Hi WOL Friends,
As we kick off our 8th year at IU8 and our 3rd podcast season, this is a good time to remind or help people to know who we are at the WOL Institute.
First, we started out at IU8 with 10 World Language teachers and a lot of soul. The teachers who joined us at IU8 have built our World of Learning Institute into a place where learners interact with each other and the world around them. We are a learner-centered community, committed to continuing to improving our craft of teaching and learning in the virtual space. This cohort of people are better at engaging learners using authentic and relevant resources than any I have met on my journey.
Our story goes something like this!
A Learning Journey - follow the WOL road!
Chapter 1 - The Classes They Aren’t Taking
Imagine Dorothy, your student, who wants to travel to far and distant lands. Dorothy lived in rural PA and wanted to pursue Arabic. She saw the fine print in her schools guidance course catalog and asked what this meant! She had an interest in studying Arabic and felt a “call to adventure”. While her school did not have the course she wants to take, her amazing guidance counselor - said, not to worry! She went through the WOL Course Catalog with her and filled the gap, so Dorothy could learn Arabic without ever leaving her school. She was off to a great start… down the path to meeting her goals and achieving her dreams.
And you, her Principal, being the learner-centered leader your students need, recognize that if a student can pursue their interests they won’t be off day-dreaming, they will be engaged in an immersive virtual learning experience that will take them to far-off lands, or down a yellow brick road, without ever leaving their school or district. So whether it is Arabic or Physics, German or Math, the WOL Institute provides authentic, relevant, and engaging learning experiences using a computer, Zoom, and an LMS that is easy to navigate.
Chapter 2 - No Class? No Problem! Welcome Home
Once Dorothy encountered the WOL her school leaders knew that she was in good hands. And watching Dorothy’s progress, you begin to consider what other options could be available for timid students like Leo or students who get behind, like Tim? The WOL Institute provides caring teachers, authentic and relevant content, and a commitment to continued learning. No lions, or tigers, or bears. Just friendly, supportive people to guide the learning journey.
Better yet, our courses are built and continuously improved upon by our teachers. And students can get started within a day, receiving a supported entry as they begin a new adventure. Our caring folks keep an eye on the path and help the learner to chart their progress.
Chapter 3 - I Can Learn Online
While Dorothy never struggled with Arabic class, sometimes there can be a struggle to become independent learners in the online environment.
The awesome part about the WOL is that we work with you, your guidance department or support staff, to help each student become self-motivated, self-directed, and planners and managers of their time. Dorothy learned to advocate for herself, right from the start, but to avoid the pitfalls on the road (the online journey), the WOL Institute takes a team approach to finding the bumps and making adjustments, so that all the students on a journey can find success.
Chapter 4 - This Is Only The Beginning
Dorothy went on to complete 4 years of Arabic from a small town in Pennsylvania. The only one in her school who spoke and read Arabic. She engaged with others on this journey in schools across Pennsylvania and beyond. And, she excelled. Her dream of going to an elite school became a reality, and she continues to study Arabic and International Studies. While it is hard to be in a big city with students who had many more opportunities, Dorothy knew that she wanted to find her way our of the small town (and she loves to return, and probably will eventually, because she loves her home) to the big city and see what the world was like beyond her small town.
Because she engaged in authentic and relevant learning, she built skills to navigate not only the virtual space, but she also mastered concepts that are helping her to meet her next goal on the big road of life. She stays in touch with her teacher and continues to navigate the bumps in the road that happen as you move into the world.
For Dorothy, and others, the unknown can become smaller and the known larger as you walk a learning path with others. .
The skills Dorothy, and others, can learn through World of Learning courses can be transferred. It is remarkable to hear how learners’ like Dorothy who have amazing skills, can find new ones and build on their strengths to becoming continuous learners, confident in their abilities to tackle new challenges and learning environments.
We see the gift of helping a students, like Dorothy, every day as they internalize their ability to create their own adventure in learning. And they can continue the journey, regardless of where they are in the world.
So if you have student like Dorothy, or Leo, or Tim - who need something that you can’t offer, we are here to help.
Enjoy the journey,
Pat
PS - stay tuned for more on storyboarding and our new classes in the weeks ahead!
A Learning Journey - follow the WOL road!