Systemic Change – What kind of leadership is needed?
Tag archives for Challenging the Status Quo
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A Snapshot of Where American Technology Education Fits in Globally
These are the rankings for the top colleges from around the world that competed in the international Collegiate Programming Contest in 2012. Students from universities from around the world competed for bragging rights and prizes at The 36th Annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals sponsored by IBM on May of 2012. The contest pits [...]
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How did testing and accountability become the main levers of school reform? ~ Diane Ravitch
We all need to stop and think deeply about what we want for all children. I am convinced that the ‘easy answer’ of letting narrow products, “tests”, measure the value of schools to our society is foolhardy! Further, I am convinced that our society needs to be investing in ways to improve education for all [...]
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Qualities of Effective Collaborators
Appreciate the nature of adult learning Embrace the uniqueness of each adult and interact in ways that sincerely appreciate and connect with the individual Celebrate the fact that your work requires effectively listening to and understanding the individuals you serve so that you can help them identify and connect with their specific growth Respect [...]
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Education is a fundamental human right, not a product. ~ Bill Ayers
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It Is Time To Dream
Do we see the value of using the ‘lens’ of the common good as one of the major considerations we take into account as we make sense of the complexity of our thoughts, words and actions? In answering that question it may lead you to want to develop your own basic meaning for the common [...]
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Questions Bigger Than Answers
I believe that the issues we face today regarding the economy, educating our youth, reducing poverty, developing the good health of our citizens and many others issues are complex. I also worry that many of us are looking for simple answers to complex realities. I think our ability to stay engaged with tough questions and [...]
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More Students Learning at Higher Levels: Leveraging Technology!
Do we want to be part of a society where education truly benefits all? Where education can lead toward upward mobility? Do we want more students learning at higher levels? How can we as a society dramatically increase the numbers of young people who achieve at high levels in language arts, math, science and social [...]
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Questions Related to Pursuing the American Dream
The following information is current and provides food for thought about the current reality of Pursuing the American Dream: Economic Mobility Across Generations (which is the title of the report Written by The Pew Charitable Trusts). I am sharing what follows because questions come to my mind as I think about this data. Americans’ relative [...]
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Appreciative Inquiry: Bulding Capacity
In our families, at work, in our communities, in the state and/or nation and globally there are issues. Will have enough food, water, energy, educational opportunities? Will our family, work place, and the people of our community, state, nation and world be able to be part of positive change? Can the future be an improvement [...]
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Leading in Complex Times Requires Adaptation
Ron Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky in their book The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World (2009, Harvard Business Press) write about adaptive leadership. Their definition: Adaptive leadership is the practice of mobilizing people to tackle tough challenges and thrive (page 14) sounds like the kind of [...]
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Here are some resources for studying change and transitions
In these times of fast and dramatic change we can all benefit from developing our knowledge and understanding of change and transitions. Below please find a short bibliography on these topics. Intentional personal/professional growth is always a good investment in yourself. Books on Approaching and Effectively Contributing in Times of Change and Transitions Building The Bridge [...]
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Bully – the movie. I recommend it to all educators and school leaders!
Bullying is potentially brutal. So, when the topic of Bullying is presented in a documentary movie the movie cannot be made without tackling the ugly facts and patterns of this serious issue. The movie Bully is not a ‘sugar coated’ covering of the topic. It is a serious movie about a serious topic! My wife [...]
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America – We Have a Problem: Smart people acting like squirrels!
What follows is a section of Levinson and Grieder’s book: Following Through:A Revolutionary New Model for Finishing Whatever You Start p. 35 & 36 (2007). I am fascinated by their example of how a squirrel’s brain is ‘hard wired’ to accomplish certain very specific tasks. Mr. Squirrel collects acorns for the winter because he’s pre-programmed [...]
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Are schools becoming more engaging as a result of the advancing technologies?
Over 4 years ago this short video first appeared. I saw it during that first year and I am showing it now, some four years later with a few questions. Has much changed for school aged learners? Are there more opportunities for ‘engagement’ with each other by way of technology? Is it common throughout the [...]
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Here is Imformation for Educators and Leaders to Ponder and I HOPE ACT Upon
Are the issues of poverty, the lack of English as a first language and the fact that a student is labeled as a Special Education Student reasons why we, in America have many school systems that are experiencing static or regressive achievement results? Does it matter how educators approach the reality of today’s students? Can [...]
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Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency
As I reflecting upon being in India I am reading and thinking about Gandhi and his contributions to India and to the world. Gandhi talks about the importance of connectedness between and among people. He says, “Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being. [...]
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Get The Word Out!!!!
Ted-Education’s Channel has begun. Please watch this short video and share it with your teachers. This is a resource waiting to be put into action for all learners to benefit. Once you have watched the overview watch any of the 16 example lessons they have posted under the current five categories of: Awesome Nature How [...]
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India and the Aakash ~ A Transformative Time in Indian Education
I have just returned from two weeks in India. We had the good fortune to spend time in many sectors of modern India. We visited a k – 12 school and talked with a the principal and the state commissioner of education. They spoke of the fact that they would be providing every tenth grader [...]
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To Dramatically Change Learning Outcomes: Dream and Create a Shared Vision and be willing to Commit and put forth Effort
A bright future for student learning isn’t just a dream!! For effective and helpful leaders – having a clear vision or dream is an essential! In a very simple sense – developing a shared dream or collectively embracing a clear vision – is the work of leadership. “Shared dreams” or a “common vision” provide for [...]
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Do you believe that America has fallen behind in the world it created?
America’s economy, infrastructure (airports, ports, bandwidth, bridges, rail system, etc.), educational system, open door to immigration, and safe guards to the natural environment and intellectual (encouragements to increase capital flow and innovation) environment have been what Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum have labeled as America’s historic “pillars of prosperity”.* These pillars are less than [...]
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Helping adults change and grow
Adults are learners. We don’t stop learning as we age. Yet, we learn differently then we might have in our youth. Thus, for those that want to see adults learn, change and grow in their thinking – might want to learn about Andragogy. Yes, Andragogy not Pedagogy. One might want to think of a continuum [...]
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Where does technology, as an instructional opportunity, fit into this picture?
America’s students are and will continue to be compared to students around the world. In 2009 there were many surprises. Here is some of what Chest E. Finn had to say about the situation. Fifty-three years after Sputnik caused an earthquake in American education by giving us reason to believe that the Soviet Union had [...]
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Learning to Change, Changing to Learn: A Canadian Perspective
That title gets me thinking. I am betting when you watch the video you will be thinking about: The need for courageous leadership Education taken as a given Disengagement by students and teachers An age of networks Students having access to powerful tools of learning Shifting some roles Becoming learners together Transformation, flexibility, celebrating Start [...]
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Cultural Ingredients Influence any Group’s Adaptability
An organization’s culture is made up of its folklore, it rituals, its group norms, and its meeting protocols. All of these cultural ingredients influence the organization’s adaptability. Heifetz , et la: Adaptive Leadership 2009 p 57 ~ Understanding the culture is paramount to being able to help change it for the better. The culture of [...]
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