it’s the journey, not the destination

Today, in a meeting, we were talking about AI in the classroom (much more to come on that). As we talked about the many dangers of it for students, one of my colleagues mentioned this quote, and how AI is taking away the journey of learning. Students use AI as a shortcut to the ending.

This phrase is repeated so often, it’s hard for it not to often lose its meaning at times, but it’s so important to remember. And with a whole website/blog/curriculum/classroom culture, centered around trails/hiking/nature, it’s more important than ever.

I think that is always what I am trying to get across to my students. It’s not just about the right answers.

It’s about the steep hills you have to push your way up.

It’s the switchbacks that challenge your resiliency.

It’s the scrambles where you fall on your face.

It’s the flowing rivers you have to cross.

The view at the top is incredible. But it’s not the same if you don’t have to work for it.

It’s the journey that matters. The process. The struggles. The failures. That’s what makes the answers worth it.