I walked away from the Learning and Design program with a set of beliefs about education that are solidly grounded in research, beliefs that I advocate for every day. I know now that inquiry, play, informal environments and projects are rich educational experiences; I understand the importance of context and the richness of cultural and community knowledge; I understand that knowledge is co-created through interactions rather than handed as a gift from a teacher to a student. I also have a toolkit of practical ways in which to bring these ideas into classrooms.

Peabody was my first experience with education that valued learning and development rather than deadlines, compliance, and authority. In such a supportive and encouraging space, I had room to focus on ideas rather than on manipulating a system. I also always felt like a co-participant in conversations, rather than a student in the traditional sense.