Hybrid teaching Madagascar/Pakistan

Walking pirogue out with students for night fishing

Local campus resident

Campus students

The hybrid classroom across Nosy Be and Gilgit

Wellness practice in class

Focus on student to student teaching

Expanding learning through visual literacy

Building communication

Campus Cohort 8

Tanya Knudsen

View from Wing: Teaching and Learning at the Crossroads of Culture and Nature

The central campus at Wings sits atop Abmatozavavy, a traditional fishing village on the beautiful island of Nosy Be in Madagascar. The students and families here live a life intertwined with nature, farming, and herding zebu—ancient practices passed down through generations. It’s a community where the rhythms of the land and sea dictate the pace of life. The Malagasy people are known for their calm, genial manner, and as I immerse myself in this community for the third time, I find that I feel safe, welcomed, and connected. There’s a quiet strength in everyday village life. Perseverance, as many work tirelessly just to get by,  continues to define village life. 

And yet, at the intersection of traditional life and modern education, a unique experience unfolds. We are close enough to appreciate the challenges people face, but also lucky enough to witness the joy of learning and growth. It’s not just a classroom experience; it’s a chance to see how hard work, resilience, and community spirit might evolve. 

A Natural Classroom

Nosy Be, often described as a tropical paradise, offers an idyllic setting not just for tourists but for learning as well. From the campus, I can look out over the bay to the Mozambique Channel, where the sun rises in a blaze of color every morning.  The natural world  is truly stunning—breathtaking in its beauty, and rich with opportunities for discovery.

As an instructor, I’ve learned that the lessons here are not confined to textbooks or lecture halls. The natural world itself is a teacher. How many of us get the privilege of watching chameleons in their natural habitat for as long as they allow? Or feeling the pulse of nature through the seasons—cicada season, mango season, and the many other rhythms of life that unfold on this island? These moments, fleeting yet powerful, serve as a backdrop to our educational work, connecting students not only to their own cultural heritage but also to the broader world of learning.

A Lifeline for Local Communities

But as stunning as the scenery may be, the heart of the experience here lies in the people. Wings of Change (WoC) has become a vital lifeline for the impoverished local communities of Nosy Be. For many of the students, this is the only opportunity to access higher education. There is no other educational institution on the island offering the kind of vocational training and academic support that WoC provides.

Regardless of geography, social status, or background, the students here share a universal desire: to learn, to grow, and to succeed. They dream of professional careers, of earning a living, and of improving their quality of life. 

Tourism drives the Nosy be  economy.  Wings of Change is meeting this need head-on by providing education that directly supports the hospitality and tourism sectors. Many of our graduates are now successfully employed in local hotels, restaurants, and tour companies. It is deeply gratifying to meet former students when out and about and to learn about their progress. Certainly,  the work we’re doing is making a difference.

The Power of Online Learning

One of the most exciting aspects of my role as an instructor at Wings of Change is creating change. By connecting multiple classrooms and teachers from around the world, we’ve created a dynamic, global educational experience for students on Nosy Be. 

The Student-Centered Classroom

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an in person educator these last months is that students self direct more strongly to their work when they  feel heard, seen, and connected.  It starts with a wellness practice. Through movement, we learn words and connect the words to our lesson and to our  broader purpose.  To know is to feel. In our case, distance falls away through a deliberately connective short practice at the beginning of class.   

To create an optimal learning environment, it’s essential to encourage collaboration and communication. At Wings, we aim to foster a space where students can speak freely, work together, and learn from each other. It’s not just about academic knowledge but about building confidence, problem-solving, and developing essential life skills. We focus on creating moments of connection, where everyone in the classroom is speaking at once, sharing ideas, and exchanging perspectives. This chaos of voices is purposeful—it fuels energy, motivation, and fun, while also reinforcing the idea that collaboration is key to success.

In addition, project-based learning has been a powerful tool for encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. When students work together on real-world challenges, like how to speak English,  they practice speaking, listening, and teaching each other. This process of peer-to-peer learning strengthens their sense of community and helps deepen their understanding of the material.

Bringing Creativity into the Classroom

Visual literacy includes drawing for learning. To facilitate deeper learning, we’ve integrated various tools for self-expression, such as drawing and writing exercises, into the curriculum. As much as online learning has its advantages, students deepen their learning  when they can step away from the screen and engage with the material in more original and  tactile ways.

Self expression draws on learned knowledge, providing  an opportunity to try, test and master new language constructs.  And something else, Malagsy students are great artists. 

Whether it’s through the old-fashioned chalkboard or through art, students are encouraged to reflect on what they’re learning, to express their thoughts, and to make meaning of the world around them. Creative exercises expand upon digital learning and encourage students to process what they have learned through reformulation.  Students are highly motivated to share their work through storytelling using targeted language. 

A Vision for the Future

I was fortunate enough to be present at the opening of our latest site in Mardoka, one of Nosy Be’s earliest trading posts. It was exhilarating to see Wings breathe new life into this historic location.

Teaching at Wings of Change is an evolving journey. As we continue to refine our educational model, our focus for 2025 is to hone  a learning environment that brings together the best of in-person and online instruction. This  approach  for deeper learning also broadens direct experience with life skills. 

Education is a long-term investment, and intentional change takes time. We are in the early stages of creating a 21st-century education model on a small tropical island, but I am confident that we are on the right path. Every day, we move a little closer to realizing the vision of a fully inclusive, transformative education system that empowers students to shape their own futures.

As the year comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible journey. Merry Christmas!

Tanya has been an instructor at Wings of Change since the first cohort in 2018. She is currently the head e-cademy teacher for English..