I still didn’t know why they hired me I had no previous experience in the field
had no previous experience in the field
had no previous experience in the field and I had no idea how to do this what
and I had no idea how to do this what
and I had no idea how to do this what they wanted me to do it didn’t help that
they wanted me to do it didn’t help that
they wanted me to do it didn’t help that I was woefully unprepared when I showed
I was woefully unprepared when I showed
I was woefully unprepared when I showed up the first day I was so nervous that I
up the first day I was so nervous that I
up the first day I was so nervous that I had ten minutes before I thrown up into
had ten minutes before I thrown up into
had ten minutes before I thrown up into a duck pond close by but now here I was
a duck pond close by but now here I was
a duck pond close by but now here I was standing in front of 30 young faces
standing in front of 30 young faces
standing in front of 30 young faces about to teach my very first class this
about to teach my very first class this
about to teach my very first class this was in Vancouver in the spring of 2006
was in Vancouver in the spring of 2006
was in Vancouver in the spring of 2006 and I was terrified but I didn’t know it
and I was terrified but I didn’t know it
and I was terrified but I didn’t know it at the time I had just stumbled across
at the time I had just stumbled across
at the time I had just stumbled across my passion and as I was standing in
my passion and as I was standing in
my passion and as I was standing in front of these students rumbling through
front of these students rumbling through
front of these students rumbling through my unprepared lesson I had one thing
my unprepared lesson I had one thing
my unprepared lesson I had one thing going for me prior to the class I’d
going for me prior to the class I’d
going for me prior to the class I’d memorized a class list I thought that’s
memorized a class list I thought that’s
memorized a class list I thought that’s what teachers do and as I started
what teachers do and as I started
what teachers do and as I started addressing the students by their names
addressing the students by their names
addressing the students by their names something beautiful started happening
something beautiful started happening
something beautiful started happening interactions between me the students
interactions between me the students
interactions between me the students them and themselves and I realized in
them and themselves and I realized in
them and themselves and I realized in that moment teaching has less to do with
that moment teaching has less to do with
that moment teaching has less to do with the content I deliver but everything
the content I deliver but everything
the content I deliver but everything with the interactions I create with my
with the interactions I create with my
with the interactions I create with my students now it is one thing to connect
students now it is one thing to connect
students now it is one thing to connect to 30 or 60 students sitting in a
to 30 or 60 students sitting in a
to 30 or 60 students sitting in a classroom right in front of you right
classroom right in front of you right
classroom right in front of you right you can look at them and make
you can look at them and make
you can look at them and make connections but a completely different
connections but a completely different
connections but a completely different thing to do this online in a virtual
thing to do this online in a virtual
thing to do this online in a virtual learning environment with people all
learning environment with people all
learning environment with people all across the world now how do we do that
across the world now how do we do that
across the world now how do we do that how do we add personality that’s so
how do we add personality that’s so
how do we add personality that’s so important human touch to a virtual
important human touch to a virtual
important human touch to a virtual environment these are the kinds of
environment these are the kinds of
environment these are the kinds of questions my team and I ask ourselves as
questions my team and I ask ourselves as
questions my team and I ask ourselves as we are building Jami let me introduce
we are building Jami let me introduce
we are building Jami let me introduce you to our project Jami is a virtual
you to our project Jami is a virtual
you to our project Jami is a virtual incubator for passionate entrepreneurs
incubator for passionate entrepreneurs
incubator for passionate entrepreneurs that want to start
that want to start
that want to start companies companies that solve complex
companies companies that solve complex
companies companies that solve complex and meaningful problems you know that
and meaningful problems you know that
and meaningful problems you know that human to human interaction becomes even
human to human interaction becomes even
human to human interaction becomes even more important in an online learning
more important in an online learning
more important in an online learning environment where technology has a
environment where technology has a
environment where technology has a tendency to take center stage often at
tendency to take center stage often at
tendency to take center stage often at the cost of the individual learner we
the cost of the individual learner we
the cost of the individual learner we believe that education that is built on
believe that education that is built on
believe that education that is built on a one-size-fits-all doesn’t work never
a one-size-fits-all doesn’t work never
a one-size-fits-all doesn’t work never has but less so today the problems we
has but less so today the problems we
has but less so today the problems we are faced today cannot be solved using
are faced today cannot be solved using
are faced today cannot be solved using the same methods that we used in the
the same methods that we used in the
the same methods that we used in the past over decades they require education
past over decades they require education
past over decades they require education to develop individuals that are
to develop individuals that are
to develop individuals that are passionate that are creative like our
passionate that are creative like our
passionate that are creative like our students here and innovative and can do
students here and innovative and can do
students here and innovative and can do stuff Janney is by design fully learner
stuff Janney is by design fully learner
stuff Janney is by design fully learner centric not content or technology
centric not content or technology
centric not content or technology centric the human stands in the middle
centric the human stands in the middle
centric the human stands in the middle it’s a virtual place where entrepreneurs
it’s a virtual place where entrepreneurs
it’s a virtual place where entrepreneurs can come together share their ideas
can come together share their ideas
can come together share their ideas learn from one another
learn from one another
learn from one another compete in competitions and most
compete in competitions and most
compete in competitions and most importantly receive mentorship local and
importantly receive mentorship local and
importantly receive mentorship local and international mentorship now this
international mentorship now this
international mentorship now this changes the role of the teacher to one
changes the role of the teacher to one
changes the role of the teacher to one of mentor and perhaps partner in
of mentor and perhaps partner in
of mentor and perhaps partner in learning journey by the way means
learning journey by the way means
learning journey by the way means community in Swahili a language spoken
community in Swahili a language spoken
community in Swahili a language spoken in Kenya one of our first international
in Kenya one of our first international
in Kenya one of our first international partners we think quite proudly that
partners we think quite proudly that
partners we think quite proudly that Jonny could be the next iteration of
Jonny could be the next iteration of
Jonny could be the next iteration of online education we call it massive
online education we call it massive
online education we call it massive individualized there you go or mile
you know since that terrible class in
you know since that terrible class in the spring of 2006 I have taught
the spring of 2006 I have taught
the spring of 2006 I have taught hundreds of workshops and classes not
hundreds of workshops and classes not
hundreds of workshops and classes not just design leadership all kinds of
just design leadership all kinds of
just design leadership all kinds of classes there’s a couple of things that
classes there’s a couple of things that
classes there’s a couple of things that I have learned by being in a classroom
I have learned by being in a classroom
I have learned by being in a classroom and interacting with my students that I
and interacting with my students that I
and interacting with my students that I would like to share with you today there
would like to share with you today there
would like to share with you today there they are just graduated last summer so
they are just graduated last summer so
they are just graduated last summer so number one what’s the most important
number one what’s the most important
number one what’s the most important thing relationships first before we can
thing relationships first before we can
thing relationships first before we can embark on teaching anything we need to
embark on teaching anything we need to
embark on teaching anything we need to build a relationship create contact with
build a relationship create contact with
build a relationship create contact with our students I truly believe that at the
our students I truly believe that at the
our students I truly believe that at the core of everything we do everything we
core of everything we do everything we
core of everything we do everything we do is the human that interconnectedness
do is the human that interconnectedness
do is the human that interconnectedness of people so to speak the most
of people so to speak the most
of people so to speak the most compelling classrooms are the ones where
compelling classrooms are the ones where
compelling classrooms are the ones where learning has a deeper purpose right
learning has a deeper purpose right
learning has a deeper purpose right where where something important is
where where something important is
where where something important is taking place now we can think of our
taking place now we can think of our
taking place now we can think of our students as this cohesive group of
students as this cohesive group of
students as this cohesive group of people but know they’re all individuals
people but know they’re all individuals
people but know they’re all individuals and they want to be seen as such none of
and they want to be seen as such none of
and they want to be seen as such none of you are alike
you are alike
you are alike there is no average student doesn’t
there is no average student doesn’t
there is no average student doesn’t exist we’re all different now in order
exist we’re all different now in order
exist we’re all different now in order to build these courses and the liberal
to build these courses and the liberal
to build these courses and the liberal learning experiences we need to know
learning experiences we need to know
learning experiences we need to know where our students come from what they
where our students come from what they
where our students come from what they struggle with what they’re passionate
struggle with what they’re passionate
struggle with what they’re passionate about what they’re up to
about what they’re up to
about what they’re up to so about a year ago pretty much a year
so about a year ago pretty much a year
so about a year ago pretty much a year ago on Jami we were working with a group
ago on Jami we were working with a group
ago on Jami we were working with a group of Kenyans and for some reason they
of Kenyans and for some reason they
of Kenyans and for some reason they stopped responding to our messages and
stopped responding to our messages and
stopped responding to our messages and user engagement on the platform was
user engagement on the platform was
user engagement on the platform was terribly low now you can understand this
terribly low now you can understand this
terribly low now you can understand this is a bit of a problem for a platform the
is a bit of a problem for a platform the
is a bit of a problem for a platform the prides itself to build relationships and
prides itself to build relationships and
prides itself to build relationships and connect people to one another so we were
connect people to one another so we were
connect people to one another so we were a bit desperate
a bit desperate
a bit desperate so on a whim we posted a photograph of
so on a whim we posted a photograph of
so on a whim we posted a photograph of the parking lot outside of our office
the parking lot outside of our office
the parking lot outside of our office and it happened to be one of those
and it happened to be one of those
and it happened to be one of those typical Waterloo winter days February
typical Waterloo winter days February
typical Waterloo winter days February you know what I mean – 30 windchill snow
you know what I mean – 30 windchill snow
you know what I mean – 30 windchill snow blowing sideways marvels of nature this
blowing sideways marvels of nature this
blowing sideways marvels of nature this photo elicited immediate feedback
photo elicited immediate feedback
photo elicited immediate feedback students started sending us things they
students started sending us things they
students started sending us things they shared photographs of their views in
shared photographs of their views in
shared photographs of their views in Kenya as they were working on their
Kenya as they were working on their
Kenya as they were working on their startups lush green landscapes kids
startups lush green landscapes kids
startups lush green landscapes kids running through the streets in shorts
running through the streets in shorts
running through the streets in shorts and in one instance people dancing in
and in one instance people dancing in
and in one instance people dancing in the street they shared by the end of the
the street they shared by the end of the
the street they shared by the end of the curve the competition they had shared
curve the competition they had shared
curve the competition they had shared with us all kinds of important things
with us all kinds of important things
with us all kinds of important things not just photographs of things they saw
not just photographs of things they saw
not just photographs of things they saw also important things to them for
also important things to them for
also important things to them for example when their campus was on
example when their campus was on
example when their campus was on lockdown and they were all hiding under
lockdown and they were all hiding under
lockdown and they were all hiding under the desks because of a terrorist threat
the desks because of a terrorist threat
the desks because of a terrorist threat this informed our design decision of
this informed our design decision of
this informed our design decision of using photographs as backgrounds in our
using photographs as backgrounds in our
using photographs as backgrounds in our user interface from all the places that
user interface from all the places that
user interface from all the places that our users come from kind of a visual way
our users come from kind of a visual way
our users come from kind of a visual way of connecting them these are photos from
of connecting them these are photos from
of connecting them these are photos from Canada
Canada
Canada Kenya Egypt and come spring 2017
Kenya Egypt and come spring 2017
Kenya Egypt and come spring 2017 Scotland all our partners number two
learning meets a purpose as you are
learning meets a purpose as you are students in the room you know we can’t
students in the room you know we can’t
students in the room you know we can’t force you to learn anything as a teacher
force you to learn anything as a teacher
force you to learn anything as a teacher I can’t force you however I can create
I can’t force you however I can create
I can’t force you however I can create the learning environment that is
the learning environment that is
the learning environment that is conducive to learning the most
conducive to learning the most
conducive to learning the most compelling classrooms have purpose a
compelling classrooms have purpose a
compelling classrooms have purpose a bigger meaning right and the faster
bigger meaning right and the faster
bigger meaning right and the faster learning with social interactions that
learning with social interactions that
learning with social interactions that allows people to talk to each other talk
allows people to talk to each other talk
allows people to talk to each other talk to me talk to themselves on Jami we
to me talk to themselves on Jami we
to me talk to themselves on Jami we challenge our startup teams to tackle
challenge our startup teams to tackle
challenge our startup teams to tackle complex problems for example
agricultural issues in sub-saharan
agricultural issues in sub-saharan Africa or infrastructure problems in
Africa or infrastructure problems in
Africa or infrastructure problems in Egypt big big complex difficult problems
Egypt big big complex difficult problems
Egypt big big complex difficult problems we want them to tackle these things so
we want them to tackle these things so
we want them to tackle these things so this could be a team in Kenya building a
this could be a team in Kenya building a
this could be a team in Kenya building a start-up that addresses water scarcity
start-up that addresses water scarcity
start-up that addresses water scarcity in their village or a two-person team in
in their village or a two-person team in
in their village or a two-person team in Cairo building a conduit between
Cairo building a conduit between
Cairo building a conduit between government service providers and a
government service providers and a
government service providers and a disgruntled citizen
disgruntled citizen
disgruntled citizen Janny is designed with the purpose
Janny is designed with the purpose
Janny is designed with the purpose problem centered learning at the center
problem centered learning at the center
problem centered learning at the center and students work around that number
and students work around that number
and students work around that number three my last point authenticity is key
three my last point authenticity is key
three my last point authenticity is key you know that you can’t fake that you
you know that you can’t fake that you
you know that you can’t fake that you care about something or somebody you
care about something or somebody you
care about something or somebody you have to love what he teach now let me
have to love what he teach now let me
have to love what he teach now let me repeat this this is really important for
repeat this this is really important for
repeat this this is really important for the teachers here you have to love what
the teachers here you have to love what
the teachers here you have to love what you teach if you don’t you’re your
you teach if you don’t you’re your
you teach if you don’t you’re your audience your students will see straight
audience your students will see straight
audience your students will see straight through that you can’t inspire them with
through that you can’t inspire them with
through that you can’t inspire them with your topics if you don’t love the topic
your topics if you don’t love the topic
your topics if you don’t love the topic you teach well force yourself to fall in
you teach well force yourself to fall in
you teach well force yourself to fall in love dim the lights put rose petals
love dim the lights put rose petals
love dim the lights put rose petals there light a candle I don’t know like
there light a candle I don’t know like
there light a candle I don’t know like an actor has to do who has to play a
an actor has to do who has to play a
an actor has to do who has to play a difficult character and has to dig deep
difficult character and has to dig deep
difficult character and has to dig deep to find that beauty inside that person
to find that beauty inside that person
to find that beauty inside that person to represent it authentically now we are
to represent it authentically now we are
to represent it authentically now we are virtually connected to each other like
virtually connected to each other like
virtually connected to each other like never before
never before
never before hashtag hashtag right now this is a huge
hashtag hashtag right now this is a huge
hashtag hashtag right now this is a huge opportunity this is this is how walls
opportunity this is this is how walls
opportunity this is this is how walls come down how good things could happen
come down how good things could happen
come down how good things could happen we can share our voices support each
we can share our voices support each
we can share our voices support each other and tackle those daunting problems
other and tackle those daunting problems
other and tackle those daunting problems that we’re currently faced with all
that we’re currently faced with all
that we’re currently faced with all around the world everywhere
now if you haven’t figured this out by
now if you haven’t figured this out by now I absolutely love teaching it’s
now I absolutely love teaching it’s
now I absolutely love teaching it’s where I come a life it’s it’s what I
where I come a life it’s it’s what I
where I come a life it’s it’s what I would do for free well good thing I
would do for free well good thing I
would do for free well good thing I didn’t say this in public I don’t have
didn’t say this in public I don’t have
didn’t say this in public I don’t have to throw up before my classes anymore
to throw up before my classes anymore
to throw up before my classes anymore and being in the classroom for the last
and being in the classroom for the last
and being in the classroom for the last ten years interacting with my students I
ten years interacting with my students I
ten years interacting with my students I have learned a ton everybody has
have learned a ton everybody has
have learned a ton everybody has something to offer teaching and
something to offer teaching and
something to offer teaching and mentorship
mentorship
mentorship there are multi-directional processes
now my students know this always talk
now my students know this always talk about love and care in my classes they
about love and care in my classes they
about love and care in my classes they make fun of me sometimes but I mean this
make fun of me sometimes but I mean this
make fun of me sometimes but I mean this love for the topic love for our craft
love for the topic love for our craft
love for the topic love for our craft for the problems we’re tackling in a
for the problems we’re tackling in a
for the problems we’re tackling in a class but also love for how we treat
class but also love for how we treat
class but also love for how we treat each other a student and teacher teacher
each other a student and teacher teacher
each other a student and teacher teacher and student now you might think this is
and student now you might think this is
and student now you might think this is a bit inappropriate to talk about love
a bit inappropriate to talk about love
a bit inappropriate to talk about love in an educational setting I say it’s the
in an educational setting I say it’s the
in an educational setting I say it’s the opposite because you see care love and
opposite because you see care love and
opposite because you see care love and building these relationships with each
building these relationships with each
building these relationships with each other
other
other that’s what it’s all about that’s our
that’s what it’s all about that’s our
that’s what it’s all about that’s our most powerful most important tool in our
most powerful most important tool in our
most powerful most important tool in our teaching and learning and human toolkit
”
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