Nocking the Arrow

"The learning process is one which engenders and reinforces wanting to learn more. Absent wanting to learn, the learning context is unproductive."  -  Seymour Sarason Conversations with the  Modern Learners community frequently cycle back to Sarason's definition of productive learning. In practical terms, what is productive learning? "Where have you been?" asked one of my colleagues. "I haven't seen anything new on your blog in a while." Guilty as charged, I've been peeling layers of myself off of the grid, reducing my digital footprint, and immersing myself in learning experiences I enjoy most. I'm writing daily, just not online. In the absence of Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, I have been learning to play guitar, fingerstyle . As one of my favorite musicians, Mark Knopfler has advised, playing has become a bit of an obsession, really. I dedicate at least an hour each day to practice, learning the instrument, reteaching my han...

Are you a good learner? "You've got to really want to play because your fingers don't do what they're told." says acclaimed guitarist, Mark Knopfler . His uniquely brilliant fingerstyle playing is the product of desire, determination, and practice - lots and lots of practice. Like many successful musicians ( Eric Clapton , Prince , Elton John ) Knopfler is primarily self-taught, meaning he has achieved mastery without formal training. His lengthy obsession with playing folk and blues style music trained his fingers to become, as he says, "orchestrated like those of a piano player." Providing provocation in style all his own, Will Richardson , as part of a Change.School conversation asked, " Are you a good learner? How do you know? " The backdrop of this discussion was challenging our assumptions of what we believe about schools. Stripping away the superfluous, educators should be sprouting and nurturing learners.  Reflecting on who I ...