Partners in Wonder

Cat is asking all the right questions with 'Wonder: Education Reimagined! In order to support our students in navigating this VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, educators are seeking new ways of designing, structuring, and leading educational experiences for learners that are relevant, transformational, and rooted in real local and global contexts. I love that Cat is part of this dialogue and ideation, and I think that 'Wonder' will be a way for educators to reflect, think, dream, and do in new ways.

You can find LeeAnne's work at

www.leeannelavender.com/leeanne@leeannelavender.com

Education is, in part, about the teaching and learning of specific things. More broadly, however, it is about fostering curiosity and a love of learning – that is how students become independent and lifelong learners themselves. A key part of this wider disposition is a capacity for wonder: an openness to and appreciation of the surprising, complex, fascinating dimensions of our world. As Cat's “wonderful” web site plays out, we need to activate this capacity in learners as an active and intentional educational goal in itself.

As Schinkel (2017) writes: “This is one aspect of the educational importance of deep wonder: a crucial characteristic of being educated is coming to realise what you don’t know, what you only think you know, and what you cannot know. . . . Deep wonder sustains and, where necessary, revives our interest in the world—not the having-a- stake-in-it or wanting-something-out-of-it kind of interest, but the kind that involves an appreciation of things for their own sake . . . This, too, is educationally important, because it is in fact the epitome of openness to the world; if education is to open up the world to us, deep wonder must be fundamental to it.”

Schinkel, Anders. "The educational importance of deep wonder." Journal of Philosophy of Education 51, no. 2 (2017): 538-553.

We are proud to partner with Cat and Wonder in their passionate advocacy for global citizenship education. Her commitment to creating a learning environment that extends beyond textbooks and traditional classrooms is truly inspiring.

Cat’s vision is centered on equipping students with the skills, perspectives, and values needed to thrive in an interconnected world. She emphasizes the importance of:

✅ Engaging with real-world issues – Encouraging students to think critically, solve problems, and apply their learning to global challenges.

✅ Learning from diverse perspectives – Fostering cross-cultural understanding by exposing students to different cultures, ideas, and ways of thinking.

✅ Collaborative learning – Promoting teamwork, empathy, and leadership through meaningful projects and community-driven initiatives.

Her approach not only prepares students academically but also empowers them to become responsible, compassionate, and proactive global citizens. In today’s world, where challenges transcend borders, this kind of education is more crucial than ever.

We are excited to collaborate with Wonder in shaping future leaders who are not only knowledgeable but also ready to make a positive impact on the world. 🌍✨

SEED's work in rural development can be explored here - https://sabahseed.org.my/