Thanks! I totally agree that reflection needs to be “institutionalized” too. It’s because we haven’t taken enough time to reflect that we have ended up with such strong ties to the “computer class” model. We’re likely to fall into the same trap if we don’t go back and analyze how things are going periodically. And it’s definitely the easiest thing to drop when things get busy. Any ideas about how to institutionalize it?

Brenda,

So glad I could help!

Nancy,

I love the idea of having a discussion with a “dialog leader”! I totally agree that hearing everyones concerns and issues is a key part of moving forward. If people don’t feel that they’re part of a decision they just end up resenting it in the end.

I really do think it’s true that technology isn’t about skills or age or experience, it’s about a mindset to be willing and open-minded.

Gareth,

Exciting! I’m so glad this is useful for you. Lucky you to be in the Caymans!

Paul,

You really are in a tough position. I wonder if part of the issue is a cultural one. Perhaps they are not really willing to take this kind of critique or strong advice from a foreigner. I know we dealt with those kinds of issues in my last school with our Chinese-Malaysian owner, and our all foreign leadership team.

Either way, I think the key is to prove to the decision makers how 21st century literacy is critical to learning. If the school wants to promote learning, they need to accept and adapt to the changing type of learning happening in the 21st century. Maybe start with what you already know they value and show how technology fits….

Rob,

You make a really good point about the need for decision makers to be living these experiences, instead of just hearing about them. I just wonder how to do that when there are so many other things that leadership teams need to deal with. Everyone is vying for their attention and everyone insists that their agenda is critical to the success of the school. How do we move to the front of the line?

Jamie,

Ooo I’m so jealous that you got to go to Mumbai! I’d love to hear what your admin has to say about this post too….

David,

Thanks for all that feedback. You raise lots of good points. My favorite: “Shifting cannot be set aside as an after school meeting activity.”

Beth,

I hear you. We, in international schools, are so lucky not to have to deal with NCLB and all of the legal and political barriers that put the brakes on progressive change. I’m sorry to hear about your tough situation… Maybe a move abroad is the answer?

Vinnie, Charlie, Vance,

Thanks! Glad it’s helpful!

Cliff,

It is strange… We are all talking about the same things, why isn’t that reflected in our standardizing/certifying bodies? Change takes too long at the institutional level, I guess.

Thanks for kick-starting the conversation, again!

It has taken me several reads to get through your wonderful post. It is consistent with the thoughts and ideas that we have begun to put together for our own planning purposes. Thank you for reflecting and sharing.

Beth Fehlbaum, teacher & author
Courage in Patience- a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com

The discussion on the podcast has brought up some other points that can be added to your work here. The process of shifting with its focus on the curriculum development process, guiding professional development around the formation of learning communities and the need for leadership must be validated by the appropriation of time during the school day to do the work to change how we do business in our schools.

Shifting cannot be set aside as an after school meeting activity.

As you point out the leadership must come from the administrative team to build the vision and the framework to make the shift. The SOS team would add that a trained instructional/educational technologist and library media specialist must be hired in each of the school’s divisions to drive the efforts in the curriculum and PD processes. We must have our point people to follow through and make the vision a reality in our classrooms.

As for the curriculum review process, it should also have the administrators onboard to the point of attending the meetings especially the end of unit reflection gatherings where everyone is held accountable when reviewing the common assessments. Your point of celebrating and publicizing successes comes into play very nicely during these meetings.

I would add that a big part of the paradigm shift is again making the time for ongoing discussions as school leaders “seek to understand” where individual staff members are when it comes to learning 2.0 instructional and assessment strategies. I have experienced that the process of understanding how to construct essential understandings/questions and learning what concept-based curriculum looks like takes time and understanding as we work with our adult learners. We don’t learn in the same way as our students.

As much as we think about how to shift, we also need to think about what the barriers are to moving our schools to become 21st century learning communities. Your 3 bullet points really hit home on this point and as other commenters are saying, need to be presented to our school administrators to start the discussion as we look to change the cultures of our schools and begin the process of shifting our schools.

Serendipity….your post, my reading it while sitting at the Laptop Institute’s 1:1 conference in Mumbai…..we’re here with a few others from ISKL and thinking about how to ….grow (better word than change, I think….as it allows takes away the argument of ‘why should we change’). I will forward your post to my principals.

Have a great weekend.

THanks for your thoughts!!!! as the kiddies say, You ROCK!