morning musing

I came across this the other day:

from the Learning Nation Blog:
The Knowing-Doing Gap (or kdg, as I will refer to it from this point forward in this post) comes from a concept originally penned by Pfeffer and Sutton, who describe it thusly:

"the challenge of turning knowledge about how to enhance organizational performance into
actions consistent with that knowledge. Improving organizational performance depends
largely on implementing what is already known, rather than from adopting new or
previously unknown ways of doing things."

And then I started thinking again.

And I like this idea.

It seems like every year there is a new "thing" to help our students. And it seems like the only reason we have a new "thing" is because the old "thing" didn't work.
Well, logical reasoning would dictate that the reason that the old "thing" didn't work is because it wasn't a good idea. But then, if it wasn't a good idea, why was the old "thing" ever implemented to begin with? hhhmmmmm....
Apparently, lots of people know lots of really great stuff about education. And yet we are still in an educational crisis...

Here's my theory. Most "things" in education have, at their roots, very similar objectives. We all want to help students learn by using targeted instruction, use assessment data to drive that instruction, make sure ALL students are growing, collaborate, etc. Now the packaging and delivery of these ideas can look very different. But most of the "things" have the same objectives.I'm not saying that we don't ever need new things. Actually, there are many new things that come from sound research and emerging technology that are amazing. But these new things usually don't need to completely redirect our course, only refine it and in some cases, reaffirm it. 

And so, instead of switching from thing to thing, let's take a closer look at what our current "thing" is trying to do and focus on doing that really well. Instead of completely abandoning the old "thing", let's take a closer look at how we did it. Do we need to refine? Are there adjustments to be made? Because a poorly implemented great idea doesn't work.

In fact, maybe we don't really need a "thing" after all. Because it's not about the "thing", it's what you do with it. 

So, I started reading. And now I can't stop. And you KNOW what happens when you start to read. You might actually encounter new ideas and learn something (GASP!)

All sarcasm aside, how did I not know about all this stuff? If you are like me, you need to see the big picture, to really understand what the issues are and where things are headed. {In fact, I often focus too much on the big picture and neglect some of the details. Anyway, let me re-focus.}

I came across this video that uses the audio of Sir Ken Robinson. I really enjoy it because it has a visual component, an animated version of his words. And for this visual learner, that is a plus. But above all else, his message truly makes sense. You need to watch it. Sorry to be bossy, but do it. watch this. I won't apologize for the 12 minute length, because it is ONLY 12 MINUTES!

I often think about this as people talk about why things are or how we should fix them. First of all, are we really looking at the cause or simply recognizing a correlation (thank you, M Ed Statistics class!). Then, once we think we know what the cause is, are we really solving the problem or just addressing the symptoms that accompany the problem? Is the problem with the current educational system the actual system itself? um, maybe yes. And then who will propose a new system? Will it even be comprehensible to those of us "in education"? To accept that all aspects of the way we do things are outdated and not providing the education our students need?

please excuse the rambling, but that's what happens when I start to read. ha!

Leave a comment and tell me what you think. What did you think about his perspectives on ADHD? I may have had my own little "Oprah lightbulb moment". Read others' commments and tell what you think about those.

Not to go all Jerry Maguire on everyone, but I feel like I am rewriting my professional mission statement. This is going to be honest.

I'm ready for a change.
I like lots of things about my present professional situation... But I need to be passionate about my professional situation.
Not the all-consuming, take-over-your-life-and-ignore-your-family kind of passion... But a passion where I wake up in the morning and am exctied about what I'll be doing that day.
And I know not every day can be perfect... But I need to get rid of that "Groundhog Day" feeling.

And I don't think this feeling is limited to education. Anyone else?

When I first started teaching, I signed up for every training or workshop I heard about. I read all sorts of books and I came to work every day with some sort of new idea for my classroom. I was on top of everything my district had to offer. It felt fresh and new and exciting.

I realize that my personal maturity has had an effect on my professional experience as well. Getting married and having two beautiful babies shifts my priorities, but doesn't eliminate them. I now realize that the educational system is more than just 4 walls of a classroom. There is a lot more to understand than just the curriculum.

I work for a great school district at a great campus with great colleagues. But I have been with my great school district, great campus, and great colleagues for 10 years. And regardless of how wonderful it is, sometimes you just need some "new". I'm not talking about a new job or a new position, but mostly new information and new ideas. If nothing else, I want to know how someone else does it. How does someone else teaching far away from me handle struggling students, incorporate technology into instruction, involve parents, etc. I feel like I know how my district and campus would respond to these problems. And those responses from my district and campus are not bad. They are just not the the only reponses available.

I want, no wait, I HAVE to learn more.

So, I started reading. A lot. And not in books.I have poured over blogs and on-line journals and magazine articles and websites and twitter and well... you get the idea.

Technology is changing education. and not just in how a lesson is delivered in a classroom. With all due resepct to my district and my colleagues, I have learned more in the past two weeks of my own personal "quest" than I have in the past year or so with the professional development required by contract. You see, the information brought to me is not enough. I have to SEEK new things. And THIS will reignite my professional passion.

So this will be my little place to share what I learn. And please share with me. Have you ever felt this way about your profession? What did you do? Please leave a comment if you have any tips!

now, this is a neat thing to show kids.

would like to see some kids apply the percentages to the 7 billion and get the actual #s - any takers? I don't have my own classroom and won't be able to try it...

yeah, so I am a little behind on the twitter thing. I have for several months had an account and followed lots of fun-types and gotten some good laughs.

But I am very rapidly realizing the amazing potential it has for me to learn from other educators. There is some amazing stuff out there and I have searched a few hashtags, but still feel a little lost. and now I need some advice...

do you have some great #s that you follow? especially those about education and ed technology
I found this and am excited to search around but wanted some other input as well

and, of course, leave me your twitter name in the comments so I can follow you! I am @marthajpreston

Please share! How do you use technology in the classroom to REALLY help students learn? Not to just look cool or keep them engaged, but to REALLY LEARN? My district has recently supplied us with some amazing tools, but I don't feel I am using them to their full potential.

worth a read... this guy has some interesting ideas about what we REALLY do in the classoom and what students NEED us to be doing

http://stumpteacher.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-resign-from-teaching.html