14 Epilogue relating to Part 1
I enjoyed stitching this booklet together and hope that it will be useful for colleagues and students. It has been written to curate thoughts, ideas, perspectives and dilemmas triggered by my Discovery secondment and the work undertaken with many others during that time.
I will leave you for now with the following thoughts…
Let’s remain fresh, open and forward thinking
In the way we design, teach, support, evaluate teaching.
Let’s Imagine alternative opportunities for learning.
For lifewide and lifelong learning.
For freedom, exploration, adventure and discovery
For all.
Always.
Let’s get to know our students.
Their interests, struggles and aspirations.
Let’s create meaningful learning relationships
Respect is vital.
Care and compassion too.
It won’t work if you invite them to open-up
While we remain closed, distant.
At times we are all vulnerable.
It is part of being human. Acknowledge this.
Create freedom spaces for growth
For all to grow.
We are all learners.
Let’s Co-design learning experiences.
In and outside the classroom.
In the wild.
There needs to be choice and freedom.
Space for discovery and exploration.
Stimulate interest, excitement and curiosity.
Space for celebrations.
Think, un-think and rethink.
Experiment and question.
Not everything will work.
But a lot of it will.
Remember, we can learn from all experiences.
Maybe even more from things that trouble us, that haven’t worked out yet…
Let’s co-create resources, courses and happenings
for learning with our colleagues, with our students!
Share what we make and set it free to travel.
To travel to new spaces and places. People.
To help us all grow.
To make a difference.
Let’s use a range of approaches, also novel ones.
Be embracing, inclusive, democratic
Keep pushing the boundaries.
Take risks. It is worth it.
Not everything will work. Mistakes will happen. Learn from them.
There will be resistance. Learn to accept it.
Don’t sleepwalk into the future. Create it!
Let’s design assessment into the learning process.
Not as add-on.
Make the assessment the learning itself.
Meaningful.
Is there choice? Not yet?
Assessment needs to be useful and immersive.
Useful. With a life of its own.
What contribution could it make? What could it change locally, nationally or globally?
Think about grading. Less grading more learning?
Marking is hard. Is it useful, the way we do it?
It is often not about the what we do, but how we do it?
Reflect in, around and about your experience, your practice.
Create a climate for democratic participation in learning.
Involve your students in the evaluation process but also when you design learning experiences.
Design them together.
Together is key!
Let’s remember the value of sharing
Share your ideas, creations with your peers
Share your reflections on your practice, also with your students.
Share your inquiries, insights and creations. Your learnings.
Widely. Openly.
In networks and communities, at conferences and events
In publications and non-academic and alternative outputs to extend opportunities for conversation, conversation, change
Contribute widely and make learning happen for all!
You are not alone.
We are not alone.
Be bold!
Be daring!
Be kind to yourself and others.
Let’s work with meraki
Towards transformative learning and teaching in higher education
Thank you for reading!
Chrissi Nerantzi
