Reflecting on this term, one theme stands out prominently in my mind: collaboration. Throughout the course, I’ve come to appreciate the importance and joy that come from working together with others. This, I’ve realized, is at the heart of teaching.
The Group Inquiry project was a particularly enlightening experience for me. It opened my eyes to the reality of collaboration in the field of education. In my opinion, teaching is inherently collaborative, and this project reflected that truth. It was fascinating to observe how four different individuals navigated the inquiry process on the same topic but in such different ways. We were able to delve deeply into the topic of screen use in K-3 classrooms in a comprehensive and enlightening manner because we explored so many aspects of this issue. It showed me that in our future roles as teachers, we’ll often find ourselves working closely with colleagues, sharing ideas, and collectively problem-solving to provide the best education for our students.
The discussions we had throughout the course, especially those with guest speakers like Simone Littledale from VISII, further reinforced the significance of collaboration. Hearing about her experiences and insights emphasized how much we can learn from one another when we come together with a common goal.
Andrew served as a bridge, reinforcing this theme of collaboration by fostering connections within the cohort and with the technology and innovation community of BC. I greatly appreciate all the teachings woven throughout the term that will guide us to be the best teachers we can be.
Inspirational videos on collaboration:
And this is supposed to be Andrew as our bridge that builds connections.
Lara Kehler’s discussion on Engaging Students with Coding & Gamification was inspiring. Lara’s passion for incorporating gaming elements into learning was contagious, and it got me thinking about how we can make education more fun and interactive.
I decided to play around with Scratch after listening to Lara’s session. I had to watch a few YouTube videos, but eventually I got the hang of it. Seeing how kids can easily create digital stories and games with it was inspiring. I spent some time tinkering around with it myself, and I could totally envision how kids would love it.
Also this week I logged back into my Duolingo app and seeing how they’ve gamified language learning reinforced the idea for me that gamification is crucial for learning. It’s amazing how adding game-like elements can make the learning experience so much more engaging. I now have began to switch my scrolling with a bit of playing on Duo.
The real lightbulb moment came when I combined these insights and thought about gamifying my yoga classes. I decided to introduce a game during one of my sessions, sort of a yoga version of Simon Says. I would say “move your right hand” and the student just had to place that limb somewhere new on the mat. It not only got some students out of their comfort zones but also helped others to sink deeper into their practice. The atmosphere afterward was so relaxed, with tensions melted away. I think this is something that games can do, make the environment for learning more relaxes.
An AI generated image of me trying to recreate the yoga game I played in class.. haha
This whole experience made me realize the power of gamification in transforming any learning environment. It’s not just about making things fun; it’s about making them more accessible, interactive, and ultimately, more effective. I’m excited to explore more ways to incorporate gamification into my teaching in the future.
For this week, I am veering away from my website slightly because in the creation of my website and my research I have been inspired to create a poster using Canva to put up in my community offering one-on-one yoga classes or a yoga mentorship program on a sliding scale or for trade.
I typed this into ChatGPT to see if it could pull out the bits of into I should add:
I am a yoga teacher who wants to start offering one-on-one yoga classes. I want to make a poster to put up around my community. I am going to give a bunch of information and then can you take it all and write up some text that I would put onto my poster. I dont want the poster to have too much text, just enough to get the person looking at it interested. Here is my philosophy on yoga: Yoga isn’t just a practice for me; it’s a way of life, a profound path to uncovering the beauty and depth of each moment. My teaching philosophy is rooted in creating a space where individuals can arrive exactly as they are, shedding the layers of judgment and expectation to simply be present in their bodies and breath. In my classes, you’ll find a blend of playfulness and discipline, intuition and inquiry. I believe in the power of yoga to cultivate curiosity and awareness, offering a gateway to understanding the fluctuations of the mind and the habits that shape our lives. As your guide, I’m here to provide gentle encouragement and suggestions, allowing the practice itself to be the ultimate teacher. With a background in nature connection and somatic movement, I infuse elements of the natural world into our practice, whether it’s exploring the elements within us or flowing through sequences inspired by the rhythms of the earth. Each class is an invitation to dive deep, to explore the depths of your being. And here is just a bit more info: I trained at Vinyasa YogaShala Riskikesh, India in 2018 My focus tends to be rooted in the somatic experience of using the body and breath to guide the practitioner to the present moment. Curiosity, exploration, compassion, discipline tend to be other focuses that will be woven into most practices. There are no prerequisites. What I teach in yoga i What I teach under the umbrella of yoga include: the asana (postural practice), Breath practice, meditation, philosophy, and lifestyle. I want to attract all people of all ages. I want people to feel warm when they read the text.
This is what it gave me:
🌿 Discover Yoga with [Your Name] 🌿
Embark on a journey of self-discovery through yoga, where every moment is an opportunity to find beauty and depth within yourself.
🌟 Philosophy of Yoga: Experience more than just poses – uncover a way of life. Embrace each moment with openness, shedding judgment and expectation to simply be present in body and breath.
🧘 What to Expect: Join me for classes filled with a blend of playfulness and discipline, intuition and inquiry. Together, we’ll cultivate curiosity and awareness, allowing yoga to reveal the fluctuations of the mind and shape our lives.
🌍 Nature-Inspired Practice: Infused with elements of the natural world, our sessions explore the rhythms of the earth and the elements within us. Dive deep into your being with sequences inspired by nature.
🎓 About Me: Trained at Vinyasa YogaShala in Riskikesh, India in 2018, I bring a focus on somatic experiences, guided by body and breath. Expect practices rooted in curiosity, exploration, compassion, and discipline.
🌸 All Are Welcome: No prerequisites required – yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or experience level. Step onto the mat and into a warm, inclusive community.
I thoroughly enjoyed this activity and look forward to participating in more events like this in the future, and perhaps even organizing similar events myself.
The two talks I attended focused on unstructured play and inquiry. I was eager to join these discussions to gain insights from others on these topics.
It was fascinating to hear everyone’s perspectives and comfort levels regarding unstructured play. During the conversation, I shared a story with my group that I’d like to recount here.
One afternoon, while teaching at Oak and Orca, the students began discussing the “mat game.” When I inquired about it, they simply replied, “Just wait and you will see.” So, during physical education class, we ventured out onto the field with five or six large mats. As a newcomer to the school, I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. There was a group of 15 students, ranging in age from 4 to 17. Two kids at a time would hop onto a mat and attempt to through the other one off. Initially, it seemed chaotic and even a bit alarming, as some students would aggressively try to throw others off the mat, resulting in tears. However, whenever someone got hurt, they all paused to check in with each other and inquire if they wanted to continue. Later, my mentor explained how they were learning about consent, understanding what a “yes” and “no” feel like, through playing this game.
Initially, I struggled to see the benefits of this game. However, after discussing it with my mentor and the students, I gained a full understanding and appreciation for it.
However It was not as funny as this wrestling…
I find the concept of Ed Camp intriguing because it allows you to hear stories from others and gain deeper insights into topics you may not be familiar with.
After my discussion with my sister-in-law, Lynn on the purpose of the website I went back to my idea board and began to finish some of the planned workshops.
Here is the write up for the yoga and dance workshop coming up:
Root to Rise: A Somatic Experience
Join us for an evening of embodiment and connection through yoga and somatic dance.
The journey will take you through your chakra system, from root to crown, where we will focus on accessing each energetic point with intention, and begin to learn the language of our own soul.
Explore the joy of movement and self-expression through an immersive yoga and dance experience that blends elements of somatic movement, breath, meditation, and creative exploration.
And here is the meditation workshop I have planned but have not yet pitched to the studio:
The Nature of Mindfulness and Meditation – An Introduction to Creating a Meditation Practice
Join me for an afternoon where we dive into the foundation of mindfulness and meditation, providing you with the tools and knowledge to establish your own practice.
Through a blend of discussion and experiential exercises, we will explore various meditation techniques, such as seated, walking, and somatic meditation.
Discover how this practice serves as a powerful tool for navigating the adversities of life, fostering resilience, and finding inner peace amidst challenges. Whether you’re a beginner seeking to start your journey or looking to deepen your existing practice, this workshop offers valuable insights and practical guidance for incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your daily life.
The creation of the website is inspiring me to create more offerings! Which is something that I did not expect!
Here is a screen recording of my website thus far:
This week I planned some interviews with friends who have websites to guide me in the creation of my own. I asked them questions about design, marketing, and overall uses. Both interviews were done through Zoom.
The initial interviewee was my cousin-in-law, Zaina, a yoga teacher based in New York City. She mostly discussed the significant traffic to her website originating from Instagram. She recommended placing emphasis on using the mobile viewing experience of the website, as this is the primary mode of access for most visitors. She also suggested to make it very easy to contact the website owner and encouraged the collection of visitor emails for a newsletter subscription. That way when a retreat is planned I will have a list of people to tell about it.
Through the screen share option on zoom I showed my website to Zaina and she gave me more feedback around how many words are on each page.
My second interview was with my sister in-law Lynn. Lynn is a entrepenour who owns her own electric bike company. Here is think link to her website.
She mostly discussed purpose and having a hook on the website. She said that viewers need to be intrigued right when they come onto the webpage. She complimented my first image on my webpage however I need to change it for the mobile view.
Lynn also laid out the numbers in how much the website will cost me and then how much I could bring in from the website. Currently since I am not actively trying to find people for retreats and my yoga studios I teach at do all the marketing for my workshops she suggested that I do not yet pay for the website to make it live until I am ready to really use it.
The insight from both interviews gave me direction for the creation of the website.
This week, I gained valuable insights from both the lecture and Meghan. I hadn’t fully grasped the various types of modalities that could be used in the classroom; my perception was limited to face-to-face and online formats. However I now realize there is so much more. For example hybrid learning, blended learning, and online learning are all different.
I was curious what current teachers like and why they like it so I asked a few of my friends and here is some of their feedback:
Kartik – Inquiry Teacher at Oak and Orca Bioregional School. – “Face to face is always best. I believe that their needs to be a strong connection and relationship between student and teacher. When learning is online it can be more challenging to build rapport with your students. That being said, online learning can allow you to access students who wouldn’t normally be able to learn from a teacher. For example, I teach some child on the gulf islands where they do not have access to an inquiry school.”
What Kartik said really resonated with me. In my personal experience I found teaching to the students in the brick and mortar school allowed for strong connections to be built and I could feel my students trusted me with their learning by them taking risks and asking lots of questions. I also had a few online students and I mostly had to rely on parents to be the liaison for the students learning. So it was difficult for me to really know how much the student was taking away from the lessons that I was assigning.
My friend Aachal is a teacher for University of San Diego and she values the online learning because it allows her to live here with her husband while teaching to students in the US. “If we didn’t have the option for online learning, then I would be out of a job! Online learning makes education more accessible!”
Overall, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to learning! Its remarkable that we’re at a point where learning can take on such diverse forms to truly cater to the unique needs of each student.
