Filed under: Change Agent, Visionary | Tags: 21st Century Schools, change, Facilities, Future, Vision
It has been a blast participating in the process to help design the Graded of the future. Our school is embarking on a major rebuilding project that is expected to take 8 years to complete. During our conversations we are continually asking ourselves, “What will education look like in 2020?”. We have to keep this in focus as we help design a multi-million dollar facility. Here are just a few ideas that come to mind.
- Based on the the current model we project that the school will be able to house 1600 students. If Clayton Christensen and Mike Horn are right in Disrupting Class, then many of our students will be studying online and they may not even need to be on campus. That means that a “Graded student” may not even live in Sao Paulo. If this is the case enrollment may be much larger.
- We are designing an integrated science program in the high school and we are using this to imagine the science labs. By 2020 we’ll have already completed another science curriculum review and our courses may look totally different. What features will be needed in these new labs?
- We are committed to creating collaborative space that we’re calling “collaboratories”. These are flexible spaces that teachers can use as needed. While we are sure that these will be used in the future, I wonder if this is really true. Will we need to develop strategies for learning that take advantage of the space? A test to the idea that, ”If we build it, they will come.”
- We have decided to not increase the size of the MS/HS library even though the number of students will grow. This is based on the thinking that the bookshelves will take up much less space and that users will continue to use the resources from off site. Will we even need a space labeled “Library” when access to digital resources will be available from anywhere?
- Our athletic and physical education facilities look much the same as they do now. Well, of course they’ll be upgraded significantly. In the back of our minds we keep wondering if we should be considering adding facilities for wellness, health and life fitness. Maybe we should be considering a mountain biking track, a huge rock climbing wall, and a swimming pool.
Considering that we’re planning facilities where there are still many questions regarding education in 2020 we keep coming back to the idea that we need to plan flexible spaces. Spaces that can be modified and converted to meet the needs of students and teachers. Fascinating when you think that the buildings will be completed in 2020 and they’ll have a lifespan of 50+ years.
Filed under: Change Agent, Instructional Leader, Modeler | Tags: 1:1 Laptop Programs, 21st Century Schools, Future, Risk taking
On Tuesday I made a presentation to the entire high school student body and it did not go exactly as I had hoped. We’ve had a task force working on plans to implement a 1:1 program in 2012 and the timing seemed right to introduce the students to the initiative. The purpose of the assembly was to create an awareness amongst the students of Graded’s plans to start a 1:1 program in the high school in 2012. I also tried to go beyond the idea of just a 1:1 program by focusing on Graded in 2020. To provide all students with a voice in the discussion I asked all students to bring their mobile devices so that they could participate in a back channel chat.
It’s very interesting because I really thought that the problems would be different in nature. I did not expect that the immature acts of a small number of students would dominate the discussion on the back channel chat. I had asked a colleague to turn it off if someone posted anything inappropriate and about half way through he shut down the computer. This happened even after I gave them three clear rules: 1. Use real names; 2. Conversation has to relate to the topic; and 3. Think before you post. Here are my thoughts on the risk, my learning and the future.
The Risk
As I mentioned, The purpose of the assembly was to create an awareness amongst the students of Graded’s plans to start a 1:1 program in the high school in 2012.
I was certainly nervous and knew that there was a certain level of risk going into the presentation.
- Will students be receptive to the message?
- Will the technology work?
- How will I effectively communicate the message?
- Will anyone actually participate in the discussion?
- How will the teachers respond to the topic?
- What will happen when I all give students voice?
With these questions in mind I set out with purpose. When putting together the presentation my focus was on the topic and I tried to use a mix of text, videos and images to convey the message. Like every good teacher I rehearsed my speech and made sure that the Prezi slideshow, videos, and the back channel tool, Today’s Meet worked.
While I may not have been successful in creating that discussion on the back channel chat, I have anecdotal evidence that discussions are happening. Our film teacher told me that his class had a “interesting” 15 minute discussion right after the assembly. and our PFL students shared their comments with their teacher. I even find a sense of contentment in the fact that a few stragglers on the back channel chat session posted relevant comments as late as 8:35 pm on Tuesday.
“But Graded is trying to be a pioneer in the area in Brazil. I really admire them for that.”Liberalism Rules at 8:19 PM, 4 May 2011 via web
“And as for the maturity, if this technology was something that we were rather used to, people wouldn’t be so “obsessed” over it, and…” troll at 7:57 PM, 4 May 2011 via web
“I think that although laptops would provide more interactive learning experiences for the students, it would also hinder their concentration”: D at 7:45 PM, 4 May 2011 via web
I’m in search of more stories from students and teachers.
My Learning
Every good educator processes the lesson and whether or not students learned to identify improvements for the future. In this case, let’s think in terms of risk management.
- It’s probably natural for high school students to get a little giddy when they are introduced to a new tech tool and some will want to play around more than others. Maybe I could have tested the back channel out on smaller groups before doing it with 350 students.
- Next time I’ll plan to use a back channel tool that shows the identity of the participants. This will take longer to set up but it will be worth it. I can use the expertise of our Academic Technology Facilitator to help me with this setup.
- I’ll make sure that every student has access via the wireless network. I found out just prior to the presentation that this could have been arranged. I believe that there were students in the audience that wanted to respond to the topic and they were not able to. These students could have turned the conversation. In a 1:1 environment it is so important to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate.
- I’ll ask the faculty members to bring their mobile devices so that they can participate in a positive manner. Since this is a community discussion their voices are important.
- I’ll also continue working on building relationships with students so that there is a level of genuine respect between us. It’s my first year and the school and I have much work to do to build stronger relationships with the Graded student body.
- You can bet that I’ll also set up a way to measure whether or not I was successful in raising awareness.
What other suggestions do you have for me?
The Future
Will I do it again? You bet!
Will I do things differently? Of course.
In today’s learning environment it’s imperative for educators to try new approaches to teaching and learning. I think that it’s actually OK to fail every once in awhile. I’ll probably do a more thorough risk assessment in advance next time. I’m saving the transcript of the back channel because I want to go back and review it in the near future. I envision a time when everyone will have a voice at our assemblies in a meaningful discussions. I would have loved to have seen back channel chats when we had MV_Bill and Nando Reis speak to our community.
Photos: Risk Taking Quote by useitinfo
Risk Assessment by Blue Square Thing
Sign at the municipal secretary of education in Bonito, Brazil
While out walking today, I noticed this sign at the municipal office for education here in Bonito, Brazil. It caught my attention and made me think about how a phrase like this means so many different things to different people. Everyone has a different perspective on what education is supposed to be like for today’s students. I’m curious to find out what this means to the educators from the municipal department of education.
It makes me realize the importance of developing a shared vision at Graded. It’s one thing to throw out the phrase, another to have everyone acting in unison toward a common vision.
Filed under: Change Agent, Leadership, Visionary | Tags: change, Creativity, Future, Learning, OK Go, Personal Learning Networks, Scott Klososky, sharpening the saw, Vision
“Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.”
Walter Lippmann
I’ve had the luxury of not working this school year and It’s been the best sharpening of the saw that I can imagine. Today I’ve been contemplating creative thinking and how excited I get about letting my mind wander to create new ideas (at least they’re new to me). For people like me I have to really work at being creative and it takes time to put serious thought into something, scanning the work of others who look at things differently, and exercising the right brain.
Want a few ideas that may light a fire under you creative juices?
1. I occasionally pull out Fredrik Haren’s book, The Idea Book, when I need to exercise my brain. The book “inspires creative people to be more creative, and It teaches uncreative people how to develop their creativity.” It’s full of quotes, exercises and space to write down thoughts. Use it to come up with 50 ways to use a brick, develop a metaphor for your idea, think of 50 different solutions to a problem, invent new words in order to invent new ideas, do the opposite of what people would normally do, and much much more.
2. I wasn’t able to attend ASB’s Unplugged this year but I’ve already taken a look at Scott Klososky’s presentation on Creativity and Innovation. 
I’m somewhat familiar with Scott’s work and I love his forward thinking approach. Want some ideas on how to develop your next outstanding presentation? Take a look at his slides. He uses excellent design principles. I only wish that I was there for the entire session.
3. Tonight I watched these two music videos by OK Go with my children. My son said that he loved the video even though the music was OK. I love imagining the planning sessions that led to these two very innovative videos.
This to Shall Pass by OK Go
Here it Goes Again, by OK Go
What do you do to develop your right brain?
I want to find visuals/photos that match the motivational quotes that I’ve chosen to put on notecards that I can use in my school. This seems like a very good exercise to get the juices flowing.
Filed under: Leadership, Visionary | Tags: 21st Century Schools, change, Future, Kaplan University, Technology, Universities, Video, Vision
I saw this video the other night and I think that the theme is great. Don’t know much about Kaplan University, but they’re putting out a powerful message.
Filed under: Change Agent, Instructional Leader, Leadership, Visionary | Tags: 21st Century Schools, change, Disruptive Innovation, Educational Leadership, Future, Software-based learning, Technology, Vision
Repeatedly, originally uploaded by OsakaBen.
This summer I am working on getting through my list of books to read. It’s a good thing that my summer has been extended because I was way behind. Fortunately I was in the middle of Disrupting Class by Christenson, Horn and Johnson when I saw Scott McLeod’s presentation at NECC. Scott’s presentation got my into the spirit and the book really pushed my thinking on the role of technology in education. For years I have promoted the integration of technology into the classroom while the authors of Disrupting Class are now telling me that, “Teachers have implemented computers in the most common-sense way- to sustain their existing practices and pedogogies rather than displace them.” and that the real disruption will be with software-delivered instruction. There’s even a section entitled, “Cramming Computers in Schools”.
Sure, I’ve complained that too many educators “don’t get it”, “that it’s not happening fast enough, that the majority of uses of technology in the classroom is lame, and that we have to keep pushing this change in instructional tools. What has kept me going is that I have witnessed classrooms where the tools are making a difference in student learning. My vision for schools was soundly based on the integration model and I truly believed that progress was essential and possible.
Christensen, Horn and Johnson are now laying out a new paradigm that is forcing me to step outside my comfort zone. They describe an educational system where…
- the classrooms are virtual and students are guided by software that is tailored to learning styles.
- the feedback to students will be immediate and they will not move ahead unless they have mastered the topic.
- the pace will be determined by the student’s needs
- the role of teachers will be to coach their students (many more students) during the various stages of learning.
- schools are organized, not geographically, but by students’ individual learning styles.
Can this really be true? Are companies like leArnin3.com and ALEKS on the cutting edge? Do I need to stop chanting the integration model mantra and start plugging software options?
I am going to seriously begin looking at how I can use their suggestions for school leaders.
“Use the right tools to introduce change….negotiation toward radical change simply won’t work.”
“Solve it (problems) by facilitating disruption.”
“each school should have one person – whose sole job is to implement online courses.”
“Don’t place artificial limits on what students can take online or what teachers can build online either…”
Filed under: Change Agent | Tags: 21st Century Schools, change, Creative Tension, Future, Media
As change agents we are always looking for ways to build on the emotions of our constituents to make change happen. Nowadays there is the continual search for videos on change (can find a few at Principals of Future). I’m a big supporter of showing high quality videos to teachers, students and parents since the visuals really help people see what may be possible. I really like the 8 steps that Kotter and Cohen’s define in Heart of Change and I believe that the use of multi-media help with “creating urgency” and “building the guiding team”. Instead of plugging videos, I”d like to promote my current top 5 change songs (with YouTube videos). They’re on my iPod and get played frequently when I’m looking for inspiration.
#5 Talkin’ Bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman
Top
#4 Changes by David Bowie
#3 Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer
#2 A Change is Going to Come by Sam Cooke (Jumped out at me last night on American Idol)
#1 If You’re Out There by John Legend
What are your favorites?
Filed under: Leadership, Visionary | Tags: 21st Century Schools, Future, Leadership, Technology, Vision
I pride myself in scanning the horizon and putting some thought into how we can best prepare students for the future, but for some reason I was momentarily deflated after watching a recent Ted Talk by Pattie Maes from the MIT Media Lab’s new Fluid Interfaces Group, entitled, Unveiling the “Sixth Sense,” game-changing wearable tech. Excited about the possibilities but deflated because it seems that the technology is changing so rapidly while our schools are still lagging behind.
Creating an envrironment where everyone in the community is looking ahead to the future is an exciting challenge for school leaders. Sir Ken Robinson in his book, The Element: How finding your passion changes everything, talks about how important it is for those in their element to be surrounded by others who are passionate and have skills in the same field. He refers to this group as the “Tribe”. Imagine a school tribe where a critical mass is purposefully looking to the future.
I’m convinced that time needs to be devoted to discussing the future and the following prompts serve as starters for a conversation on this video.
- How will technologies like the “sixth sense” impact education in the very near future?
- What technologies will our graduates be using in the very near future? How can we best prepare them for these technologies?
- Will any of our students become leading thinkers in developing future technologies?
- How can our school evolve to better prepare for the future?
It’s not enough to just send out the links and expect others to review and put some real thought into the implications for the future. There has to be genuine dialogue (which doesn’t mean that we have to be in the same place at the same time). How are your schools working to create the vision?
