Atchison_EoL3_Learning Manifesto

(Atchison, 2016)
Finding Promise in Tomorrow
My Learning Manifesto
By: Amy Atchison

(Pixabay, 2016)
Contents
Objective 3
Meaning 4
Importance 5
Personal Example 6-8
Barriers 9
Impact of Technology 10
Memorable Quote 11
References 12

(Pixabay, 2016)
As an educator, one of the
things I am most passionate
about is helping my students
find promise in tomorrow.
--- 3

What does this
mean?
(Pixabay, 2016)
To me, helping students
find promise in tomorrow is
the process of mentoring
and varying instruction to
support students as they
identify, develop, and
expand on their strengths.
After studying Gardner’s
Theory of Multiple
Intelligences (Northern
Illinois University, Faculty
Development and
Instructional Design Center,
2015), I quickly discovered
that each student sitting in
my classroom has a unique
learning style and many
students’ educational needs
cannot be fulfilled by a
traditional book, paper, and
pencil instructional method.
While planning my lessons,
I make it a point to mix up
the activities and
incorporate variety as a
means to reach all learning
styles. Many times, the
mixture of activities will
include technology
applications.
--- 4

Why is it
Important?
The result of this careful
instructional planning is a
classroom filled with
engaged learners who are
discovering talents and
educational power they
never realized before. This
new-found strength can
help to shape and pave the
way for a future of promise
for each student. A young
person who has failed in
previous years on writing
activities or standardized
testing may find that they
have a talent for designing
electronic presentations,
and this could lead to a
future career in graphic
design or advertising. The
possibilities for growth are
endless if a student gains
the right exposure to
something that clicks with
them in the classroom.
(Atchison, 2016)
--- 5

Personal Connection
Let me give you a personal
example of a missed
learning opportunity that
may have impacted the
outcome of my future. I
grew up in a household with
four girls and our income
was limited. When it came
to costly extracurricular
activities outside of school,
the answer was often “no.”
Not because my parents
didn’t want to help us try
new things, but simply
because the cost of certain
activities multiplied by four
could have potentially eaten
up all of our grocery money.
Fast forward to 7 th grade,
and I met a girl who is still,
to this day, my best friend.
When I spent the night at
her house, she would often
show me her dance routines
and talk about her classes.
One day, she was showing
me her latest ballet act, and
she put on her toe shoes
during her demonstration.
After she was finished, I was
thoroughly impressed and
wanted to try on those
ballet shoes out of curiosity.
When I slipped those shoes
on my feet and stood on my
toes for the first time, my
friend told me what a great
turnout I had, and she even
mentioned it to her mother
when she returned from
work. They urged me to sign
up for ballet lessons, so I
approached my parents
with the idea.
(Pixabay,2016)
--- 6

Continued …
My mother was considering
signing me up until she found
out the classes were $70 a
week. Keep in mind this was
1989, and even by today’s
standards that is quite a
chunk of change. So, of
course, the answer was “no.”
At the time it wasn’t that big
of a deal to me, but a recent
experience made me reflect
on this missed learning
opportunity again. At the
beginning of my current
summer break, I was in search
of a way to get in better
shape while I had some time
off, so I signed up for a barre
class down the street from
house. Barre classes are
(Pixabay, 2016)
a new workout regimen that
encompasses ballet, yoga,
and Pilates moves to help
build a stronger core and
tighter physique. During my
first few sessions, the routines
were HARD, and the
instructor often had to guide
me as I attempted to find the
positions. One day after class,
I thanked her for her extra
help, and we began talking
about the positions and
strength necessary for the
workouts. I told her portions
of the workout were tough
since I had never had a dance
lesson. She seemed
completely surprise and her
comment was,
--- 7
7

Continued...
(Pixabay, 2016)
I never would have guessed because you have the BEST
turnout!” There was that word again, “turnout!” Once
again I was urged to try ballet lessons, but considering
my age, I quickly decided that was not something I
wanted to pursue. Even though I will never perform The
Nutcracker on a stage in New York City, I have learned
something valuable that I will carry with me as I
continue my journey of shaping young minds and
preparing them for the future. I never want any of them
to feel like they missed an opportunity to find their
forte, and it will always be my mission to help them to
identify their talents and find promise for tomorrow.
--- 8

What are some of the
barriers to helping students
unlock potential?
(Pixabay, 2016)
One of the biggest barriers to helping students
find promise in tomorrow is the district or
educators who are unwilling to evolve in our
quickly changing digital age. Those individuals
often feel that technology integration is too
costly or time consuming, or they are simply
unwilling to take the time and effort it takes to
learn how to use new technology applications.
Students being serviced by educators with
that type of mindset are being done a serious
disservice.
--- 9

How does technology play a part in building
promise for tomorrow?
(Pixabay, 2016)
Our kids need to leave us
with the basic skills
necessary to be prepared to
take on jobs that don’t even
exist yet, and the majority
of future jobs will require a
technology skillset to gain
employment. If we turn out
students who lack
technology skills, we are
setting them up for failure.
And if those students are
being raised in a lowincome
household,
our actions could be
completely detrimental to
their future well-being.
According to Arne Duncan,
“technology has the
potential to bridge gaps for
those that have the
least…technological tools
can empower students to
become who they want to
be” (Duncan, 2015). I found
this message to be very
powerful, and it helps me to
know I have set out to
journey on the correct path.
The training I am currently
pursuing will give me the
skillset I need to change the
mindset of my fellow
educators. It will open doors
for students who may or
may not have much in the
way of resources. It could
help to break the cycle of
poverty in certain cases. It
will help those who I cross
paths with to find promise
in tomorrow!
--- 10

(Pixabay, 2016)
“Technology doesn’t teach,
teachers teach. But today,
teachers who do not use
technology will be replaced by
teachers who do.”
-- (Snehansu, 2013)
--- 11

References
Duncan, A. (2015, April 20). What Can Technology Do for Tomorrow's Children? Retrieved
July 29, 2016, from https://medium.com/bright/what-can-technology-do-for-tomorrow-schildren-3357831990c7#.r3jh4eriv
Northern Illinois University, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center. (2015).
Howard Gardner: Leaders as Storytellers. Conversations on Leadership Wisdom from Global
Management Gurus, 123-140. doi:10.1002/9781119199526.ch7
Pixabay. (2011, December 24). [Ballet-Shoe-Point-Shoes-Ballet]. Retrieved July 29, 2016,
from https://pixabay.com/en/ballet-shoes-pointe-shoes-ballet-1260800/
Pixabay. (2014, April 21). [Pinky-Swear-Friends-Pinky-Promise]. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from
https://pixabay.com/en/pinky-swear-friends-pinky-promise-329329/
Pixabay. (2014, February 2). [Mac book Notebook Apple Device]. Retrieved July 29, 2016,
from https://pixabay.com/en/macbook-notebook-apple-device-407127/
Pixabay. (2014, November 26). [Ballet-Production-Performance]. Retrieved July 29, 2016,
from https://pixabay.com/en/ballet-production-performance-545291/
Pixabay. (2015, May 20). [Educational Apps]. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from
https://pixabay.com/en/macbook-notebook-apple-device-407127/
Pixabay. (2015, May 31). [Chrome Laptop Notebook]. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from
https://pixabay.com/en/acer-chromebook-laptop-notebook-791027/
Pixabay. (2016, July 7). [Baby Typing on a Laptop]. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from bookcomputer-learns-1520705/
Pixabay. (2016, June 10). [Ballerina-Ballet-Girls-Reflection]. Retrieved July 29, 2016, from
https://pixabay.com/en/ballerina-ballet-girls-reflection-1453074/
Snehansu, K. (2013, June 28). Why Teachers Who Use Technology Will Replace Teachers
Who Don't? Retrieved July 29, 2016, from https://edtechreview.in/trendsinsights/insights/401-teachers-who-use-technology-replacing-teachers-who-dont
12 --- 12