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Inquiry Blog Post #5 LIBE 477 - Looking Back


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. 
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/32.jpg
 (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) is a communal activity. We learn, we share, we talk, we grow…and we do it best together. Our experience as a teacher/learner is valuable to the broader teaching-learning community. And it is essential that we share these experiences so we can push one another toward greater understanding and practices.

I was especially intrigued by the final blog provocation on global inquiry. People are doing amazing things around the world and I am so grateful for the opportunity to encounter some of the fantastic and innovative ideas out there! I have always struggled to see how my practice is part of a global project, but this inquiry prodded me to consider how I can participate in, foster and be a cheerleader for projects and initiatives that go beyond me in my classroom. This inquiry series has challenged me to expand my Twitter and Instagram feeds to include more professional posts and has added to my list of bloggers and vloggers who help me ‘flatten’ the walls of my professional learning. But this final inquiry encourages me to consider the global connections and implications of my learning. 

Overall, I appreciate the ‘big picture’ perspective of this inquiry series. We began by asking “how do we create a culture?” and ended by examining how and where we fit in wider global culture. For me this was a journey of self-discovery and a prod to engage more deeply and intentionally with my teaching-learning community and the wide world.
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  1. A Library Learning Commons from SD23October 29, 2019 at 1:48 PM

    Although I am very talkative, my habits peg me as an introvert for certain. Twitter, bloggers and vloggers offer a constant opportunity to "flatten the walls" as you say for global learning. After reading your post I realize I am really only connected on twitter to Canadian content and mostly to speakers or TLs I have personally met or know of. Maybe as I spend more time on it linking to others the world will open up a little. I've really enjoyed reading you blog posts over the past month, Sarah. I especially loved your post about the wild reader.

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  2. Aaron MuellerNovember 4, 2019 at 5:43 AM

    Well done reflection that looks at your growth, personal awareness and growing responsibility for your own explorations and inquiry going forward. Sometimes, highlighting a few key resources, websites, articles, or videos can be helpful in reflecting on a whole phase. Your positive outlook, values based reflection and important reminders to stop a look around once in a while was well done. A good overview of your key learning so far in our course.

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