Comments on: What would YOU say to the NEA? http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.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: twitter.com/NancyEH http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9503 twitter.com/NancyEH Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9503 When I originally recommended that you be asked to speak to the NEA Board, this is why: "Yesterday I attended a NECC09 session by Scott McLeod of the University of Iowa (he blogs at Dangerously Irrelevant) who spoke about Clayton Christensen's "The Innovator's Dilemma" and "Disrupting Class". He believes that the disruptive innovation of 21st century education is "personalized learning" and that most schools are not ready for it; indeed, they are ignoring it. In listening, then, to the keynote debate this morning, "Resolved: Bricks and Mortar Schools are Detrimental to the Future of Education", I realized that if schools are ignoring this change, teachers' unions are, as well. The current paradigm is school building-based local Associations and members. If McLeod is right, then - even if school buildings continue to exist as I expect they will - there will be a great deal more variety in the type and location of educational services students receive. Unions should be acknowledging and positioning themselves for that disruption." When I originally recommended that you be asked to speak to the NEA Board, this is why:

“Yesterday I attended a NECC09 session by Scott McLeod of the University of Iowa (he blogs at Dangerously Irrelevant) who spoke about Clayton Christensen’s “The Innovator’s Dilemma” and “Disrupting Class”. He believes that the disruptive innovation of 21st century education is “personalized learning” and that most schools are not ready for it; indeed, they are ignoring it.

In listening, then, to the keynote debate this morning, “Resolved:
Bricks and Mortar Schools are Detrimental to the Future of Education”, I realized that if schools are ignoring this change, teachers’ unions are, as well. The current paradigm is school building-based local
Associations and members. If McLeod is right, then – even if school
buildings continue to exist as I expect they will – there will be a
great deal more variety in the type and location of educational services
students receive. Unions should be acknowledging and positioning
themselves for that disruption.”

]]> By: Curt Lieneck http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9502 Curt Lieneck Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9502 Tell them that teachers' unions are most effective when they actively and visibly invest in the quality of the product they sell to schools. Right now, in a time of disruptive innovation, that means aggressively determining how to create educational experiences that can only happen while students are physically at school and figuring out the best way to ensure student engagement and success in those experiences that don't have to happen while physically in school. Tell them that teachers’ unions are most effective when they actively and visibly invest in the quality of the product they sell to schools. Right now, in a time of disruptive innovation, that means aggressively determining how to create educational experiences that can only happen while students are physically at school and figuring out the best way to ensure student engagement and success in those experiences that don’t have to happen while physically in school.

]]> By: Mark Clemente http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9498 Mark Clemente Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9498 I would tell them that if they are truly looking at disruptive innovation then they cannot have any sacred cows. In fact, the more sacred the cow, the more likely it is that disruptive innovation will make it obsolete. I would tell them that if they are truly looking at disruptive innovation then they cannot have any sacred cows. In fact, the more sacred the cow, the more likely it is that disruptive innovation will make it obsolete.

]]> By: Rich http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9499 Rich Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9499 Invite them to consider leveraging the skills of their members to produce innovative online learning tools. They should welcome the chance to diversify their revenue stream. They may not survive on membership dues forever . . . Invite them to consider leveraging the skills of their members to produce innovative online learning tools. They should welcome the chance to diversify their revenue stream. They may not survive on membership dues forever . . .

]]> By: Greg Davis http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9500 Greg Davis Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9500 The question for the NEA is what is their disruptive innovation agenda? The last reauthorization of education funding at the national level was all about leveraging standardized test scores to ratchet up accountability. Now that NEA is in a more powerful position at the national level, what is their disruptive innovation? Authentic learning and assessment? The case for change invites action spun as radical (disruptive). What can the NEA pull out of their national agenda that can become the next disruptive innovation? The question for the NEA is what is their disruptive innovation agenda? The last reauthorization of education funding at the national level was all about leveraging standardized test scores to ratchet up accountability. Now that NEA is in a more powerful position at the national level, what is their disruptive innovation? Authentic learning and assessment?

The case for change invites action spun as radical (disruptive). What can the NEA pull out of their national agenda that can become the next disruptive innovation?

]]> By: Jason Hunt http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9501 Jason Hunt Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9501 Help them understand that teachers should not be saying "Ya know, with all this new technology that they keep shoving to us, we probably ought to come up with some sort of policy for technology. If not, pretty soon we will all be forced to use it." This was stated by a BR teacher at a Building Representative meeting for our Local Union. Good luck! Help them understand that teachers should not be saying “Ya know, with all this new technology that they keep shoving to us, we probably ought to come up with some sort of policy for technology. If not, pretty soon we will all be forced to use it.” This was stated by a BR teacher at a Building Representative meeting for our Local Union. Good luck!

]]> By: twitter.com/NancyEH http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9504 twitter.com/NancyEH Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9504 Apologies for multiple posts; that's what happens with satellite internet access: the lag time creates a sense that nothing's happening and then - it does. Apologies for multiple posts; that’s what happens with satellite internet access: the lag time creates a sense that nothing’s happening and then – it does.

]]> By: Denny D http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9505 Denny D Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9505 Stop fighting the current innovators: TFA, NLNS and the like! Stop fighting the current innovators: TFA, NLNS and the like!

]]> By: Bob Follmuth http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9506 Bob Follmuth Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9506 I know I'm late in responding, but here goes anyway: I am a teacher librarian (elementary school), and feel my call is to help students learn to recognize when they need information, how to find and organize that information, evaluate the information they've found, and then use that information - and to do all of this in the context of the content curriculum. In light of your presentation to the NEA, it is more clear than every that I have the most vital teaching job. Unfortunately, our District is not unlike most others (in Iowa at least) - we have been reduced from 8 full-time teacher librarians to 3. I currently am assigned to a strict, fixed schedule teaching "IC Skills" to 45 sections of just short of 1,000 students in total isolation from the classrooms. I will be asking to share your presentation to building and District administration because things certainly MUST change here and everywhere. Thank you for your expertise. I know I’m late in responding, but here goes anyway:

I am a teacher librarian (elementary school), and feel my call is to help students learn to recognize when they need information, how to find and organize that information, evaluate the information they’ve found, and then use that information – and to do all of this in the context of the content curriculum.

In light of your presentation to the NEA, it is more clear than every that I have the most vital teaching job. Unfortunately, our District is not unlike most others (in Iowa at least) – we have been reduced from 8 full-time teacher librarians to 3. I currently am assigned to a strict, fixed schedule teaching “IC Skills” to 45 sections of just short of 1,000 students in total isolation from the classrooms.

I will be asking to share your presentation to building and District administration because things certainly MUST change here and everywhere. Thank you for your expertise.

]]> By: Carl Anderson http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html/comment-page-1#comment-9496 Carl Anderson Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/what-would-you-say-to-the-nea.html#comment-9496 Wow, Russ really has an axe to grind! I would ask them to think about how they have and will contribute to their own demise in the face of disruptive innovation. I would also ask them to think beyond just online schools as disruptors. Why are students leaving public brick and mortar schools? Wow, Russ really has an axe to grind!

I would ask them to think about how they have and will contribute to their own demise in the face of disruptive innovation.

I would also ask them to think beyond just online schools as disruptors. Why are students leaving public brick and mortar schools?

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