Our Discoveries
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Do it Yourself University - is it Time?
I ran into the following video last night in my reading. It appears that others are also thinking about changing some of the traditional assumptions about learning and learning institutions. For that, I cheer as I have long held the observation that traditional education, while having served us well for hundreds of years, is in need of an overhaul.
I would want to caution, however, against the idea of completely learning on your own. I am not sure yet exactly how the author, Anya Kamenetz, visualizes the future of education as I haven't yet purchased and read her book. But I do strongly feel that mentoring and coaching needs to be part of a good strong learning path.
There is a famous model called the Johari Window. Which makes the point that in order to grow, you need to reveal to yourself your hidden "blind spots." These are things about yourself that you cannot see. Everyone has blind spots and everyone can benefit in their growth by revealing them. Many professional organizations have peer reviewed aspects of their learning to deal with this. A Do It Yourself University hopefully will be no different.
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Ken Robinson Does it Again!
Jeff Young on Apr 10, 2012
Tagged in: purpose, learning, innovation, education, creativity, change, challengeKen Robinson does it again. Here is a delightful video created by RSA that illustrates the shift in paradigm being called for in education. (Link to the Video) The video tells a clear story of what has happened that is causing the need for change.
We are not so much needing higher standards or a different curriculum as needing to shift from a manufacturing process of education to one of developing the individual capacity of each person. This requires a different process of learning than the current one of focusing on the subject and lecturing on it; encouraging students to find the one right answer. Instead, we need to focus on each person as a creative being and giving them a learning environment where they can grow into who they were meant to become.
This is the central purpose of Infinite Discoveries. We believe that each person should be looking to find a place where they can be in their own element; where they can thrive and bring forth their unique gifts and contribution to something that is important to them. We then loosely organize ourselves into collaboratives where we can collectively work on projects that are important to us that are aligned with our gifts.
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Bring on the Learning Revolution!
I came across the following video yesterday and was deeply moved. (Link to the Video) Sir Ken Robinson has once again spoken bringing great clarity to the changes needed in learning and education. I have been focusing for many years on digging deeply into the gifts and talents of people and helping them develop those gifts to the point of designing a life around the pursuit of mastery of those gifts. I have long held that we absolutely require a change from the industrial model of learning to one centered on empowering each individual to follow their own path, offer their unique gifts, and organize around actions they care most about.
Here is an absolutely wonderful speaker describing this central issue in an impactful and entertaining way. I am interested in having conversations about how we actually do what Sir Ken Robinson advocates. How do we create learning centers for people of all ages that is focused on creating the environment that cultivates each individual’s unique spirit and brings us together into communities of common interest in action? I hope you join us in this conversation and exploration.
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Discovering your Purpose
When everything is feverishly changing around us, how do we know which way will lead toward success? When we define our success on what is going on out there, the path will always be shifting and changing creating a confusing, exhausting, and ultimately futile journey.
However, when we shift our definition of success toward one of living our own purpose and contribution, the path forward is clear, more stable, and more powerful. We aren’t just looking for shifting opportunities to get something we need; we come from a solid place of offering real value to the world and expecting to be fairly compensated for that value.
Whether you are an individual or an organization, answering the fundamental questions of what is your essence of being, what offer are you making that is of real value to others, and toward what mission are you moving toward will ground you in a stable bedrock of purpose that will serve to clearly guide you when all else is chaos. This use of purpose goes far beyond the standard vision or mission statements meticulously word-smithed by countless companies or individuals long forgotten in filing cabinets as part of a strategic planning exercise. To discover your purpose means reaching down into your soul to find the answers that rock your very being and deeply move your customers or clients. It’s not so much about what you do as what you stand and strive for. It’s more alive and more compelling to ourselves, our colleagues, and our customers. It is a huge differentiator in a competitive market.
Do you think you already have a purpose and that you can discover it? Or do you lean toward the notion that you choose your own purpose? Respond and let me know.