Reading Chapter 21 (R/D8) : Pick out two trends or issues that particularly surprised you and/or hit home and explain why.
There were a couple of things that I noticed that I would like to make a point of. From the beginning of the reading, I found the comparison between piecemeal and systematic change interesting. Just looking at my own teaching, I think that change is usually good, as it keeps things fresh and encourages positive energy, but I would classify how I look at change more in the "light" changing, which is the piecemeal, rather than the wholesale change which was described as systematic.
I appreciated a couple points made in the process "Step-Up-To-Excellence." To preface it, I believe that major change is a very difficult thing to do, and the process is often times an ugly one. One of the key points involved having "Senior Leaders" act with a passion and a vision, not with fear or apprehension. I loved the line, "Leaders and followers who have a clear view of the opportunities that systematic redesign offers them; not a view of 'we can't do this because...'" How often do we bring up ideas in a faculty meeting to have some "experienced" collegue say that it won't work. It is clear that for any substantial overhauls, not only is money and technological resources important, but so is positive leadership from the decision-makers and positive learning attidudes from the followers.
While systematic improvement is doable, it is a rather scary preposition for teachers. On page 218, I appreciated the comment, "There is so much that needs doing, so little time to do it, and, on top of all that, educators cannot stop teaching children while they try to re-design their school systems." So I have to ask the question, is it worthwhile to go for this wholesale, sytematic change, or are we better off looking for small areas to improve, and hope that over a period of time we achieve the desired level? Given the price tag that comes with it, and the difficulty in getting the whole staff on board with the change, is it really feasible to do? In the district that I teach in, I would say that what we are doing isn't broken, and really doesn't need an overhaul. It could use some updating, and some change would do good, but systematic change isn't necessary. I would imagine that there are some districts that would think differently, where major change is necessary. Unfortunately, I think that most places that could use the most change are often the ones that don't have the means to do so.
6 comments:
"How often do we bring up ideas in a faculty meeting to have some "experienced" collegue say that it won't work. It is clear that for any substantial overhauls, not only is money and technological resources important, but so is positive leadership from the decision-makers and positive learning attidudes from the followers."
Feelings can be very important, especially for the senior faculty members who might be threatened by younger faculty who seem to know a lot more and have all these new ideas. Some of it might be just self defense.
Katherine
I think there are times for piecemeal change and also systematic change. As a programmer, I solve problems systematically. However, like you said that scope of change isn't always feasible or necessary.
I agree that we shouldnt make changes just for sake of making changes. We need to know that the change has a meaning and will be a benifit. As you stated it doesnt always have to neccisarlily be a whole system change. Just a tweak may result in great improvements.
I also agree that some of the places that need to change often dont have the available recources to do it successfully. I also feel that if you try to change without having the recources you may end up worse of than you started.
Tony Vitto
Hi Karel!
I think you’re right about change being refreshing, encouraging. It is sometimes difficult to keep up the enthusiasm when you are teaching the same lesson for the fifth time (especially in one day). It is easy to fall into a rut and maintain the status quo. There is usually one “experienced” colleague in every school who has to boo the new, and sometimes difficult, changes that will take them out of their easy and comfortable rut.
Yes, systematic improvement is rather scary. It is desperately needed in my “district,” yet most of us are just trying to make it through the day, through the week. That is not a good place to be in. Yes, we are one of the places that could use it the most and don’t necessarily have the means to do it. It is hard to justify spending the money on something like that when we don’t have the basics—phones in the room, computers in the room, a library.
Donna
"Unfortunately, I think that most places that could use the most change are often the ones that don't have the means to do so."
What a great way to end your reflections. I think you are right on about this. Most schools that need the overhaul are the ones that can't afford to do it, which I believe is directly related to why they need the overhaul in the first place...confusing. You did an excellent job with the reflection, pulling out different quotes and really asking the tough question of is Systemic change worth it? I'm too young in the is game to have inside knowledge, which is ok, because you did an excellent job of answering it:)
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