Learning Manifesto By Dunia Camperos

1. Create a reflection (connection) that addresses your learning manifesto. Ask yourself what you are truly passionate about.

 

Growing up I had really great teachers, who were pillars in my community and to be honest I don’t remember a specific lessons, but I do remember their warmth and the belief that they were looking out for me, for my best interest; that they cared. When I became a teacher myself I tried to emulate and foster strong relationship with my students, showing them with my words and actions that I had their backs, that I was there for them every step of the way. However, one thing I have realized is that in order to this I needed to change my mindset. My Teachers were the more knowledgeable ones in the classroom. They knew those books till the last period. But when I teach I have be open to the fact that not only I might have all the answers in my classroom but that my students can have information that is more accurate or up to date. They can teach me something new that the saw, read on any number of mediums that are out there. So those books are no longer the only place where knowledge is kept, which is why I need to keep an open mind and teach and content but above all install problem solving skills and critical thinking, ways to connect those dots, analyze and to help navigate and understand information facts and perspectives while keeping respectful conversations. A safe learning environment where all students have voice and invest in their own process, in a meaningful way to them. As our world changes at a faster pace, new knowledge comes to challenge what we learned back then. New discoveries, perspectives, tools and technologies can open up possibilities, so for me to be able to have their backs I have to be open to explore and decode new ways of thinking, and to make them witness of this journey so that when they become adults, they might not remember specific lessons but a thirst of wonder. So to really make a positive impact in their learning curve I have to get uncomfortable and challenge myself and let them see that learning from mistakes, taking chances and growing is about keep try to make sense in the world around us, while pursuing our interests and living and working with others with empathy and respect.

2. Identify what you think are emerging issues related to digital learning and leading at the state, regional, national, and/or global contexts.

 

One of the issues is that we have so many new and great technologies out there, many are very innovative but are inaccessible due to cost or not aligned to TEKS, or district or school programs. In other cases, they are great complete programs that are online driven but have other components that schools don’t bring in because of budgetary issues. For example, in our school we us Stemscopes for Science, developed my Rice University. The program is aligned with TEKS and implemented in our district. We use the online program with students but as part of the design to implement Stemsscopes there is an additional set of kits and bins for every grade level (manipulatives, tools, consumables) that are fundamental in the development of the 5 “E”. It’s left up to each school to purchase this component and even when my elementary school would very much benefit from these kits, we have never bought them because being a Title 1 school other priorities take place.

 

3. What is right/wrong with education and what should the world do to enhance/fix it?

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Definitely access to technology. For teachers and students, technologies gadgets should be low cost and available to use the immense amount of resources that are out there. My students have access to smart phones but not computers, laptops or even internet. So when we send letters and qr codes for easy access to online reading, math and science resources they can only use those online features on their phones for a limited amount a time.

4. What are your core belief systems about digital learning and the impact you hope to make in your organization?

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Digital learning has so many benefits, the first one being that you can access and work in it during your own time. As a teachers and a Mom, time to work on my own learning has to be convenient and easy to access. Digit learning also offers the possibility to connect and network with people that are far away or even can be close by but that share your same interest to learn and grow your dendrites. Access to new information and the ability to discuss and reflect with fellow life learners that are on the same journey.