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Our Approach
The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, & Creativity is committed to creating an educational community where we not only reduce student disengagement & drop out rates, but also instill a new appreciation for purposeful, life-long learning across entire communities. The key is to develop creative approaches that foster intrinsic motivation in every learner, and then provide the tools, guidance, & ongoing strategies for engaged learners to navigate their full potential. Toward this end, The Reynolds Center TLC will embrace and promote the following core principles developed through its successful experience working with children, educators, communities, and not-for-profit leaders: |
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Learning is not confined to schools. We must tap into the world outside the classroom and leverage the learning opportunities that happen all day in all places. |
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Motivation is essential for learning. Creating learning opportunities that are personally relevant and meaningful is critical to engaging individual learners and sustaining motivation. |
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Learners should play an active, hands-on role in the learning process rather than passively receiving information. Our work is informed by a constructivist pedagogical model where creative educators scaffold meaningful, experiential learning. |
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Student collaboration greatly enhances learning and personal understanding. Students experience the “hard fun” of self-directed & socially co-constructed knowledge with enduring results. |
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Having the right tools is critical. It is important for teachers to provide more creative ways for students to “show what they know” in different and personally gratifying/relevant ways. Earlier and more sustained personal connection will inspire learners to pursue mastery in whatever discipline for which they have discovered an interest and passion. |
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Serving as facilitators and guides on the learning journey, teachers can help students build their knowledge and understanding. |
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The most effective teachers are inspired and inspirational. It is important for teachers to have a mission, create alongside students, and share their passion for learning. Renewing their love for creative teaching & learning is essential to keeping that passion for transformational teaching alive. |
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Learning takes time and everybody makes their mark in their own way. Learning is not about instant or automatic perfection. Acceptance of initial failure should be embraced and celebrated. The key is to make sure students don’t give up after they hit an obstacle, but, instead, help and inspire students to keep trying because that’s how they get better. |
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Creativity & self-expression are key to for the 21st Century learner. Creative thinking, self-expression, problem solving, and global understanding are critical to succeeding in school and the workplace in the new millennium. It is equally important to foster creativity in educators if we are trying to incubate creative thinking, invention, and innovation in our students. |
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