My conference presentation for the k12 online conference went live today.
As a lowly educator, I offer some ways to create change where there is resistance as well as offering some reasons why change can break down. While not an expert, this is a reflection into change and lack of change in my school (despite courses and support.)
If you haven't checked out the presentations there, head over there now!
I want to comment what I have been thinking about. Most people would say that if people only knew what was out there (learn something new, etc.) they would teach differently. Classrooms for the future is wonderful in disseminating information, asking for reflection, and discussion within groups. It however falls short on changing curriculum to allow for the shift in pedagogy and administrative/testing/community change that promotes risk taking. The current way education is designed creates many barriers. Without changing those, we need to help others in the process. Those who see the need for change will want to embark on the journey but need support to do so. Personal one-on-one support is needed (I had my own in the form of my PLN).
ReplyDeleteHi, just finished watching your presentation at the K12 Online conference. I really appreciated a lot of what you said - at the moment I am doing an online course aimed to familiarise teachers with Web 2.0 resources, so they can then use them with their students. I am really enjoying it and have had opportunity, through our school Moodle site, to put some of it into practise. However, as I have been experimenting with all these new resources, I have wondered at how few teachers seem to be interested in it, and how do they encourage themselves to develop professionally in order to best help their students learn? So your presentation offered a lot of reasons for this inertia and also (thankfully) a lot of useful ideas to encourage me to try and help others enjoy learning new things, in the same way that I have.
ReplyDeleteEven as I read your previous comment, I know that one of the biggest barriers we will face is our curriculum and its inflexibility. However, with a bit of imagination, I think we can find chinks in its armour into which we can insert the type of learning from which I think students will benefit.