C103: Finding Experts in our Local Community

​Now that we have stretched our learning to think a bit deeper about our standards, let’s think about how we are going to leverage the local community and beyond to add value to the learning and teaching.  There are many people within our local community that want to give back, but don’t know how to do it.  They are a valuable resource to adding a richness to the learning and teaching. 

​Let’s take a look at our information from our last episode and build onto it by finding some experts at the local level and planning for action to occur. 

​As you can see, when we think from the lens of making local connections, it naturally blends into taking action.  How could it not?  We are trying to solve real world problems with resources in our local area.  

The main objective of a local-based inquiry is to help our learners to recognize that there are resources locally that can solve most of our problems. They might require a lot of planning, time, energy, and resources, but it can be done.  It won’t be instant, but it can be done. 

For children who live in lower income areas, this demonstrates that there are people within the local community that care and want to help where they can.  It’s about building awareness of systems and tools to leverage in order to maximize the support.  I learned a lot about this when I was working in my last school.  I was always impressed how our counselor, wrap around specialist, and Community in Schools representative gathered resources from local community members and sponsors to better the life of our community. 

For children who live in other areas of the city, it helps them to see a broader range of living conditions and issues within society.  They actively take part in making a difference for someone else.  This is powerful in getting these learners to recognize that not all of the world lives like them and to learn some gratitude, while serving others. 

In my book, it’s a win-win.  All people walk away better through local inquiries.