DANIEL R. WOODS

Teaching and Learning Philosophy

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or political, but because it is right.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

My educational philosophy: from the World to the classroom

The World

Education, which I would posit is actually the world's oldest profession, is essential to human existence. In my humble opinion, there are few, if any, more heated debates going on in our society than that of our educational system. While I wholeheartedly agree that education should be the central focus of any society, especially one that desires so greatly to lead the world, I also believe that we must expand that focus to appreciate the diversity that the world includes. We are in a time of rapid transition where education is, or at least should be, a more global perspective than just that of memorizing a few topics that are meant to encapsulate what it means to be "American;" 1492, Plymouth rock, 1776, Washington, Lincoln, the Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam, etc. Educators have continued to recognize the necessity of a global learning community. The reality of our world is that with satellite phones, wireless Internet, and the like we are rarely if ever more than a few moments from our global neighbors. While typing this very sentence I can simultaneously email colleagues in Australia, China, England, Africa, Fiji, and even Antarctica and the North Pole. Correspondence that would have once taken months is now limited only by the writer?s typing speed. We are no longer alone, and we can no longer view the rest of the world as being autonomous. Education must be restructured to include this world community and its incredible diversity

The Classroom

Learning Tenets

Learning is about collaboration
We learn from the company we keep

Meaningful learning is interest driven
Meaningful learning lasts

The desire to learn is natural
Meaning is born of desire

Teaching Tenets

Choice empowers learners
Real learning is born from interest

Choice prompts responsibility
Independent learners are life-long learners

Learners make for good teachers
As we teach so should we learn

Technology Tenet

Students enjoy technology
Enjoyment spawns learning

RPM 1 (resolution-pedagogy, methodology)

Knowing we learn a great deal and do so naturally from the associations we choose to keep, I resolve to promote a collaborative-based apprenticeship modeled learning environment.

Socially engaging academic exchanges of content explorations, discoveries and applications generate inquiry and lasting content connections.

RPM 2 (resolution-pedagogy, methodology)

I resolve to create a classroom environment where student ideas are scaffolded through meaningful content connections.

Learning is about constructing new meaning based upon previous experiences to make for the creation of even greater understanding.