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cussion, either for the troll’s amusement or a specific gain. (Wikipedia) The Internet, under any circumstances, is a seemingly limitless trove of information for the curious, lifelong learner, but…caution, critical thinking must be amply applied! I have always believed that effective teachers see themselves as both teachers and learners, and that lifelong learning is a habit of mind developed where there is a predisposition and a growth mindset. When I retired from ACS Athens nearly five years ago, I continued to work with colleagues on Professional Development and Curriculum Development initiatives in areas where my experience and expertise could perhaps be of benefit. I have also stayed in contact with many former colleagues and students around the world through social media, pursued other areas of interest, read widely, and certainly become more proficient with the use of digital tools. My long career as a member of the vibrant ACS Athens learning community and the habits of mind I cultivated ensured that even in retirement, my own education was far from over!
A Community Of Lifelong Learners by Janet Karvouniaris, Social Studies Alumna Faculty
Dedicated to Steve Medeiros, an educator of unique intelligence, character, and leadership
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recently came across this question on ResearchGate, a platform for researchers to post their work, posit questions and respond to fellow researchers: “Caveat lector (Warning to reader): How do we distinguish “trolling” from critical thinking with the Socratic Method?” (Joseph Tham starting a discussion in Deliberation, June 2, 2020) I found this juxtaposition of trolling with the Socratic Method intriguing - the contemporary with the classic! And the role of critical thinking in connection with the former and the latter was very compelling. I am much more familiar with the Socratic Method than I am with the concept of “trolling”, so my first reflex was “Google it” and here is what I found: In internet slang, a troll is a person who starts flame wars or upsets people on the Internet by posting inflammatory and digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses and normalizing tangential dis-
When the Covid 19 pandemic forced school closings and ACS Athens had to make the transition to distance learning, I was not surprised, but impressed at how seamlessly the transition appeared to be. Not surprised, because the groundwork had been laid over a decade ago when the Humanities team designed and offered the very first blended course (2008), an online Humanities class with a 10-day Face to Face field study component, which served as a model for subsequent courses. By 2011 there were three online Humanities courses, each with a different interdisciplinary theme, making the Humanities interdisciplinary study experience available to a wider audience while maintaining the necessary F2F interaction among students and between students and teachers. We were able to begin a partnership with the Chapin School in New York. With the introduction of the i²Flex paradigm under the expert guidance of Dr. Avgerinou, blended instructional design with online components that met international standards (QM©) became the norm. The emphasis on flexibility, student-centered guided instruction, and the use of a multitude of digital tools certainly prepared teachers and students alike to move toward the Virtual School. Moreover, constructivist educators willing to invest substantial time, take the calculated risks, and commit to an ongoing process of research and reflection in order to improve student learning were uniquely suited to facilitate a smooth transition. The history of education in the digital age at ACS is one built on a tradition of creating unique programs tailored to a diverse student population, taking full advantage of the school’s location in Europe. So when the need arose for a holistic approach embracing academic, social, and emotional needs of individuals during a very stressful time, ACS was well-positioned
