Comments on: What’s Worth Fighting For in Your School? http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charlie A. Roy http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html/comment-page-1#comment-13213 Charlie A. Roy Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html#comment-13213 Love the post. Rick DuFour's works have been very helpful to a number of schools who seek to change their culture to that of a professional learning community that promotes collaboration. Love the post. Rick DuFour’s works have been very helpful to a number of schools who seek to change their culture to that of a professional learning community that promotes collaboration.

]]> By: Betty http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html/comment-page-1#comment-13214 Betty Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html#comment-13214 One big change would be more time spent teaching technology to teachers instead of expecting them to learn everything they need to know in a thirty minute faculty meeting. One big change would be more time spent teaching technology to teachers instead of expecting them to learn everything they need to know in a thirty minute faculty meeting.

]]> By: Julie Lindsay http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html/comment-page-1#comment-13215 Julie Lindsay Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html#comment-13215 Thanks Charlie for the connection with Rick DuFour. Betty, time will always be an issue and what we actually do with it for professional learning is of great debate in all schools. The way to extend that 30 minute faculty meeting is to move the conversations and communication to online areas. This then becomes a 24/7 opportunity for all to learn. Thanks Charlie for the connection with Rick DuFour.
Betty, time will always be an issue and what we actually do with it for professional learning is of great debate in all schools. The way to extend that 30 minute faculty meeting is to move the conversations and communication to online areas. This then becomes a 24/7 opportunity for all to learn.

]]> By: Joel http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html/comment-page-1#comment-13216 Joel Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2008/03/whats-worth-fig.html#comment-13216 The items I believe are worth fighting for are listed below. While these have nothing to do with technology, they are a foundation (in my mind) which must be present for any technology to have a sustainable and lasting impact. Without these, no technology, no one-to-one initiatives will make a difference of a magnitude to justify the cost. My first item worth fighting for: An unrelenting passion and belief that each and every child can learn. This is a non-negotiable on the part of every person who works with children. If this is not a part of culture of the system, we set ourselves up for winners and losers. Culture is worth fighting for. Without building a culture that is open, honest, conducive to change, shared and is participatory, any change initiatives will be difficult to sustain. I would fight for a guaranteed and viable curriculum (a phrase used too often nowadays). Let's be very honest about what we want students to learn across the entire system. I do not think we are "there" in education yet. We are not focused and precise about exactly which skills students must master, and in turn, imprecise about what we teach and how we go about it. Look at how math is taught in most schools that I know of - we cover tremendous area, but do we need to do this? Look at history - we cover a tremendous time period and geographic area - do we need to do this? Our curricula are about coverage - we must get from "a" to "z" when all too often each letter in between is about content instead of students and changes in understandings or abilities. Without these things, all the technology in the world will only make marginal differences. The items I believe are worth fighting for are listed below. While these have nothing to do with technology, they are a foundation (in my mind) which must be present for any technology to have a sustainable and lasting impact. Without these, no technology, no one-to-one initiatives will make a difference of a magnitude to justify the cost.

My first item worth fighting for: An unrelenting passion and belief that each and every child can learn. This is a non-negotiable on the part of every person who works with children. If this is not a part of culture of the system, we set ourselves up for winners and losers.

Culture is worth fighting for. Without building a culture that is open, honest, conducive to change, shared and is participatory, any change initiatives will be difficult to sustain.

I would fight for a guaranteed and viable curriculum (a phrase used too often nowadays). Let’s be very honest about what we want students to learn across the entire system. I do not think we are “there” in education yet. We are not focused and precise about exactly which skills students must master, and in turn, imprecise about what we teach and how we go about it. Look at how math is taught in most schools that I know of – we cover tremendous area, but do we need to do this? Look at history – we cover a tremendous time period and geographic area – do we need to do this? Our curricula are about coverage – we must get from “a” to “z” when all too often each letter in between is about content instead of students and changes in understandings or abilities.

Without these things, all the technology in the world will only make marginal differences.

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