Switch - a book that's game changing for how to guide the change process

The book, Switch: How to change things when change is hard by Chip and Dan Heath, removed a veil about being an effective change agent.

One analogy from Switch is that of an elephant and its rider. The rider directs the elephant along paths and tasks. It's the thinker through logic and analysis. But sometimes the elephant gets spooked. Filled with emotions, logic dissolves. The elephant stomps and/or storms where it wants--and the rider, no longer in control, must hold on for the ride.

Changing personal views and habits is a monumental challenge. Some people on a sinking ship will panic and stampede causing more danger, instead moving in an orderly fashion to stations for safety. Or they might stick their heads in the ground ignore warning signs--consider the near demise of the Big 3 automotive companies or it you want to gawk at a traffic accident in slow motion follow the publishing industries dinosaur-like thinking regarding ebooks. Others would rather die than change--see smokers.

One of the industries that leads in the challenge for change is Education. As data mounts of low student achievement, how can we continue to maintain "business as usual" when results do not meet demands of a global society?

Switch provided me great reflection on how to recognize and plan for effectively guiding change. How to get the elephant in step with the rider. Check out the book. Download free sample chapters (Kindle / BN). Take this first step. You won't be disappointed.

Differentiating Instruction through Project Based Learning

Recently I had the chance to talk about 2 of my favorite education topics for how best to meet the needs of ALL learners. I'll let the video stand for itself. If you find it useful or helpful, please go to YouTube to "like" it. Thank you. Additional resources are below the video.

Differentiated Instruction through Project Based Learning

Leading Project Based Learning: www.leadingpbl.org 

This site contains many resources around PBL, from tutorials (Modules), units designed and implemented by pre-k to grade 12 teachers, and many useable materials for designing, managing, and assessing project based learning units.

The Learning Classrooms: learningclassrooms.pbworks.com

This site is an online learning series for Differentiated Instruction (DI). Modules guide teachers through important thinking, reflections, and understandings about DI and ways to effectively implement.

Stirred, a thriller that also represents a "different" way of publishing

I had the opportunity to read the novel Stirred by J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch. It's a great thriller that brings to culmination two series by these two exceptional authors.

View Stirred on Amazon

These authors are pioneers on what epublishing can be for the masses through 21st Century Skills. There are many traditional publishing organizations, as well as hybrid where 3rd parties handle your work for a fee. And then there are the kind of mad innovative minds of these authors who make a successful living tackling the process themselves and make it look easy. In many ways the process can be easy once explored and with a good guide. A Newbie's Guide to Publishing is a great place to start.

Steve Jobs - Living the life of our future

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, a man died but his visions and ideas remain. He gave a commencement speech in 2005 for Standford University that, listening to it on NPR, moved me deeply. A message of hope and promise, mixed with an American ideas of independence and collaboration, is a gift of wisdom for all ages, besides the new college graduates. A recent Washington Post shared the them of that speech: Steve Jobs: Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

It's with honor that I introduce Steve Job's speech, given in 2005:


Speech link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

Stay hungry, stay foolish,...How do we help our students experience such a rich opportunity?

News Sources = Source for PBL Ideas and activities

How do you turn an ordinary Project-Based Learning unit into something extraordinary? 

This is one driving question that I'm often exploring, as there is so much at stake for a successful learning experience that leads to academic achievement and development of global skills that are necessary to adult success. And...there is not just 1 answer.

Although, I would suggest that if the end result of a PBL unit is that students use what they learn to help or change the "world" outside of their classroom, that is a very good start. News articles can help us find ideas for inspiring students to make meaningful connections between content and the global community. Through such connections, students alongside students can develop or design meaningful ways to impact or influence others through their academic understandings.

For example, consider these articles from today's news:

Tourists despise tiny fish but anglers love them

From MI news about strange silver creatures washing up ashore of MI beaches. Where did they come from and what impact might they have on our environment and tourism?

Is default deadline truly Aug 2? Analysts say no

As the debt ceiling debate continues, how does time management influence or effect our decisions, and what are effective ways to organize timelines for project efficiency? (project is a metaphor for all kinds of work and tasks)

Morgan Admits Dodgy Practices

With greater scrutiny on the press, there is much to explore from effective research practices (online and traditional), ethical practices, and truth telling. How best can we get accurate information when media sources express conflicting reports? Should ever the "end justify the means" in the workplace?

U.S. likely to lose top rating: economists

With the congressional deadline looming about the US debt ceiling, there those who speculate that the US is already negatively affected. What would happen if the US lost it's AAA credit rating, and what would it take to regain it? How could leader's convictions of beliefs be rigid and flexible?

News from the serious, to humorous, to fluff can generate ways for students to find their voice in a PBL unit. They and educators uncover connections between content and community context. I invite you to find articles and post them as used here for connections to PBL ideas.

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

Grading Practices Revisited

I just read an article "The Culture Builder" by Roland S. Barth (Educational Leadership May 2002, Vol. 59, Number 8) with a group of highly motivated, inspired (inspirational) school leaders who are establishing new school programs where new culture is being built around what is best for students. More on that later.

A topic that rose was grading practices. Roland Barth states a message by schools is "Learn or we will hurt you." He states, "Educators have taken learning--a wonderful, spontaneous capacity of all human beings--and coupled it with punitive measures. We have developed an arsenal of sanctions and punishments that we inextricably link with learning experiences."

Ken O'Conner, Rick Wormelli and others look at grading practices and how it  can be done to emphasize learning over gradebook keeping. I've made comments on this before, and was asked to share a powerpoint where I took these educator thinkers work and explored the ramifications. Below is a powerpoint that I've used to support teachers and administrators in reflecting on efficient ways to assess and grade. Comments welcome.

Reflecting on assessment a tale of hope and ideals 2010

View more presentations from John McCarthy

Results-Only Learning Environment

Much of the focus of the Education world for achievement is on what the adult stakeholders can or should do to improve the system. There are some innovative ideas generated, tested, and implemented. How can we help students be successful. How do we hold accountability to standards based on practice that is evidenced-based. What will schools of the future look like?

These are only some of the challenges that educators grapple with in seeking what is best for students. Through all of the work that's done, few include a missing element. One that may, in its simplicity, be the most difficult and critical element for success...

YouTube - Results-Only Learning Environment PechaKucha Style

Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships are touted as critical to education. Yet few school cultures incorporate students as an equal member, much less the driving member of the learning team. Students can best determine the what and how of learning. For proof, look at adults regarding our learning. Give me the deadline and learning targets, and I will take the pathways that works for me. Reading, talking to others, watching videos...varying location from walks, cafes, desk, floor...with music or silence depending on "my" mood. It doesn't matter how or what I do, so long as the deadlines are met and the outcome produce is of high quality.

Shouldn't that be what's best for students?

Coach students on how to work in this format. Believe that they are capable if given the opportunity and guidance. Trust that they can succeed. When they fail, it's the best opportunity for them to learn and grow. It's our responsibility to teach them how to learn from mistakes.

Shouldn't that be what's best for students?