Just left theatre after seeing DolphinTale with my mom and my two sons. I felt so compelled to write, I had to download WordPress for iPhone. If you want to see what actually exists in my mind for the future of education, see the movie. In the film, a boy’s love for a dolphin and the boy’s desire to make a difference create “school” for Sawyer. Through project-based, integrated studies, and authentic assessment and collaboration, Sawyer learns and does make a difference.
Call me a sap, but I cried for much of the movie. Not because of the quality of the film, but because of what I believe possible for school. Such is my project. Such is my goal.
In 1976, I can remember going to the movie theatre with my mom to see Freaky Friday. It starred Jody Foster. Jody’s character, Annabel, and her mother are struggling to understand each other, as per the stereotype of teenagers and parents. When they both wish that they could be the other for just one day…their wish is granted.
What if we organized and orchestrated a “Freaky Friday” school day? Students could submit course proposals, and a committee of student leaders and faculty could select a course catalog of classes. Many students would remain students, but some would become the teachers for an entire school day. The normal faculty would register for classes and take on the role of students for the day. Empathy all around and some great education!
I have been dreaming of the blog post I would write to encapsulate and synergize the remarkably superb experience I enjoyed – and more importantly grew from – last weekend. Like pre-visualizing an athletic performance, I was imagining the words, the letters, the images, and videos. The text and subtext. The intro and the killer, kicker sentence that would cap it all. Then, I read @mmhoward’s post on the event and the learning…and I like hers better. I hope you’ll read it. It’s worth every nanosecond.
This weekend, I am participating in Re-Imagine Ed (RE:ED) – Next Chapter (on Twitter at #nxtchp2011). I am part of an integrated network of design teams working to imagine the K-12 libraries of the future. From the website:
An Active Process:
Instead of another traditional conference — speakers talking at passive audiences; vaguely connected sessions — you’ll join a dynamic 3-day design event focused on imagination and action.
Becoming Part of a Design Team
“Next Chapter” participants automatically become members of 7-8 person design teams.
This will allow passionate, creative, professionally-diverse attendees to collaborate actively with innovative peers and design facilitators in imagining new futures for the K12 library.
Over the course of the 3 days, teams will work closely with their experienced design facilitators to solve a variety of real world case studies in an effort to create new visions for K12 libraries:
Listen -> empathize, ask, seek
Imagine -> ideate, brainstorm, wonder
Make -> prototype, craft, test
During the first two days, I have made some short movies, just to capture some of the action. I will write more later.
On Saturday, September 17, Jill Gough and I were privileged to provide the keynote address for the 2011 Regional T³/MCTM Annual Conference. Conference Director Jennifer Wilson facilitated a wonderfully effective learning opportunity for teachers, administrators, pre-service teachers, college professors, and others.
From the beginning, the program cover-art fascinated Jill and me. The conference theme was “Completing the Square,” and the image pictured a puzzle with a missing piece in the center. To build our keynote address, Jill and I imagined what that missing puzzle piece might be that would truly complete the square. Additionally, we threaded our talk with the idea of Leading by Following.
Believing in the powerful nature of stories, Jill and I told four stories to illuminate some puzzling issues facing educators today:
Puzzle 1: Why do we talk so much of teaching when it’s about LEARNING? Or… “How could they not know this?” [Assessment for Learning]
Puzzle 2: How can we make learning experiences more meaningful? Or… “When are we gonna use this?” [Contextual Learning]
Puzzle 3: Why are teachers and admin “US and THEM” when we all want our students to learn? Or… “You are a fool!” [Learning Partners]
Puzzle 4: Why is teaching an “egg crate culture” when we know learning is social? Or… “WE are smarter than ME.” [Learning Communities]
What do you think the missing piece might be? What completes the square? The following slide deck will lead you on the path that we explored during the keynote. We loved being in this community of learners at Brandon Middle School. It is always a privilege and pleasure to spend time learning with committed and curious educators.
