Learning Manifesto

Heartfelt Passion

As a military educator and a parent, I truly appreciate the many amazing variables learners can receive from education organizations. For me, I on t0o many occasions, see learners struggle or even fail courses because they’re boxed into one style fits all learning environment.  “We must engage our students’ hearts and minds, otherwise, our traditional methods of instruction will inadvertently produce bureaucratic cogs that will function as carbon copies of one another” (Thibodeaux, 2019). Because of the continued use of an outdated teaching and learning style, my passion is to help facilitate a learning environment that meets the learner where they are and ensures that each individual learner has the necessary learning tools that they need to take ownership of their learning journey.  “We can build a significant learning environment, one that makes the learners’ characteristics become the measuring stick, positions instructors and mentors as guides, and the infrastructure, technology tools, and digital learning opportunities work to support the learner” (Thibodeaux, 2019). One such initiative in this overall effort to give learners autonomy over there learning journey, is my neurodivergent advocacy initiative.  As the parent of a neurodivergent child, this initiative strikes very close to home, as it does for countless others. With the help and support of family members, educators, and education administration, the initiative is aimed at equipping neurodivergent learners with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices in learning environments to offer maximum support in helping these individuals take control of their learning.

Issues of a Needed Solution

The incorporation of digital learning has greatly increased the overall capabilities of education institutions globally. “Online courses for students in traditional schools allow school districts to provide courses that are not otherwise available. Schools, especially those in rural communities and families choose online and hybrid schools for reasons related to scheduling flexibility” (Watson, 2024). Yet, with all these advancements, they’re not without issues. Some of the most common issues that arise with change of such a stappled entity like our education system, is fear of change, cost, and access lessons/technology.  “The use of digital technology in the classroom assumed to be able to assist both teachers and learners to effectively perform better in their teaching and learning process.  However, the limitation of access and tools significantly becomes one of the barriers preventing them to achieve their success in acquiring the knowledge” (Purmayanti, 2022). As we all know, not all education institutions are created equal. While some institutions are fully capable of supporting digital learning for students and teachers’ others are not. Many institutions lack the necessary resources/funding to institute training and properly supply students with digital tools. Another problem that often times comes up with digital learning is students at home capabilities, again, these things are not created equal. Students many times have varying levels of at home accesses to both the internet and digital tools. These are issues that have a huge effect on students, teachers and the overall digital learning experience.

Moving in The Right Direction

With what at times can seem like an endless list of issues with our current education system, I feel that we forget to appreciate the positive and innovative direction education is headed in. With technological advancements at an all-time and no signs of slowing down, our educational system has endless potential of where we can take innovative learning going forward. Educators now more so than ever before understand the importance of choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning (COVA). “We have an opportunity! We can make a more significant impact on our learners by giving them authentic learning opportunities to prepare them to thrive in the real world. We can equip our learners to solve complex problems and realize their greatest potential” (Thibodeaux, 2019). Across the globe, for these innovative educational advancements to be substantial and continue to grow, educational organizations and administrators have to improve the support effort to ensure no student is left behind.

My Feelings and Practices

 I feel that digital learning has been an incredible learning instrument in the education field specifically.  As an educator, it has allowed me to advance my own learning capabilities, while simultaneously transitioning my learners from dependent learners to independent learners.  “Digital Learning Is Making Students Self-Motivated and More Accountable. Students using digital learning tools and technology become more engaged in the process and more interested in growing their knowledge base” (Makhmudjanovna, 2021). In my current organization, my goal is to continue to be a voice of change in adopting more elements of digital learning into miliary curriculum. In recent years our transition has been steady, yet slow considering the many digital learning capabilities we have access to. I’m currently working on the transitioning of two leadership courses to digital learning that were previously only given in person, this digital learning advancement will allow many soldiers that were not eligible for promotions or reassignment, to advance forward in their careers due to the creation of more course slots through digital learning.

References

Makhmudjanovna, T. Z. (2021). BENEFITS OF DIGITAL LEARNING OVER TRADITIONAL EDUCATION METHODS. Scientific Journal Impact Factor. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/benefits-of-digital-learning-over-traditional-education-methods

Purmayanti, D. (2022, October 8). the challenges of implementing digital literacy in teaching and learning activities for EFL Learners in Indonesia. Monash University, Australia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367333406_The_Challenges_of_Implementing_Digital_Literacy_in_Teaching_and_Learning_Activities_for_EFL_Learners_in_Indonesia

Thibodeaux, T. (2019). Learner’s mindset….. Learners Mindset. https://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=1539

Watson, J. (2024, March 1). The post-pandemic’s Digital Learning Landscape. School Administrator Magazine, Technology & AI. https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/post-pandemic-digital-learning-landscape