Great piece..thank you. I have found joy and struggle pair together when purpose is clear. If you know what you are doing, why you are doing it and you have experienced the payoff of learning something hard there can be joy right next to or right after struggle.
I love this! And I think that there can certainly be a good dose of enjoyment to be found in struggle. I often thrive in spaces that push me to a limit. I love spaces that “dunk me underwater… see how long I can hold my breath!”
And that has to happen with requisite trust that the person dunking me will sense when I’m about to go under, will pull me out and also knows CPR. :)
So I love this notion of joyful learning. How do humans learn best? Just watch a 6yo for 10 minutes.
I love your images/metaphors! I’ve thought a lot about this recently, trying to design and implement bubble-like learning experiences within such a rigid environment as is currently public education. It’s becoming ever challenging to infuse joy in such standardized learning environments.
Yes, I just read your recent post and saw that we are grappling with similar ideas. I think the system itself is the primary problem for teacher, teachers, and students. The mental models we hold for education through our experiences, often prevent us from thinking about learning in more naturalistic ways. My purpose in writing is to help folk shift these mental models, one small essay or conversation at a time. Thanks so much for reading. I look forward to following your work as well.
Great piece..thank you. I have found joy and struggle pair together when purpose is clear. If you know what you are doing, why you are doing it and you have experienced the payoff of learning something hard there can be joy right next to or right after struggle.
I love this! And I think that there can certainly be a good dose of enjoyment to be found in struggle. I often thrive in spaces that push me to a limit. I love spaces that “dunk me underwater… see how long I can hold my breath!”
And that has to happen with requisite trust that the person dunking me will sense when I’m about to go under, will pull me out and also knows CPR. :)
So I love this notion of joyful learning. How do humans learn best? Just watch a 6yo for 10 minutes.
Play. Not without frustration and struggle.
Yes! Trust matters for sure. Love your example. I think about when my kids were learning to swim. Such fear, trust, struggle, and joy!
I love your images/metaphors! I’ve thought a lot about this recently, trying to design and implement bubble-like learning experiences within such a rigid environment as is currently public education. It’s becoming ever challenging to infuse joy in such standardized learning environments.
Yes, I just read your recent post and saw that we are grappling with similar ideas. I think the system itself is the primary problem for teacher, teachers, and students. The mental models we hold for education through our experiences, often prevent us from thinking about learning in more naturalistic ways. My purpose in writing is to help folk shift these mental models, one small essay or conversation at a time. Thanks so much for reading. I look forward to following your work as well.