A Lifelong Learner by Tina O’Brien
Certified nerd disclaimer: I make an appearance in most of my Google slide presentations for my classes. In fact, the joke in my family is that I don’t actually teach anything. My sister teases me constantly. She claims all I really do with my in the class is show students pictures of all my vacations. I mean, she isn’t fully wrong. If I am teaching about the role of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in Rhode Island, there is a picture of me outside of the DeWolf family mansion called Linden Place in Bristol. A lesson on the French and Indian War? Catch me outside Fort William Henry in Lake George. Do you want to hear a lecture on scrimshaw? No problem! Here are some photos of me at Mystic Seaport and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Why place myself within my slides? Well, I am literally placing myself within the context of history.
I firmly believe in place-based learning. In fact, it is my major message to my students. I would love to believe that my kids hang on my every word, but the reality is I am one of their six teachers in a seven day rotation schedule that is providing them with more information that they may or may not find relevant to their lives. My focus then has become to remind my students that the best way to learn is to simply go to these places themselves. I know that is easier said than done. However, I try to tell my students that they do not have to travel far in order to think about the past. Rhode Island is home to numerous historical cemeteries, homes, and buildings. Many individual towns, such as Warren and Newport, even have historical markers placed on the homes to show who lived there and when the building was constructed. To get my students interested in local history around the state, I suggest to them using an app called Clio. All they have to do is type in a town and various plaques, monuments, and homes will be filtered by closest location. Not every place has to have a well publicized history, such as the White House or the Alamo, to tell a significant story.
Place-based learning is not only suitable for young people, but this type of immersion is excellent for adults as well. That is why I absolutely adore the Open Air Institute that the Rhode Island Writing Project has put into place over the summer. This summer professional development was designed to become the embodiment of the RIWP motto “teachers teaching teachers.” Why hold a seminar inside of a hot, stuffy classroom when people can enjoy the outdoors while also learning? Think about the amount of time our kids have been caught gazing out the window, wishing they could simply be out of the classroom. As much as we want to reprimand our kids for their eyes glazing over during a lecture, we know teachers can become just as antsy when being talked at while we know the weather is beautiful. This is why the Open Air Institute is the perfect balance of learning and leisure. The umbrella topic focuses on what it means to be a Rhode Islander. From there, a theme is chosen by the teacher leaders. Past themes have included literal landmarks such as islands, rivers, and farms. Other topics were ideas such as “the dark side” which showcased the history of mental health services or “fun and games” which showcased Rhode Island’s sports teams and amusement parks. The three day outdoor adventure encompasses all the best parts of our profession — camaraderie, self-expression, and deeper knowledge to share with others. Participants travel to parts of the state that they may have never been to, as crazy as that may sound seeing the entire state can be driven in an hour! Or maybe the day will take teachers to a place where they have traveled to numerous times but without ever thinking about the layers of life that have walked those same steps. The three day setting, just like our school districts, is divided up into rural, urban, and suburban. This way, all facets of life in Rhode Island are covered. The OAI is a chance for people to think critically, write passionately, and learn best teaching strategies all while soaking in some Vitamin D. SIGN UP HERE!
My suggestion on how to be a lifelong learner? Explore the places around you. Learn from the locals. And find your people to travel with. It makes all the difference in the world.
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Christina (Tina) O’Brien is a history teacher at North Providence High School. She has been actively involved in the Rhode Island Writing Project for the majority of her 14 year teaching career. She has an appetite for traveling and has a goal of seeing every MLB Park (29 out of 30), every state (39 out of 50), and every national park (8 out of 63). When she isn’t teaching, she can be found searching for historical markers around the state of Rhode Island with her husband and daughter.
