Comments on: Bridging the Gap

By: Supervisors’ role in developing teachers | Thinking Allowed.

Supervisors’ role in developing teachers | Thinking Allowed. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:14:42 +0000

[...] wrote before about the need to get administrators on board with the necessary shift in education. This is important to school-wide [...]

By: Dennis Harter

Dennis Harter — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:46:05 +0000

@michael and @tracy
I actually don’t think that you two are speaking (writing) about different ideas. I think it’s simply not possible to abandon completely…too many people tied to ideas they know and are comfortable with, general unease with change, and overall seniority (they’ve been there longer than me and will be there longer still).

Instead, like both of you say in different ways, we need to look at what does make sense, what is good teaching and good practice and showcase that. Celebrate it in such a way that real learning and BETTER learning is really happening. It is hard even for the biggest naysayers to refute that.

Like the kid who comes in late to class…over-acknowledging the disruption, gives it more value than it deserves. Instead focus on our learners (our teachers on board) and get admin to be in that group however you can…training or become one of them. Then, as my colleague Justin loves to say, let’s do it!

By: Tracy Rosen

Tracy Rosen — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:01:38 +0000

@ Michael and others
What if, instead of looking at practice that doesn’t work, we look at what is already happening that does make sense, that does work, and focus on creating more instances of that. In a sense, fanning the fires of change, forging the iron to build the bridge

By: SOS Podcast - Shifting Our Schools Episode 15: Where Do You Start the Shift?

SOS Podcast - Shifting Our Schools Episode 15: Where Do You Start the Shift? — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:53:00 +0000

[...] David: Dennis Harter’s Bridging the Gap [...]

By: Michael McGlade

Michael McGlade — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:44:43 +0000

Dennis,
I have been thinking a lot about this myself lately. I am on-board, my tech teachers are on-board and the folks in my PLN are all talking the same language.

So why is it so hard to change?

My latest thought is that we need to focus on what we should stop doing. What are the crutches that teachers and administrators are resting on that allow them to keep doing what they have always done? Technology classes, tech teachers, a tech curriculum. Highlighting the technology keeps it out there, away from teachers, scary and threatening.

We should throw it all out and start over. What is good teaching? What do our students need to learn? What skills do they need? What is the best way to learn those? Let’s do that.

If we paint a new picture of what learning should look like, of what schools and classrooms should look like, of what a good teacher looks like, we will get where we should be. The tech will all be there too. It has to be. But it won’t be the focus. And it won’t be the scary, time-wasting tech that teachers avoid right now and that keeps them from embracing technology tools.

There are so many factors of course. It is not so simple. There is no magic bullet. But, I do feel we need to do something radical to shake things up and stop doing some things that are getting in the way right now.

Michael

By: Dennis Harter

Dennis Harter — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:57:15 +0000

@rubisr Thanks, Rob. Your analogy and description of the modern administrator strike me as reflecting the difference between a manager and a leader.

Okay, that’s probably unfair, since there is certainly a need for both and the dichotomy is not so distinct.

But for the sake of the point to be made: the manager gets caught keeping things from clogging up. The leader inspires followers.

One description, “The only thing that defines a leader is having followers.”

What do you think?

@David thanks, for stopping by and offering feedback. You are right, the shift needs to happen in both directions. At times, I feel that no real progress is being made until it’s a school-wide shift, but that is unfair to the amazing progress that people are making in and out of their classrooms. If kids are benefiting then progress is being made!

One other note, I appreciate that you write, “let’s keep posting those innovative instructional and assessment strategies”. It’s a good reminder that what we are sharing are not the cool tools, but rather the beneficial pedagogy (that sometimes involves tech…hey we are geeks after all!)

Thanks to both of you for the positive feedback (and you too, Tracy, though I thanked you already.)

By: David Carpenter

David Carpenter — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:30:43 +0000

Fantastic post hitting home for many of us, I think. Let’s keep working the shift from both ends. Have those critical conversations with administrators about how we must do business in our schools while supporting and spreading the ideas of our constructivist, risk taking teachers. Let’s keep posting those innovative instructional and assessment strategies that give our practical minded teachers something to grasp on to.

By: rubisr

rubisr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:14:15 +0000

…just like I just did with my creative spelling of “obfuscate”:)

By: rubisr

rubisr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:44:46 +0000

In many emerging civilizations, the clan leader was the biggest, the toughest, and the meanest SOB in the group – but (s)he always led the charge, and got the job done by example. In our overly complex modern world, leaders are too often relegated to “administrating”, delegating – and sometimes to obsfucating, the issues.

You’ve described the ideal new/old leadership model. Go Get ‘em!
Rob

By: Dennis Harter

Dennis Harter — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:22:57 +0000

Thanks, Tracy.

I hope so, because I think it’s what we need now – school leaders who are ready to push school thinking and change. Up to now we’ve pushed at the teacher level.

(Sorry about the delay on the comments, somehow my moderation got turned on.)