ABOUT ME
My great love(s) in life (after family, of course!) are the natural world, and the arts.
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A dabbler - dancer, painter, storyteller, artist-performer and writer - my love of creating and 'doing things differently' works well with a working life as teacher and researcher. Having raised a family I'm now enjoying working with other parents and their children as an arts and literacies facilitator, and as a university lecturer guiding future educators to inspire children.
I work across fields (interdisciplinary) - so this allows me to collaborate with academics, teachers and community groups.
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Beyond classrooms: natural learning
Although I have worked in teacher education for over a decade my research - (and experience of working with home-schooling families, and adult learners) - leads me to believe that the way formal education is managed and experienced hasn't adjusted to suit our human needs - or the resources available.
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When children (or adult learners) have a reason to focus on what they need to learn, in real-life contexts - and when they are able to access helpers/guides, resources and support materials to expand their knowledge, they learn deeply.
I believe that creative and adventurous learning can help humanity address the gaps between our current systems of education - where so many young people 'drop out' or feel excluded.
What I am trying to do, little by little, is to persuade policy-makers and governments to recognise that humans learn best when there is a reason for their learning - when they can move freely (rather than sitting at a desk or in an office), and when they have genuine interest in exploring and building ideas and skills.
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Ackowledgement of Country
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where my teaching and research take place. Honouring the wisdom of Elders past, present and to come, I seek to walk together in a spirit of reconciliation.
Once upon a time. Graffiti, Stanthorpe, 2015. Photo J.Jones
