A sense of belonging to the global community. As technology opens doors to this global community, the way we define a classroom is changing.
Importance of starting small – taking steps with tangible outcomes and building a community which empowers others to take similar steps regardless of their physical location.
Globally, the statistics are showing that a sense of belonging decreases in secondary
schools. Motivation, persistence and academic performance have a direct correlation with feelings of belonging.
Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond: “When that sense of belonging is there, children throw themselves into the learning environment and when that sense of belonging is not there, children will alienate, they will marginalize, they will step back.”
Our Turangawaewae, our sense of our place, is something that will always change, and it is this sense of place which governs the way we act and shape the future. In the words of Eric Hoffer, “In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”