Comments on: Beware outside consultants? – Part 4, hiring organizations http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Champion http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11420 Chris Champion Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html#comment-11420 Scott, Principle 3, as you said, is a problem with professional development - I'd like to add that often evaluation is not encouraged. The problem really is that often the money is already spent and negative criticism serves only to make the decision makers look bad - and it has been my experience that any feedback session quickly escalates into a dumping session. If schools DO hire organizations, or speakers, it is important to get all of the stakeholders (teachers, administrators, and maybe even students!) involved to determine how and why the presenter will meet the needs of the school. Of course, that's just a bit too radical, isn't it? Scott,

Principle 3, as you said, is a problem with professional development – I’d like to add that often evaluation is not encouraged. The problem really is that often the money is already spent and negative criticism serves only to make the decision makers look bad – and it has been my experience that any feedback session quickly escalates into a dumping session.

If schools DO hire organizations, or speakers, it is important to get all of the stakeholders (teachers, administrators, and maybe even students!) involved to determine how and why the presenter will meet the needs of the school. Of course, that’s just a bit too radical, isn’t it?

]]> By: Tony Searl http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11421 Tony Searl Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html#comment-11421 One Hit Wonders, Figjamers, Fancy Keynoters without the broader PD contexts you allude to, do nothing, bar entertain and cover up a lack of institutional PD foresight. Its NOT the fault of the earnest special visitors, but organisations who don't plan for fundamental not incremental change. How much learning 'sticks' and results in altered improved practices, not just a gee whiz feel good moment. This has been a major concern over my 25 yrs in public education. Until DET top down hierachial pyramids relinquish centralised control of spoon feeding its inhabitants "PD on a Platter" and they start to seriously accredit PLN/PLE networks not much will really change. Love a motivational speaker to leave me all inspired and warm fuzzied, maybe a chuckle or two, but it will not cut the PD mustard for much longer, I hope. My Align09 is to encourage my employer to recognise alternate PD on 60,000 plus TARS annual reviews. If teachers gain professional credit for it maybe they will engage more with it. Not sure but its worth a shot. Great posts, enjoyed them. regards Tony One Hit Wonders, Figjamers, Fancy Keynoters without the broader PD contexts you allude to, do nothing, bar entertain and cover up a lack of institutional PD foresight.

Its NOT the fault of the earnest special visitors, but organisations who don’t plan for fundamental not incremental change.

How much learning ‘sticks’ and results in altered improved practices, not just a gee whiz feel good moment. This has been a major concern over my 25 yrs in public education.

Until DET top down hierachial pyramids relinquish centralised control of spoon feeding its inhabitants “PD on a Platter” and they start to seriously accredit PLN/PLE networks not much will really change.

Love a motivational speaker to leave me all inspired and warm fuzzied, maybe a chuckle or two, but it will not cut the PD mustard for much longer, I hope. My Align09 is to encourage my employer to recognise alternate PD on 60,000 plus TARS annual reviews. If teachers gain professional credit for it maybe they will engage more with it. Not sure but its worth a shot.
Great posts, enjoyed them.
regards
Tony

]]> By: Jean Tower http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11422 Jean Tower Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html#comment-11422 Great posts on the outside consultants. This is a good conversation to have - I have just a couple of thoughts to add. So much of life is timing. Number 8 says "Don’t just bring someone in because he’s a great speaker" and number 9 is "Look inside." I think these two can go hand in hand if the timing is right. A good outside speaker can be a catalyst for change and I appreciate the chance to be inspired and challenged, especially by someone I have been following online or in texts. When such a speaker is followed up with a plan of local experts who provide workshops and then longer-term support and consultation, I think there is a higher chance for positive results. Great posts on the outside consultants. This is a good conversation to have – I have just a couple of thoughts to add. So much of life is timing. Number 8 says “Don’t just bring someone in because he’s a great speaker” and number 9 is “Look inside.” I think these two can go hand in hand if the timing is right. A good outside speaker can be a catalyst for change and I appreciate the chance to be inspired and challenged, especially by someone I have been following online or in texts. When such a speaker is followed up with a plan of local experts who provide workshops and then longer-term support and consultation, I think there is a higher chance for positive results.

]]> By: Karen Richardson http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11423 Karen Richardson Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html#comment-11423 These have been really helpful posts, Scott and should be the starting point for anyone preparing to do professional development. I was prompted to do some of my own reflection related to the importance of the simple concept of respect for the audience: http://tinyurl.com/89y55k These have been really helpful posts, Scott and should be the starting point for anyone preparing to do professional development. I was prompted to do some of my own reflection related to the importance of the simple concept of respect for the audience: http://tinyurl.com/89y55k

]]> By: Wicked Decent Learning http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11424 Wicked Decent Learning Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/01/beware-outside-consultants-part-4-hiring-organizations.html#comment-11424 A really fascinating thread that I'm only now finding thanks to Twitter sent my way today. For a couple of classroom teachers sharing their perspective on such matters, you might take a listen to Wicked Decent Learning Podcast Episode 13: In-Service Insanity. About to go remove my Ruby Payne-based handouts from my differentiation workshop material . . . Dan Ryder Co-Host Wicked Decent Learning Podcast <a href="http://www.wickeddecentlearning.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.wickeddecentlearning.blogspot.com</a> A really fascinating thread that I’m only now finding thanks to Twitter sent my way today.

For a couple of classroom teachers sharing their perspective on such matters, you might take a listen to Wicked Decent Learning Podcast Episode 13: In-Service Insanity.

About to go remove my Ruby Payne-based handouts from my differentiation workshop material . . .

Dan Ryder
Co-Host
Wicked Decent Learning Podcast
http://www.wickeddecentlearning.blogspot.com

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