Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works. Steve Jobs I have a fascination with structures. Whether these are the physical structures of cityscapes, the formal systems in organizations or the informal structures hidden in organizations, how…
Tag: transformation
A Window into Learning
“We’re trying to boil it down to what do parents really want and need to know about a child’s progress in school? How can we give parents a window into class?…We believe traditional report cards are highly ineffective in communicating to parents where their children are in learning. If we can communicate this learning routinely…
The Rock & The Whirlpool: Navigating the Dilemma Dance
It is clear that the challenge lies in the transition zone. This is a risky space. It can be chaotic and confusing with so many different ideas competing for attention. And it can feel an uncomfortable and under-valued place for many professionals. …
Igniting the Passion: Celebrating Our Learning
“People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation.” Joshua Heschel Celebration is a choice: we choose to appreciate and value something that we feel is significant. It is an opportunity we…
My Top Three List for 2013 (with Apologies to Chris Kennedy)
Linus: ‘I guess it’s wrong to be worried about tomorrow, maybe we should only worry about today?’ Charlie Brown: ‘No, that’s giving up: I’m hoping that yesterday will get better!’ Charles Schultz I am inspired, yet again, by Chris Kennedy who leads the way with the Culture of Yes post wrapping up the “Top…
What’s your rock?
I want to be a linchpin. Seth Godin says, “Every organization needs a linchpin, the one person who can bring it together and make a difference.” Can we create an organization of linchpins committed to making a difference? And he adds, “What will make someone a linchpin is not a shortcut. It’s the understanding of…
Insanely Great Learning: Are we creating it?
Do we have insanely great learning? What does it look like? Can we describe it using the power of story? Can we act as if this is going to be a transformational year for our classroom, our school, and our organization? These are the challenges from Nigel Barlow, author of the book Re-Think: How to…
Who Owns the Learning?
In too many cases, we bolt new technologies on top of current learning tools in the standard learning environment, which effectively means we give our kids a thousand-dollar pencil. Alan November In Alan November’s new book, he asks the crucial question: Who Owns the Learning? This well-designed title intentionally creates some cognitive dissonance for us…
When Learning Hurts
Educators are asking each other the following questions: “How has this year and this learning journey been for you? What has been the most important thing you have done this year? What’s the best thing you’ve done this year?” I struggle to put it in words, to be authentic and to even share the real…
The Year of Wonder: Riding the Wave of Learning
My staff describe it as a “year of wonder.” Sometimes we call it a tsunami and just want to ride the wave without crashing. Other times we refer to it as a fire beginning to flame across the district. We consider it as seeding pockets of innovation we want to take root and spread organically…