Last summer, I visited Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks during the National Park Service's centennial year celebration. I was struck by the vast skies and panoramic views, and the weather and terrain provided an endless variety of scenery. Swept up in the beauty of the place, I experienced first-hand things I had only read or heard about. In a word, I was inspired by the wide open spaces.
Being unplugged and electronically disconnected allowed me to look, listen, and engage in what I was seeing, hearing, and doing. I wasn't distracted by emails, texts, and constant updates. I met interesting people and got reacquainted with myself. I hiked, biked, and paddled my way around the area. I fly fished in a cool river and rode a trusty horse along steep mountain trails. I learned about the Native Americans, explorers, cowboys, and other settlers who bravely inhabited the land long before outdoor tourism became a mainstay of the region.
During the trip, I relied on numerous maps to navigate backroads and trails. With no electronic voice prodding me to "Turn right in 500 feet," I made my own decisions; some good, others requiring reroutes and backtracking. Occasionally, a wrong turn led to an unexpected sight-a moose snacking on a berry bush or a hidden mountain lake. These happy accidents created some of the trip's most memorable moments. It occurred to me that maps don't necessarily tell us exactly where to go. They just show us different ways to get there, once we decide where we need or want to be. We learn as we go.
Good teachers do the same thing. Trenfor (n.d.) stated, "The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see." (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/687209). Learners usually know what they need or want to learn. One of our roles as nursing professional development practitioners is to help them find the best way to do so; to show them the map and to be a reliable guide. How they experience the learning, what they see and do along the way, depends on the individual learner. As educators, we need to provide plenty of space for learners to explore and find their own way.
As 2016 and JNPD Volume 32 come to a close, Co-Editor Kari Schmidt and I wish to extend a sincere thank you to the JNPD team. Our outstanding Editorial Board and the talented JNPD publishing team members are listed on the Journal's masthead. We also want to mention our steadfast Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) partners and, of course, the authors and contributors who trust us with their work and ideas. A special thank you goes to our hardworking peer reviewers, whose efforts help us maintain the quality of JNPD's content. Thank you to Jan Boller, Stacey Brull, Linda Cook, Marina Davydov, Sara Gibbons, Patrick Hennessy, Marita Landreth, June Levine, Nancy Smith, Jill Steward, Deonni Stolldorf, Valerie Ventura, and Heather Wierzbinski-Cross, among others.
We will soon begin a new year, with a fresh slate and a still uncluttered calendar. Oh, the promise and inspiration of wide open spaces! Please be in touch and share what you are learning and doing. Here's to a healthy, safe, and enjoyable holiday season.
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