by
Jane Vella
I was
delighted by the invitation to contribute to this Global Learning Partners Newsletter.
I am even more delighted at the prospect of the first Dialogue
Education Institute Conference which will take place in Chapel Hill, North
Carolina at the end of May 2005. I may limp into the Aqueduct Conference Center
(knee replacement surgery on March 15) but in my heart I will be dancing!
What does it mean to be sure about an approach to teaching and learning? What
does it mean to be committed to the principles and practices of dialogue education?
What signifies mastery in this discipline? I am sure of only one thing: we must
doubt! We who teach are first of all scientists - celebrating knowledge and the
power of learning to make people bloom and grow. Scientists are natural skeptics:
Show me! My four year old grand niece is a natural born scientist (as are all
four year olds). She wants to know why? She demands to be shown. The world is
infinite with possibilities to her and she is ready to examine all of them.
We who enjoy dialogue education have an obligation to be good scientists - to
remain open to those infinite possibilities. Four year old Audrey will no doubt
come up with an even more effective approach to adult learning in her time, but
only if we present dialogue education as a tentative hyposthesis. Only if we invite
her to disprove the validity of the principles and practices. Only if we are inclusive
and respectful of every conceptual framework. Respect, inclusion, lavish affirmation
are pragmatic strategies - they move the learning forward.
I look forward
to talking with you more about these and other ideas online, and in Chapel Hill
in May!
Do email me at janevella@globalearning.com.
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