Blog Archives
Learners Publish Book of Poetry and Art
A Good Learning Anywhere Spring
Spring has been in the air for a few weeks now, but here at GLA, we’re just getting started with some new adventures and a few changes to our organization.
Some of you may have already noticed those changes, and I thought this would be a great chance to share what’s been going on at our headquarters.
We’ve changed things up a bit, but never fear, our core is still the same. Read the rest of this entry
The Not-So-Complicated Adult Literacy Equation
The one thing that I really like about math is that, for the most part, there is one correct answer. It is usually either right or wrong. It is black or white. It is yes or no. There is very little emotion with math. It is all about the facts and decisions are based on the facts. However, many people find math to be complicated.
So here is my version of what I call the Not-S0-Complicated Adult Literacy Equation. An adult learner can achieve their goals with three criteria:
- Attitude
- Opportunity
- Skill
Attitude + Opportunity = SkillOpportunity + Skill = AttitudeSkill + Attitude = Opportunity
- If a learner has the right balance of motivation (attitude) and learning opportunities, the end result will be a learned skill.
- If a learner takes advantage of an opportunity and applies their skills, the end result will be a highly motivated and confident learner.
- If a learner is motivated and has strong skills, they will have opportunities to succeed.
This literacy equation is not that complicated because it makes sense for learners. For a learner, this equation may help them determine for themselves the missing value for them to solve their own adult literacy equation.
In my experience, the missing value seems most often to be attitude and motivation. It’s very important for me to really inspire learners to get them excited about learning. It’s also important that I am up front with learners and tell them that while this equation is not-so-complicated, I can’t answer it for them.
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Truth)
Movember is quickly coming to a close as today is officially the last day! It is almost time to mow this Mo!
This is also the final blog posting for our series linking Movember and health literacy to the sacred 7 Grandfather Teachings. The 7th and final sacred Grandfather Teaching is Truth:
Debwewin—Truth: Truth is to know all of these things. Speak the truth. Do not deceive yourself or others.
It’s all about accountability. People need to be accountable to themselves first. I like this teaching because it explains that. Most people believe that we have to be truthful to others. But what about ourselves?
The same goes with health literacy. People need to know that it’s OK not to know something. But it’s also important to hold ourselves accountable to our actions. For example, the word “can’t.” People like to say things like: “I can’t lose 10 pounds. I can’t quit smoking. I can’t eat a balanced diet.” What if people changed the word to “won’t.” People might be saying: “I won’t lose 10 pounds. I won’t quit smoking. I won’t eat a balanced diet.” By using the word “won’t” we are giving ourselves a choice. People don’t like the word “won’t” because at the end of the day people want to make healthy lifestyle changes. So what if every time we use the word “can’t” we replace it with “I don’t know how.”
“I don’t know how to lose 10 pounds. I don’t know how to quit smoking. I don’t know how to eat a balanced diet.”
Simply by changing these simple words around, we can be truthful to ourselves, remove the barriers and allow ourselves to learn more about health literacy. Let’s be accountable to ourselves first and learn from all 7 Grandfather Teachings.
On behalf of the Good Learning Anywhere team and Sioux Hudson Literacy Council, we would like to thank you for all your support for Movember 2011. It’s been a great experience, we’ve promoted a lot of health literacy awareness for our learners, and we made some new connections as well.
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Humility)
Men around the world have been growing mustaches for almost 30 days straight now for Movember. For some, it will feel like a very humiliating experience. Some men are not used to growing a Mo and their friends and family aren’t used to seeing a Mo on their loved ones. But you have to give these men some credit. We all might look a little silly, and out of character, but we have formed a connected group of men who have changed the face of men’s health literacy.
In this blog series, we are continuing with linking the sacred 7 Grandfather Teachings to men’s health literacy. The sixth Grandfather Teaching is Humility:
Dabaadendiziwin—Humility: Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean “compassion.” You are equal to others, but you are not better. Some communities instead express this with Bekaadiziwin, which in addition to “humility” can also be translated as “calmness,” “meekness,” “gentility” or “patience.”
My interpretation of this teaching is that all of mankind are equal. We all have an equal and sacred part of existence in the world. We are all equal to others and in no way is anyone better than another. This is another great relationship to Movember.
All the men growing the Mo are equals. There is not one Mo that is better than the other. Some might disagree on this point. But ultimately, it’s not about who has the best Mo. It’s about coming together as men, showing leadership, and changing the face of men’s health by raising funds and awareness for men’s health literacy and prostate cancer. Movember is about pride, being selfless and looking out for each other…all similar if not the same attributes that connect to the teaching of humility.
