Say What You Mean

I have great admiration of those who have the courage to stand on stage to talk to a crowd about what they are passionate about. This was my third TEDxLangleyED and it never disappoints. It was a great opportunity to see old friends, meet my PLN face-to-face, and listen an exceptional group of speakers. This year’s TEDxLangleyEd was carefully orchestrated. The first set of speakers inspired me to be myself. The second set of speakers made me think deeply about teaching and learning. And the third set of speakers rounded out the conversation of what’s truly important.

Back to back professional learning opportunities… first with Sir Ken Robinson then TEDxLangleyED… I appreciate these professional learning opportunities to ponder and reflect about my professional learning and my professional growth. I go to these events because I am genuinely interested in education and teaching & learning. Yet, I think about my dissertation and professional learning and wonder how my research can contribute to the field but also how it reflects on me to understand myself.

I had a interesting conversation with a university student today about mathematics, mathematics education, and mathematics inquiry. In talking to this person, I found myself looking at myself, my practice, my research, and my professional learning. I left the conversation uneasy. On the one hand, I was not sure if I answered the student’s questions adequately. On the other hand, I wanted to take some of what I said back. Interesting… Why would I want to take anything that I said back?

What I like about those who speak at TED events is that they say what they mean. There is nothing to hide. They speak from the heart… and it’s about something that’s important to them, which automatically resonates with the audience. I think that’s what makes TED talks so effective. The presenters care deeply about what they are speaking about. I have always been intrigued by those who find their JAM. In one blog, I claimed that I found my jam and my jam is teaching and learning.

The context of my jam depends on what I am doing. It looks different from when I am tutoring, being a school trustee, or facilitating workshops for teachers. I love teaching mathematics, but after my conversation today with the university student, my love continues to be about teaching and learning and high school mathematics is the vehicle for me to learn and understand more about it. I am also intrigued by policy and how that influences the teaching and learning environment, but also I am interested in teachers as learners and how that effects student learning.

I am not apologetic for what I said during my conversation today and I have no regrets. I said what I know and understand, but also I come with much curiosity about teaching and learning. I am so excited to learn that there are MATH-NERDS out there who want to make a difference in mathematics education and student engagement. It brings me great hope for the next generation of innovative mathematicians who wish to educate and reignite the MATH-SPIRIT. I am always refining my jam. Teaching mathematics has taught me much about teaching and learning and I look forward to what I will learn next. Thank you TEDxLangleyED for another great event.