Developing our Voice isn't easy. It takes time to see how our passions, talents, needs & conscience intersect. Daily reflection & learning helps us to identify where these come together. Every day is a PD day. #myPDtoday

The past week has been difficult for everyone. There is so much uncertainty and the unknown is difficult, causing anxiety and fear. We are not comfortable when too much of our daily routine is disrupted. It's not just one or two things that are causing this but a number of different things all happening at the same time, cascading together in ways no one really saw coming and really knows how to handle.
So what does this have to do with sharing your voice?
Well, from an educational point of view, as schools and teachers look for ways to try to organize so students can continue online, there are a great many voices entering the discussion about what can be done, what should be done, how it should be done and why it should be done. There are posts about content, posts about online tools, posts about organizing, posts about what parents can do and the list goes on. There are a great many people sharing their voices and the cacophony can be overwhelming and more anxiety creating than helpful.
But what if, instead of trying to do all of this, we just let kids read, play and be kids? Will it really hurt them? Would just proceeding from where we are once we return to school really cause so many issues? I know, seniors in high school need these marks for college/university and there are some cases where not knowing the material would disrupt the flow of learning ...
BUT
Maybe that should give us pause to reflect on the current system that is in place. Is this really the best option for learning that we have? Could it be done differently? Could this be an opportunity to get feedback on what is happening at all levels of education and explore some options? Are we encountering a pivotal moment in learning that, if we get too busy with the frantic fixing, we'll miss?
The same goes for teaching and teachers - can we explore some new options for continual learning that doesn't involve hundreds of dollars to attend a conference? Is this a time to revisit teachers learning continuum and what is expected of teachers?
How about how we address the needs of students for learning - proper nutrition, safety, security, access to support and things like internet and wifi? How about race, poverty, and other social justice issues that are staring us in the face?
I know the focus right now is trying to get schools online but is that where we should be putting the focus? From experience, creating good online lessons and content isn't easy - it takes time and requires a great deal of planning and upfront work. It requires more than just sitting down in front of a camera and talking or putting a bunch of worksheets online. I mean, that could be done but if that's the case, maybe that is where we need to start.
Maybe this will be the impetus to get all levels of education to explore new ideas and innovate in new ways, a catalyst for change that gives students and teachers new freedoms for exploring learning in new ways. This article from World Economic Forum outlines some possibilities, something to begin discussing, and listening, about how education might be reshaped. Sometimes, from periods of problems and collapse, there are opportunities to reform and reshape the way things are done. It might be difficult but maybe this is an opportunity to make changes in education to better meet the needs of those involved.
Are we willing to listen? Are we willing to learn? Will we have the courage and will to change?