Travelling and change
Let me begin by saying that my wife and are are on vacation. We don't travel much and this "vacation" is a trip to elderly relatives who could use a little company and a lot of help around their yard out in rural, Northern California. Because we are coming to help, they "paid" for the flights using their Air Miles. As is often the case, Air Miles travel results in terrible departure times, layovers, and connections. This was no different. As we were sitting around and waiting for another plane, I thought about how trips like these, and maybe others, are a lot like educational change. Let me explain. First, with change we imagine something amazing (or better) in the future for our students. With a vacation, we also imagine a change of location that is probably deemed as an upgrade to our daily existence. We start with a plan and it all seems to make sense and it is exciting. Then reality kicks in: we get to the airport, early because our ride has to go home. We wait in the teminal afte an uneventful trip through security. We wait. We wait. This is like change: we plan; we get started and then we wait - we wait for bureaucracy; for tools, for technology, for teams for acceptance. Eventually, the plane is available and we board. This is exciting but it is a small, prop plane that is simply there to get us to another airport. There is little room. It is noisy. This is like the rough beginning often found in change. We use make-shif supplies and old technology. We adapt old material and resources but, eventually, we make it to the major airport. Again we wait. To be continued
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CategoriesJames KlassenI am a teacher. I have held various teaching positions, mostly in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, since 1987. I believe that teachers have the opportunity to inspire deep and meaningful learning and that all learners create their knowledge in ways that are connected to their interests and within their social context. I have observed many waves of educational "reform" come and go and remain hopeful that schools will be transformed into places where all learners desire to be creators and consumers of knowledge and that, together, each member of this community will become prepared to face their world in both skills and attitudes. |