Statement of Purpose - Dr. Norman E. Burgess

I am a life-long learner by inclination and by habit with over thirty years of experience as an educator, administrator, and performer. Learning is not just in the classroom. My observations convince me that we all assume the teaching / learning role frequently in our daily lives and that effective learning is a key tool to coping with today's rapid change and information overload. Therefore, this site intends to appeal to anyone who is seeking further information and understanding about teaching and learning, not just those in teaching professions.

While thousands of brilliant and creative minds have been exploring the area of learning for centuries, there has been a surge of progress over the past twenty years. For instance, advanced technology has facilitated some astounding discoveries about the brain in the past five years. An overwhelming mountain of information has been generated about learning. This site is designed so that the first layer of information provides a very brief overview with links to next steps if the reader wishes to pursue a topic in more detail. The intention is to assist by providing a preliminary sort and filter.

The site does not represent a single concept. It is a place where you can find out about a whole variety of concepts, models, and theories. And sometimes they "conflict." A single model rarely provides the ultimate answer to effective learning. We want to help through providing awareness of options and how/where to find out more.We want to promote understanding of different perspectives, to respect and "honour" different perspectives, and to appreciate differences in learning styles and preferences.

The site intentionally crosses disciplines. Learning does not take place in isolation. Multiple factors are involved -- the mind, body, and environment. For example, health is an issue for teachers and learners, not just health practitioners. And the teaching / learning process can cause health issues such as anxiety, stress or low self-esteem.

On the other hand, the health practitioner is often in the role of teacher. For example, it is important for physiotherapists to realize that they are "teaching" the patient new skills and the patient's success often depends on the pedagogical skills of the therapist. I have found that this realization is not always obvious to those not in designated teaching professions.

Our focus is on process. We do realize that content is important. The learning process is usually for the purpose of learning content or skills. What we seek is to facilitate the understanding and communication of content. Miscommunication is a waste of energy and time.

Teachers. Our expectations of teachers are huge. The field is expanding with so many skills, tools and strategies available to deal with the diverse classroom. The challenge is to stay abreast of these opportunites, to learn and incorporate new teaching skills -- without burning out. In addition to information, we provide links to courses and conferences for professional development.

Parents. It is important to be informed about education. And, as the Mustard report points out, in the early years, parents are prime educators! Many districts are making significant changes. For example, it is important to be aware of the limitations of standardized testing or to understand the importance of the arts and physical education programs which are so frequently eliminated. If your child's learning style is not respected, the consequences can be serious now and in their future. Recently, violence has become a serious concern.

Workplace. Knowledge is today's currency. Survival is often a question of whether we can outlearn our competition. Are an individual's thinking, learning and work styles understood and respected? Do we recruit "comfortable clones" or seek the power of difference? Is there bullying in our workplace? Does the physical and emotional environment facilitate learning and productivity?

The site also includes news and current issues about learning, education and training. As in every other aspect of our lives, learning / education is being affected by the rapid changes: social, economic, political, technology, and globalization. We believe that learning is key to coping with these changes.

A guiding principle of this site is to be objective and accurate. In controversial issues, we will examine pros and cons. Articles by authors with specific expertise are included. Above all, our hope is that this site is useful and easy to use. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Updated March 30, 2000