My name is Nikki Webber and I am so excited that you have found this blog. I have a Bachelor of Arts from Vancouver Island University, where I majored in English Literature and minored in history. In this initial blog entry, I would like to share a little bit about myself, and my vision for equitable education.
I live in Chase, BC with my wonderful husband and our three daughters. I am a hardcore INFJ, Doctor Who fan, outdoor enthusiast, servant to my black Labradors, and am passionate about social justice, particularly as it concerns local and global food security. Perhaps most relevantly, I love writing, and I love literature! I remember being fourteen years old and spending hours being sucked into the pages of a good book, and all these years later, that joy has never left. One of the biggest dreams of my life has been to channel that love for the ‘mystery’ of literature into a joyous, equitable, and inclusive learning culture.
My vision for education has students drawing on global, cultural, and personal histories, having these experiences inform a community-based, individualized, and empathy-driven learning plan. This learning plan will teach my students how to think critically, as opposed to informing students what to think. It will also foster an equitable learning culture in which diverse life experiences and ways of being are valued.
I believe personalized learning is integral in guaranteeing the success of every student. Through personal attention that reflects the needs of the whole person, students will be able to take ownership of their education and life choices, creating a life and a future which celebrates diverse learners, encourages personal responsibility, and reflects creative and flourishing ways of being in the world. Removing the top-down model in favour of a fluid, community based and holistic approach, personalized learning will organically encompass the family, the educator, and the enrichment of the learner. Personalized learning will not only encourage acceptance and empathy, but promote individual thought and responsible decision making.
Personalized learning will not only add to a young person’s quality of life and prepare the way for an enjoyable and meaningful vocation, but will stimulate a society which celebrates differences, problem solves, collaborates, and leads with integrity. At the heart of equity lies the truth that each student can learn and has unique gifts to offer the world. Personalized learning recognizes that education is not one-size-fits-all, but a transformative, fluid, and community-based process that realizes the potential of each young person.