We're all over the place it seems these days. All of the girls were present at last nights tech meeting, and I'm taking this moment to thank them for they are not recognized enough for what they do for me and this district. This connection keeps us challenged in many ways and as we collaborate and dialog and rant, it is because it is not so much people that disempower us but the bigger cloud we know as politics which come in many forms. Disguised at times because we don't even recognize it. The rest of my post started out as an email and then turned blog. Many works go unpublished and that is probably a good thing. I struggle as a writer. But...maybe it will spark some good .... if not just for me.
p.s. The project site has not been cleaned up yet or had the personal touches done to it from the team yet so don't be too critical. [smile]
I would like to request some time for the teachers that "come out of the woodwork" on this project and get up in front of their colleagues to share their "design" of how this Web2.0 application connects / ties to their curriculum. I would like to request a half-day professional day for this team, who we could call the GoogleEarth project team for now, so they can spend 3.5 hours of their professional day to work on the framework for next years student projects.
Wish I could change the terminology on all of this. Back in the Kal-Tech days we talked about how we could affect change not just within the boundaries of today's schools, but also by pushing and stretching those boundaries to fall outside the classroom walls.
If each teacher we have touched through laptop focus group has not experienced moments when they were inspired to create something new and unique for each learner they facilitated, I would be gravely disappointed. But....have they sustained that inspiration as a "life long" learner?
This is the question behind the question. QBQ. This is what each individual has to ask of ourselves. My goodness, isn't it the "credence" of School 1.0? to be a life-long learner? hmmmm, makes me wonder what mental models some people see. What picture can we draw of this?
This program is about drawing different pictures. It's about creating new mental models for what you love to do. Make a difference in the life of a child. oops..... That came out so easy. Why didn't I just write Make a difference in the life of children? Maybe it hasn't ever been addressed in the plural form of the word. Maybe that's why it is so hard to collaborate and share at higher levels than what is being maintained in our schools.
How clean are our pipes? Are they clogged? Are we suffering from corroded arteries? Think about it.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Building a Center of Excellence...
This was in my Inbox this morning from eseminars@enterpriseannounce.com - one of the many diverse newsletters I have raiding my Inbox. It was titled Build a Center of Excellence. (see original version posted below)
Okay..so I storied right there. It was titled BPM to BPI: Build a Center of Excellence, but instantly in my mind I substituted and imagined "What If?" The message just seemed so easy to "mashup", to make it fit with what we're trying to accomplish in the new vision of how schools can create global citizens who possess integrity, compassion, creativity, and are fluent in financial literacy, communication and collaboration skills; are critical thinkers, decision makers and problem-solvers....are young adults who learn to respect intellectual and personal property rights of others because they have been engaged in dialog around ethics, diversity, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a global society while the moment is teachable. It seesms a difficult task knowing the obstacles in our communities.
What IF we substituted the word "Schools" for "companies" in this advertisement for professional development? Actually, I'd rather refer to schools as organizations but I feel the status quo may not allow that thinking.
What essential conditions make way for creating a common vision and strategic action plans that will propel us to orchestrate the following? There is much to study and learn from the works of Stephen Covey, Peter Senge, and Tom Peters about organizational behavior.
-----------------My Version
Educational Professional,
Technology Professional,
------------------
What essential conditions need to be in place that will make way for creating a common vision and strategic action plan that will propel us to orchestrate CHANGE?
How are YOU mashing it all up?
Okay..so I storied right there. It was titled BPM to BPI: Build a Center of Excellence, but instantly in my mind I substituted and imagined "What If?" The message just seemed so easy to "mashup", to make it fit with what we're trying to accomplish in the new vision of how schools can create global citizens who possess integrity, compassion, creativity, and are fluent in financial literacy, communication and collaboration skills; are critical thinkers, decision makers and problem-solvers....are young adults who learn to respect intellectual and personal property rights of others because they have been engaged in dialog around ethics, diversity, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a global society while the moment is teachable. It seesms a difficult task knowing the obstacles in our communities.
What IF we substituted the word "Schools" for "companies" in this advertisement for professional development? Actually, I'd rather refer to schools as organizations but I feel the status quo may not allow that thinking.
What essential conditions make way for creating a common vision and strategic action plans that will propel us to orchestrate the following? There is much to study and learn from the works of Stephen Covey, Peter Senge, and Tom Peters about organizational behavior.
-----------------My Version
Educational Professional,
Schools looking to evolve their "curriculum" and "skill-set" from a single-process solution to a more strategic, intelligence-driven function have much to gain in the way of an all-encompassing, end-to-end view of its processes and functions.
To achieve such a holistic process, however, schools must utilize all its resources in what should become known as a Center of Excellence and consider not just the technology but also who is driving the strategy behind it. Where are you on the continuum of learning and leading in a global economy?
In this eSeminar..
Technology Professional,
Companies looking to evolve their business process management from a single-process solution to a more strategic, intelligence-driven function have much to gain in the way of an all-encompassing, end-to-end view of its processes and functions.
To achieve such a holistic process, however, companies must utilize all its resources in what has become known as a Center of Excellence and consider not just the technology but also who is driving the strategy behind it.
In this eSeminar..
Our panel of experts discuss the factors-both technological and human-that comprise a Center of Excellence, the possible pitfalls to avoid, and what benefits such a body of knowledge can offer.
Sponsored by Metastorm------------------
What essential conditions need to be in place that will make way for creating a common vision and strategic action plan that will propel us to orchestrate CHANGE?
How are YOU mashing it all up?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Team Work...
As I reflect on the many conversations I've had this past year, I come back to reflect on a very simple book we studied as a team, Price Pritchett's book called TeamWork. It's an easy, quick read, only 65 pages long, but it's packed full of real examples of how successful teams accomplish their goals. His table of contents seems like a good road map.
- Push for High Quality Communication.
- Bring Talent to the Team.
- Play Your Position.
- Turn Diversity to the Team's Advantage.
- Back Up Others Who Need Help.
- Practice.
- Be Prepared to Sacrifice for the Team.
- Help New Teammates Make Entry.
- Play Down Yourself and Build Up Others.
- Spend Time With Your Teammates.
- Help Drive Discipline Into the Group.
- Make Sure You Make a Difference.
- Give Attention to Group Process.
- Help Create a Climate of Trust.
- Strengthen the Leader Through Good Followership.
- Be a Good Sport.
We can derive as much value from studying and understanding our failures as we can from celebrating and reinforcing our successes.And Peter Senge who writes about a harmonization of our thinking and moving into action that can be a foundation.
It's this coming together to think together because we know only then can we act together.I leave you with this question from Henry Jenkins work at MIT, he asks:
What has to change with our academic institutions in order for them to capitalize on the strengths that the current cultural changes/opportunities are creating?
Monday, January 21, 2008
A Time of Reflection......
This post is a mash-up of more thoughts than should go in one post. I'm inspired right now by the books The Speed of Trust, The Power of Full Engagement, Bernajean Porter's work, my social networks, and the work of our district LTT.
The start of a New Year causes me to reflect not only on my own personal and professional growth, but also on the growth of our organization. Over the next month or so, we should all focus on reflection.
Last night's teacher laptop class was an example that we do not, on a regular basis, initiate good conversation as a whole. However, our staff development model has used the power of video and Tanya's opening movie last night accomplished the task of empowering voice. No longer is it acceptable to be ignorant. It was a good night, but we continue to have non-participants whom we can not reach. Sad.
Reflecting... As usual, I have more questions than answers. What do we, the "LTT", stand for? What is lacking in the area of 21C skills, thinking, and knowledge among those we teach and work with? How do we "bridge that gap"?
Are we Innovating? Inspiring? Assessing???
Are we teaching the skills that teachers need in the new media landscape? Do we agree on those skills? Are we remembering, among all the distraction technology brings, the power of the Socratic method?
I started the school year with an email full of questions that we have not formally addressed. Aimee brought them back to us a couple of months later with her own thoughtful answers. I challenge each of us to do the same.
My team works very hard and our district is blessed. I am nothing without my players.
The start of a New Year causes me to reflect not only on my own personal and professional growth, but also on the growth of our organization. Over the next month or so, we should all focus on reflection.
Last night's teacher laptop class was an example that we do not, on a regular basis, initiate good conversation as a whole. However, our staff development model has used the power of video and Tanya's opening movie last night accomplished the task of empowering voice. No longer is it acceptable to be ignorant. It was a good night, but we continue to have non-participants whom we can not reach. Sad.
Reflecting... As usual, I have more questions than answers. What do we, the "LTT", stand for? What is lacking in the area of 21C skills, thinking, and knowledge among those we teach and work with? How do we "bridge that gap"?
Are we Innovating? Inspiring? Assessing???
Are we teaching the skills that teachers need in the new media landscape? Do we agree on those skills? Are we remembering, among all the distraction technology brings, the power of the Socratic method?
I started the school year with an email full of questions that we have not formally addressed. Aimee brought them back to us a couple of months later with her own thoughtful answers. I challenge each of us to do the same.
My team works very hard and our district is blessed. I am nothing without my players.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Is it possible...
Is it possible to have implemented too many cultural changes in a K-12 institution in one year? Are we setting ourselves up for failure?
We need a clear focus and shared vision. Goals.
Sometimes I think we have soooo many good projects, some of them potentially great. But.....my team is tired, stressed out, over volunteered, over worked, given responsibility only to have it yanked out of their hand...out of their own efforts it was stolen.
We are working so very hard to create learning environments infused with the global tools of the trade as well as the wisdom of the past. Yet our classrooms are driven by the policy makers.
We cannot create the future without looking back at the past. Agree?
I'm sorry I don't know who to thank for that statement. It's hard to think that the best research in our lives... possibly? is less than 5 years old...2 days old...1 minute old. When does history become history?
How do we keep a balance in our classrooms knowing what we know and understanding what we don't know?
Schooling right now is hard for everyone. Whether you are struggling to create custom learning environments, or watching the clock, waiting for that retirement year to roll around. Thinking this too shall pass. Sad.
Our children are so crucial to our survival. They are so lacking in the skills they will require in the flat world that exists out there. Outside of those red-brick walls. Reminds me of Pink Floyd. Their music was enthralling and created an atmosphere of questioning the deep thinking that existed in the era. Sometimes I think more and more, the lyrics of our young adult music is lacking in the area of deep thinking. Could this be why our students are so lacking of that same skill?
We have not created authentic thinkers, or authentic doers. This is already apparent as far down as lower elementary children. Our society, our communities, needs to recognize the issues we have with children. We can not teach in isolation. It seems we are at epidemic portions. It's societal and emotional bankruptcy.
Again, I am off-task. Our struggles seem to be so political. It's crazy -- we can't just be the experts. We can't just give the whole child a whole-child education. Too much red tape right now....
We need a clear focus and shared vision. Goals.
Sometimes I think we have soooo many good projects, some of them potentially great. But.....my team is tired, stressed out, over volunteered, over worked, given responsibility only to have it yanked out of their hand...out of their own efforts it was stolen.
We are working so very hard to create learning environments infused with the global tools of the trade as well as the wisdom of the past. Yet our classrooms are driven by the policy makers.
We cannot create the future without looking back at the past. Agree?
I'm sorry I don't know who to thank for that statement. It's hard to think that the best research in our lives... possibly? is less than 5 years old...2 days old...1 minute old. When does history become history?
How do we keep a balance in our classrooms knowing what we know and understanding what we don't know?
Schooling right now is hard for everyone. Whether you are struggling to create custom learning environments, or watching the clock, waiting for that retirement year to roll around. Thinking this too shall pass. Sad.
Our children are so crucial to our survival. They are so lacking in the skills they will require in the flat world that exists out there. Outside of those red-brick walls. Reminds me of Pink Floyd. Their music was enthralling and created an atmosphere of questioning the deep thinking that existed in the era. Sometimes I think more and more, the lyrics of our young adult music is lacking in the area of deep thinking. Could this be why our students are so lacking of that same skill?
We have not created authentic thinkers, or authentic doers. This is already apparent as far down as lower elementary children. Our society, our communities, needs to recognize the issues we have with children. We can not teach in isolation. It seems we are at epidemic portions. It's societal and emotional bankruptcy.
Again, I am off-task. Our struggles seem to be so political. It's crazy -- we can't just be the experts. We can't just give the whole child a whole-child education. Too much red tape right now....
Monday, June 11, 2007
Building on the power of team...
Today, I was not working in my zone, my erg, my strengths. I feel like, on a 1 to 5 scale, I preformed at 2.
I have an awesome team of teacher leaders forming within our district. It is so exciting I just can't stand not shouting about it! My lead tech team is awesome!!
The level of investment in professional staff development they give is passionate. They only survive through the intrinsic motivation that feeds their desire to educate all children who pass through our hands.
Our grass roots teachers are becoming practitioners equipped with 21 century pedagogy and skills. If you haven't been following our posts over at the usd352summerinstitute07 blog, we have had 12 students in class every day for six hours a day, four days including two virtual students working in "Web 2.0 and the Digital Classroom". I know I speak for the entire team when I say we are so proud of you. So many had to have day-care providers for two and more and the entire team has sacrificed family time to attend. Bravo!
The trick will be keeping the momentum going and remaining an active participant in the "social networks" we are creating.
I leave you with this great post from Will Richardson at Weblogg-ed about passionate based learning.
Enjoy!
I have an awesome team of teacher leaders forming within our district. It is so exciting I just can't stand not shouting about it! My lead tech team is awesome!!
The level of investment in professional staff development they give is passionate. They only survive through the intrinsic motivation that feeds their desire to educate all children who pass through our hands.
Our grass roots teachers are becoming practitioners equipped with 21 century pedagogy and skills. If you haven't been following our posts over at the usd352summerinstitute07 blog, we have had 12 students in class every day for six hours a day, four days including two virtual students working in "Web 2.0 and the Digital Classroom". I know I speak for the entire team when I say we are so proud of you. So many had to have day-care providers for two and more and the entire team has sacrificed family time to attend. Bravo!
The trick will be keeping the momentum going and remaining an active participant in the "social networks" we are creating.
I leave you with this great post from Will Richardson at Weblogg-ed about passionate based learning.
Enjoy!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Reflecting.....
As I traveled the highway this afternoon, one of my favorite songs played on the radio. It brought much needed inspiration into my day. "I Can See Clearly Now" ....sometimes, getting lost in song is what gives me hope.
The past two weeks lost in the blogosphere have me thinking deeply about many things. Reflecting...
It became clear to me that surrounding myself with people who "see" the same grandiose vision as I is so much more important today than it has ever been before in the "business" of public education. I am reminded of Marco Torres, who reminded "us" tech directors in his March07 Keynote at the M.A.C.E. conference that our jobs are to CONNECT people not machines!
Thinking about Classroom2.0, I loved this quote by Will Richardson on his post "A Degree in Social Computing? Oh...The Irony"
I've been reflecting on what Will Richardson wrote the other day. It took me by surprise and saddened me to have one of the great thinkers who has shared such wonderful and inspiring ideas with me for a long time....feel defeated.
It's certainly about "Hard Optimism"! It's like The Monster Under The Bed only the bed is gone and now we just have a monster. (smile)
The past two weeks lost in the blogosphere have me thinking deeply about many things. Reflecting...
It became clear to me that surrounding myself with people who "see" the same grandiose vision as I is so much more important today than it has ever been before in the "business" of public education. I am reminded of Marco Torres, who reminded "us" tech directors in his March07 Keynote at the M.A.C.E. conference that our jobs are to CONNECT people not machines!
Thinking about Classroom2.0, I loved this quote by Will Richardson on his post "A Degree in Social Computing? Oh...The Irony"
I’ve said it many times, my blog, my participation in this network is my Ph.D.How true!! It doesn't matter the network ... networks will come and go as all things do. Just connect.
I've been reflecting on what Will Richardson wrote the other day. It took me by surprise and saddened me to have one of the great thinkers who has shared such wonderful and inspiring ideas with me for a long time....feel defeated.
It's certainly about "Hard Optimism"! It's like The Monster Under The Bed only the bed is gone and now we just have a monster. (smile)
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