneself in one’s classroom and miss out on the amazing opportunities to connect with the broader community.   (source: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/32.jpg) I recently saw this illustration of Professional Learning. I agree with all of these reasons to engage in professional learning, but I am drawn especially to the interactive nature of professional growth. Each point in this image pushes educators toward building deeper, intentional connections within their own community and with the global community as a point of learning and sharing.  As I read through the thoughts shared by my classmates and reflect on my own journey, I increasingly understand that learning (both my own and that of my students)...