"Learning is not a spectator sport" - D. Blocher

Ready to learn; Professional Learning Communities; lifelong learning; learning by doing; hands-on learning; learning from our mistakes. There are many phrases containing the word 'learning' that are prevalent in the field of education today. What do they have in common anyway? The quote in the title says it all; in order to learn, a learner must be active. Just watch a child learning to walk, a student working to get a computer presentation just right or a teenaged skateboarder learning a new trick and being active is the correct term. Our students cannot be passive spectators in the classroom if they are to learn and our challenge is to entice students to want to be on our learning team. Students are not alone in their need to be learners.

- Heather Smith - heather.smith@nbta.ca

The basic premise of PLCs is that teachers take an active part in all decisions of the group, from how the learning community will function to what topic it will learn about. But learning is certainly not limited to formal learning inside four walls of an educational institution. This became very clear to me this week. By chance, my schedule was such that I spent a full day and evening 'learning about learning' from others. It has been said that we learn the most when we are listening; we learn very little when we are talking. During the day I attended my first meeting with the NB Early Years Consortium, a group of committed individuals, which has the learning and experiences of children from 0-8 years as its priority. Although I taught Kindergarten and Early Literacy for two thirds of my 29-year teaching career, I listened and learned from these experts in the field of early years learning. I spent a full day and evening 'learning about learning' from others. It was an easy transition to attend the public meeting of Learning: Everybody's Project that same evening. It was fascinating to listen to those in my group, from all walks of life, talk about their own personal learning experiences and about how they foresee NB moving towards being a 'learning province'. We talked about how and where learning is taking place in the home, in 'schools', in the workplace and in the community. From this community input, an action plan will be developed that will need the will and work of all of us to implement. Log on to www.learninginnb.ca to watch the process unfold and learn how you can get involved. I spent part of a day with the NBTA Professional Development Committee as its members discussed the changing face of professional learning in NB. The NBTA Board of Directors has recognized the importance of learning for teachers and has supported several varied opportunities. The challenge will be to balance the fiscal realities of schools and districts with the unquenchable thirst of teachers to learn. Research has revealed that the most relevant learning opportunities for teachers occur when they are self selected and personal. This is another reminder that, in order for learning to occur, the learner must be engaged, active and motivated. Research has revealed that the most relevant learning opportunities for teachers occur when they are self-selected and personal. Sadly our students, and I have to admit our own children, often learn what we wish they didn't! The words 'Do as I say and not as I do' ring false and are easily superseded by 'Our actions speak louder that our words'. Teachers need to be exemplary role models for our students so they can learn through our example. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner. In the words of an old Chinese proverb: Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner. Thanks to all who answered my Hink Pink last time; a modern song about geography is a map rap. There was an 80% increase in responses. But then again, I only had one the first time! This one is for those of you looking forward to spring training and the upcoming baseball season: What do you call a baseball player who just got a raise? Heather Smith