Comments on: What we need from “the district.” http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:17:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Patrick Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:39:05 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-340 Ben, I love the new design, first off. But to get to the point, one thing missing from the conversation above is parent education. So much is said negatively by the media regarding social and collaborative technologies that parents are skittish when it comes to allowing their children to participate. While there has to be room for teacher collaboration, new practices in hiring and training of staff, and common areas dedicated to learning by teachers and students alike, parents need to be involved in this as well. Ben,

I love the new design, first off. But to get to the point, one thing missing from the conversation above is parent education. So much is said negatively by the media regarding social and collaborative technologies that parents are skittish when it comes to allowing their children to participate. While there has to be room for teacher collaboration, new practices in hiring and training of staff, and common areas dedicated to learning by teachers and students alike, parents need to be involved in this as well.

]]> By: Hilary http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Hilary Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:42:57 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-339 Everything that has been said is right on the mark. Great conversation! I do know there are pockets of administrators with open minds. I speak from experience. However, they can be so enmeshed in another world of managment and personnel that they can't see the forest through the trees. Moreoever, the gun-barrel focus of accountability is often THE focus for their meetings with district folks. Many admin are not simply closed minded but ignorant. They do not spend their days with students learning but with adults; many of whom are having a problem that can be far removed from the classroom. Help your admins understand what you are doing in your classrooms by having kids talk about their learning processes using web 2.0 tools. Invite your admins to student presentations. Talk about it openly with everyone! Help educate parents and others in your school understand the value of what your kids are doing. Time, money, and resources will follow as more school teacher /admin / parent leaders "get it". Wished I had known about the saturday conference before now! I am new to this terrific site!! Everything that has been said is right on the mark. Great conversation!

I do know there are pockets of administrators with open minds. I speak from experience. However, they can be so enmeshed in another world of managment and personnel that they can’t see the forest through the trees. Moreoever, the gun-barrel focus of accountability is often THE focus for their meetings with district folks.

Many admin are not simply closed minded but ignorant. They do not spend their days with students learning but with adults; many of whom are having a problem that can be far removed from the classroom. Help your admins understand what you are doing in your classrooms by having kids talk about their learning processes using web 2.0 tools. Invite your admins to student presentations. Talk about it openly with everyone! Help educate parents and others in your school understand the value of what your kids are doing. Time, money, and resources will follow as more school teacher /admin / parent leaders “get it”.

Wished I had known about the saturday conference before now! I am new to this terrific site!!

]]> By: Cory Plough http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Cory Plough Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:30:09 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-282 I hope you are right:) I hope you are right:)

]]> By: Ben Wilkoff http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Ben Wilkoff Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:39:38 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-280 Cory: I believe that we did get together after the meet and greet. What I keep wondering is if they are part of an "older system" is there any way to create a transition. What is the incentive to change? I'm sure that they are trying to do something to help those kids, but I find that many are at a loss. What happens when we propose a change that is well designed and proven? How does someone say no to that? (I know that they can, but I try not to believe it.) Cory:
I believe that we did get together after the meet and greet. What I keep wondering is if they are part of an “older system” is there any way to create a transition. What is the incentive to change? I’m sure that they are trying to do something to help those kids, but I find that many are at a loss. What happens when we propose a change that is well designed and proven? How does someone say no to that? (I know that they can, but I try not to believe it.)

]]> By: Cory http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Cory Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:23:34 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-279 Ben- I was with Glenn, we copresented at VSS. I didnt realize when I commented on your blog but I think we hung out one night in Louisville. I may be wrong. I think that the district machine that produces admins in our neck of the woods is training them in an old model. I dont think that many administrators here are looking to the future through the eyes of todays child. Their is a 36% dropout rate in our district, thats enough of a reason to change. They all have a reason, whether they know how or have the desire to adapt is questionable, especially when many are just products of an outdated system. Ben- I was with Glenn, we copresented at VSS. I didnt realize when I commented on your blog but I think we hung out one night in Louisville. I may be wrong.
I think that the district machine that produces admins in our neck of the woods is training them in an old model. I dont think that many administrators here are looking to the future through the eyes of todays child. Their is a 36% dropout rate in our district, thats enough of a reason to change. They all have a reason, whether they know how or have the desire to adapt is questionable, especially when many are just products of an outdated system.

]]> By: Ben Wilkoff http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-278 Ben Wilkoff Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:44:03 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-278 Cory: Thanks for the comment on my blog. I really enjoyed meeting Glen Moses at NACOL this past year. Were you there with him? I hope that your administration becomes a better listener than in the past, but I believe that if change is framed in the right way, everyone can potentially see the benefit. I feel like your question may assume too much that administrators, by nature, need something categorically different than what we all need: A reason to change. If we give that reason, people will respond. Cory:
Thanks for the comment on my blog. I really enjoyed meeting Glen Moses at NACOL this past year. Were you there with him? I hope that your administration becomes a better listener than in the past, but I believe that if change is framed in the right way, everyone can potentially see the benefit. I feel like your question may assume too much that administrators, by nature, need something categorically different than what we all need: A reason to change. If we give that reason, people will respond.

]]> By: Cory Plough http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Cory Plough Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:29:55 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-277 Wow- I agree with your last paragraph just about as much as I agree with anything, ever. I teach HS online and know exactly where you are coming from. The first thing that comes to mind that I would add to your post is leadership. Our boss touts reform but hardly knows how to email, has never taught an online course, and suffers from a Pneumonic like symptom of constant withdrawal. My question for the powers that be, hm, hm, I mean, the district:.... " If I could show you (or point you in the direction of some much brighter people... mrmoses.org) how to change the world of education as you know it, would you allow yourself to listen? Wow- I agree with your last paragraph just about as much as I agree with anything, ever. I teach HS online and know exactly where you are coming from. The first thing that comes to mind that I would add to your post is leadership. Our boss touts reform but hardly knows how to email, has never taught an online course, and suffers from a Pneumonic like symptom of constant withdrawal.

My question for the powers that be, hm, hm, I mean, the district:…. ” If I could show you (or point you in the direction of some much brighter people… mrmoses.org) how to change the world of education as you know it, would you allow yourself to listen?

]]> By: Liz Davis http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Liz Davis Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:20:07 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-275 What a great question! I wonder if the requirements are different in an Online school? After attending the Educon conference last weekend, I created a wiki with what I consider to be the essential components for 21st Century Schools. This is a work in progress. I welcome your input. https://commonprinciples.wikispaces.com/ If my district did these things, I would be very happy! What a great question! I wonder if the requirements are different in an Online school?

After attending the Educon conference last weekend, I created a wiki with what I consider to be the essential components for 21st Century Schools. This is a work in progress. I welcome your input. https://commonprinciples.wikispaces.com/
If my district did these things, I would be very happy!

]]> By: Kate Olson http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Kate Olson Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:44:19 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-273 "We need teachers who do not have to pile technology-rich learning experiences on top of their every day classrooms. We need teachers who are hired to simply do the work of creating a ripe environment for students online (or are at least shared with a brick and mortar in some kind of ratio that makes sense)." You said it perfectly! This is EXACTLY what I'm wanting in my district. There somehow needs to be funding for this, but the environment in my area just doesn't seem to be friendly toward adding ANY teachers right now, much less specialized teachers. It's an uphill battle just to get the technology, much less teachers who are passionate about using it. My idea of perfection: 1 technology specialist/integrationist for at LEAST every grade level at larger schools......... “We need teachers who do not have to pile technology-rich learning experiences on top of their every day classrooms. We need teachers who are hired to simply do the work of creating a ripe environment for students online (or are at least shared with a brick and mortar in some kind of ratio that makes sense).” You said it perfectly! This is EXACTLY what I’m wanting in my district. There somehow needs to be funding for this, but the environment in my area just doesn’t seem to be friendly toward adding ANY teachers right now, much less specialized teachers. It’s an uphill battle just to get the technology, much less teachers who are passionate about using it. My idea of perfection: 1 technology specialist/integrationist for at LEAST every grade level at larger schools………

]]> By: Sohne http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/comment-page-1/#comment-269 Sohne Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:00:40 +0000 http://learningischange.com/2008/01/31/what-we-need-from-the-district/#comment-269 My first thoughts...are around a technology infrastructure...a framework that is safe and secure while providing an environment where staff and students can collaborate, engage and develop using web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, instant messaging, social networking) weaving the act of learning into the daily experience called “life” – not some how separated into the entity we call “school”. My first thoughts…are around a technology infrastructure…a framework that is safe and secure while providing an environment where staff and students can collaborate, engage and develop using web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, instant messaging, social networking) weaving the act of learning into the daily experience called “life” – not some how separated into the entity we call “school”.

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