An article of mine: ‘Your story, your life, your learning: Autobiography reveals basis for supporting personalized, holistic pedagogy’ is now published in the (peer-reviewed) Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education (Vol. 2, no. 1). Basically, the article summarizes my recent PhD research and links my findings – that learning is more subjective or personal than […]
It’s happening – I’m now scheduled to defend my PhD research dissertation on Tuesday August 22nd, starting at 9 am (PST). Yay! It’s taken a lot of work to get here and I endured some epic challenges along the way: major health injury and surgery, Covid pandemic, other personal-family issues, and still I completed it! […]
“When children come to school we need to listen to them … there is no assessment that applies to who they are or what they have learned (this year.”
The start of a new year is a good time to consider a new learning path or plan for the coming year. What’s yours? What are you most curious about? What are you committed to exploring or investigating? This decision is yours to covet, just as it is for everyone. After all, each of us […]
“It is of the first importance not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities.” – Sherlock Holmes, ‘The Sign of Four’ With a nod to Benedict Cumberbatch, couch potatoes (guilty as charged) are enjoying a renaissance of the world’s finest detective, the sleuth of sleuths who cracks criminal cases seemingly as tight […]
According to developmental psychologists, the foundation of human imagination emerges in childhood and its lifelong trajectory reflects the nature of the support that nurtures it during this time. Bolster a young child’s budding imagination at home or in school with encouragement and she will sense this and accept more risks in whatever activities and challenges […]
It’s mid-June and in North America a gazillion or so kids are counting down the minutes to the end of the school year. To some, summer holidays can’t come soon enough; their bodies and brains are yearning to experience life and learning beyond the school walls. Others are not relishing the break, they’re unsure about […]
In early January most of the natural world – in the northern hemisphere – is relatively dormant. In response to a lack of sunlight and colder temperatures, living organisms conserve energy in order to survive through winter. But not so long from now, as the days lengthen and temperatures rise, we will see a change […]
“Good, meaningful education meets each child where they are” are the words of the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan in his book, The Learning Tree. Stanley Greenspan won numerous awards for his work on developmental psychiatry and he was the author of 40 books (!) and numerous papers on development, learning, parenting and supporting children with […]
“Medieval“: pertaining to the Middle or Dark Ages, a period characterized by primitive practices shaped by ill-formed knowledge. Our society has evolved in remarkable ways in my lifetime, inspiring me to believe that human beings just might squeak through to survive another century or millennium. We have extended life expectancies, we have scientifically detailed the […]
Michael’s book, Learn Your Way! SelfDesigning the Life You Really Want, Starting Now is an ERAC-approved middle and high school textbook for career planning and health education courses (British Columbia), and it has received many endorsements. Contact Michael directly to obtain a pdf copy of the book.
