I was in Slow Learning heaven last night!
A room full of eager learners and I gathered at the Centre for Social Innovation to share what we know about “Visual Learning.” I created the class (learn to doodle; doodle to learn) in response to Lauren Stein’s invitation to teach as a part of the Toronto Design Offsite Festival.
Trade School Toronto is an alternative learning project that runs on a barter system. Pay for a class with a barter item (like food, supplies or help) that your teacher requests!
Request I did! In return for sharing what I know about doodling, I received a wealth in return: candy, handmade items (a notebook, body butter, a clutch purse), yummy baked goods, offers for proofreading, a song to be sung just for me, and a bunch of silly jokes I can tell again and again.
Trade School and Slow Learning then share much in common. Both
- engage learners in their passions and interests
- indulge the pleasures of learning (we had fun!)
- cross genres, disciplines, practices
- are grounded in the interests of the learner
- promote inquiry and dialogue
- allow for authentic learning (not for the certificate or credits)
- encourage learning for learning’s sake
- support, and are supported by learning in community
Learn more about Trade School here.
“TSTO aims to spur barter economy” – Huffington Post
“Trade School Toronto launches this week” – Torontoist
“The Art of Barter” – CBC Radio
“The Money Rookie” – The Grid TorontoAnd if you want to know more about Visual Learning you can find my Resource List here at Playthink.com.
adventures in slow learning 