Rethinking our identity…
But if we as educators leave behind this simple role as disseminators of content and embrace a new paradigm as cultivators of curiosity and inquiry, we just might bring a little bit more meaning to their school day, and spark their imagination.
Ramsey Musallam: 3 rules to spark learning, TED.com
Unpacking “Academic Excellence” | Connected Principals
“What are the distinguishing features of academically excellent schools or classrooms? Are the only valid features of “academically excellent” schools those that are common to all to schools? Can we or should we personalize our understanding of “academically excellent” schools?”
La vida es bella : On Pupils and Masters
“My reflection leapt to the classroom: What defines us as teachers: our titles, our resumes, our PLN’s and social network presence? Our words? Or is it the choices we make in the presence of our students day in and day out?”
In a Big Data World, Don’t Forget Experimentation – Thomas C. Redman – Harvard Business Review
“In the unfolding data revolution, companies must develop the capabilities to experiment.” An important consideration for schools that want to innovate. Schools can and should have R&D work blended into the fabric of their structure and purpose. After all, schools are organizations and institutions of learning.
The Future of Tablets in Education: Potential Vs. Reality of Consuming Media | MindShift
Love this idea of balancing “Someday/Monday” for professional development.
“The Someday/Monday dichotomy captures one of the core challenges in teacher professional development around education technology. One the one hand, deep integration of new learning technologies into classrooms requires substantially rethinking pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, and teacher practice (someday). For technology to make a real difference in student learning, it can’t just be an add-on. On the other hand, teachers need to start somewhere (Monday), and one of the easiest ways for teachers to get experience with emerging tools is to play and experiment in lightweight ways: to use technology as an add-on. Teachers need to imagine a new future—to build towards Someday—and teachers also need new activities and strategies to try out on Monday. Both pathways are important to teacher growth and meaningful, sustained changes in teaching and learning.”
Enstitute, an Alternative to College for a Digital Elite – NYTimes.com
A great piece of brain food for considering possibilities for Education 3.0. Certain paragraphs are full of blended-learning ideas and practices.
Seth’s Blog: Urgency and accountability are two sides of the innovation coin
Really important piece on innovation in successful organizations.
Sesame Street Meets the App Age: How to Nurture Creative Learning | MindShift
The article is about the app market for children’s learning. However, the section headers – LESSONS – seem much more universal to me.
Pedagogy vs. Andragogy | My Island View
“Maybe as adult learners we need to take a look in the mirror before we resume our role as teachers for kids. In the final analysis, I do not think that there are differences in the way we learn as adults, or kids, but rather the differences lie in the opportunities afforded to learn. If we respected kids more as learners, they might be more self-directed and motivated in their learning. If they are allowed to participate in their learning, they might take more ownership. What learner wants to own something that is not in his, or her interest to own? If we can understand better how we learn best, maybe we can alter how we teach to be the best.”
The Abstraction Method of Problem Solving – 99U
Zooming in and out – on spectra of abstract and specific – to enhance problem solving.
From Chris Thinnes (@CurtisCFEE) at Curtis School and the Center for the Future of Elementary Education:
We find it ironic – and we think the students do, as well – that for all the focus “the education system” receives in the national media, input from students is rarely ever sought. We wanted not merely to give ‘permission’ to students to talk about their shared experience, but to invite them openly to offer their input of how best to improve our schools and our system.
In two blog posts (here and here), Thinnes shares an incredible, transformative experience made possible through a partnership between sixth graders at Curtis School and Cortez Middle School. In the sharing, Thinnes offers a fabulous model and case study for inviting collaborative voice and awareness and action from students – to help empower them to be deeply involved in ways that education and schooling can innovate and reach higher trajectories.
When we see student learners as the core solutions seekers to issues – especially those in which they are primarily immersed – we not only stand better chances at successful transformation, but we also facilitate active citizenship that will likely prove essential to the continued enhancement of our national democracy and global opportunities.
Bravo sixth graders and faculty facilitators at Curtis School and Cortez Middle School!
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Also related: “School Innovation Teams – Start with Outrospection #WhatIfWeekly #StudentVoice”
In an Era of Global Competition, What Exactly Are We Testing For? | MindShift
“The new education needs to start with the child. Not with the prescribed content,” Zhao
The Coming Revolution in Public Education – John Tierney – The Atlantic
A compelling overview of the educational landscape, the reform effort(s), and the impending revolution in public education. Full of links to explore to learn more deeply about the crossroads we face as a nation trying to school our children.
I could imagine that more than a few regular readers of #MustRead Shares – mostly educators – might initially bristle with the early paragraphs in this article about strategic agility. The idea of “profit” in schools might turn people off, as I try to explore the lessons schools can learn from business. However, if one can get past that, there is much to learn from this piece. How are we agile in school administrations, curriculum, instruction, etc.? There is a chart on p. 3 that is well worth contemplating as a school leader!
Young Movers, With a Passion for Change – NYTimes.com
“Given this extraordinary education, it makes you wonder if our schools should focus far more on peacemaking than test taking.”
…and not just the future of “social entrepreneurship,” but the future of most fields.
Finland: The Lighthouse of Progressive Education and Divergent Learning « Penn-Finn Learnings 2013
HT @CurtisCFEE
@boadams1 @GrantLichtman @pgow Don’t miss @KavanYee on “The Lighthouse of Progressive Ed & Divergent Learning” http://t.co/7LY8tPq7MB
What Matters More in Decisions: Analysis or Process?
“Looking at how organizations make decisions is a good place to start if we’re trying to improve the quality of decisions and remove cognitive biases.”
“So what matters more, process or analysis? After comparing the results they determined that “process mattered more than analysis—by a factor of six.””
HT @HappyGoth and her comment – this also applies to schools!
10 Ways to Teach Innovation | MindShift
“The burden of reinvention, of course, falls on today’s generation of students. So it follows that education should focus on fostering innovation by putting curiosity, critical thinking, deep understanding, the rules and tools of inquiry, and creative brainstorming at the center of the curriculum.”
The 6 Key Drivers of Student Engagement — THE Journal
“We believe that relevant, personalized, collaborative, and connected learning experiences enhance student engagement, which in turn drives student achievement. Although these learning experiences were available in a more limited way before the advent of technology, digital conversion has taken them to an entirely new level.” [HT @CenterTeach]
Two years ago, at EduCon 2.4, I was privileged to meet Steve Goldberg (@SteveG_TLC). Steve is a visionary educator and activator. In August, Steve and a team of others will open Triangle Learning Community in Durham, NC.
The three-minute video below overviews the form and function of TLC. And it also serves as a catalyst for re-thinking some of our assumptions about how “school” has to be structured. I appreciate so much that Steve lives out a profound idea – humans created “school,” so we can also re-imagine it, recreate it, and remodel it.
Along with new start-up schools, though, I deeply hope that long-standing schools with lengthier histories are also re-imagining school, recreating school, remodeling school. At the very least, I hope that we are engaging in such design exercises. If they reveal that our current structure and system is the best, then so be it. But what if school could be even better?! Shouldn’t we be willing to do that research and design, so that we can know more certainly, more confidently. Not let habit and assumption blind us to possibility.
You can also learn more about TLC at the school website and Steve’s great blog.
