360º EduKnowmad

Mar Cano, passionate about education as a tool for social transformation. Committed to the empowerment of all the voices by guiding students so that each of them become a better version of themselves from their authenticity. And committed to guiding teachers and educational communities so that they create a safe and right environment which offers opportunities for growth and comprehensive development from a global approach.

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In order to promote the transformation in the educational institutions, my teaching practice has been my main experiential and reflective lab for my ongoing improvement, and thus I have been able to guide and support other educators on this path. Therefore, in the times we are living we have great opportunities which I would like to contribute to: starting with the socioemotional wellbeing of everyone who is part of the educational communities, and then developing synergies between thinking and technology, and between innovation and research with the aim to boost students’ learning from their authentic self on their way to grow as responsible, ethical and committed citizens to the world.

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My sustained passion for learning drove me to study two degrees: Degree in Teaching, specializing in English as a Foreign Language in Preschool and Primary School (University of Barcelona & King’s College London) and Degree in English Philology (University of Barcelona, University of Birmingham & University of Manchester).  Additionally, I continued with two masters: Master’s degree in Construction and Representation of Cultural Identities, and Master in Research and Educational Change (University of Barcelona).

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Likewise, my curiosity and my lively mind have led me to continue expanding my knowledge and to develop multiple skills in different fields from diverse educational experiences.

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Taking into account the 4Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity) , I have focused the professional development of these learning and innovation competences both on a personal and professional level:

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1) my path in Toastmasters, along with my participation in conferences, congresses and trainings, which help me to strengthen my oral communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and audiovisual, to speak in public in person and virtually effectively; as well as the writing of two dissertations and several publications, which have allowed me to develop written communication skills from a reflective perspective.

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2) the different roles in various entities, such as head of department, pedagogical coordinator, co-coordinator of the innovation team 'Marists Innovation Network ', member of the Innovation Team, collaborator for volunteering projects, Vice President of Education of Toastmasters Bogotá English Club,  co-writer of a forthcoming book (on effective and collaborative teamwork) have contributed to the development of my collaboration and leadership skills;

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3) my deep inquiry into cultures of thinking, thinking skills and routines with the Center for Teaching Thinking and with Harvard Project Zero , which have promoted the development of my critical, creative and analytical thinking;

 

4) and the role of Table Topic Master, along with creativity and improvisation workshops, which continue to give me wings to get out of my comfort zone, think outside the box and explore my creative potential exponentially, while cultivating my growth mindset.

  

With all this, I continue to make connections between all these learnings and I put them at the service of my professional career within the educational field. Although, initially and throughout my career as an English language teacher, bearing in mind the integral development of students from 3 to 18 years old; in recent years, I have also been at the service of teaching staff and educational communities from training and support in the fields of innovation, digital technologies and educational transformation, especially promoting cultures of thinking.