{"id":2026,"date":"2015-12-30T17:34:15","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T01:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=2026"},"modified":"2015-12-30T20:23:24","modified_gmt":"2015-12-31T04:23:24","slug":"my-top-3-for-2015-with-apologies-to-chris-kennedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=2026","title":{"rendered":"My Top 3 for 2015 (with apologies to Chris Kennedy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\u00ee\u00e1\u00e5\u00e7\u00fc\u00ff\u00ed\u00ea\u00e8<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.<\/p>\n

Arthur Miller<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I tried not to do it but I couldn\u2019t resist. I have parodied Superintendent Chris Kennedy on two previous occasions, taking his masterful Top Three List and brutalizing it a bit with my own satirical\u00a0Top Three. I did this in 2012<\/a><\/span>, and 2013<\/a>.<\/span> In 2014 I wrote a half-baked\u00a0caricature but did not have the nerve to publish it. Now we are in 2015 and he has published his Top Three again (see here<\/a><\/span> and read his first). I was waiting for it. I cannot keep my cheek in check. Even in this form, please note, \u201cimitation is the sincerest form of flattery\u201d (Charles Colton).<\/p>\n

My Top Three Blog Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are most read posts for 2015, as gleaned from my followers.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Reporting in a Digital Age<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. A Window into Learning<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Innovation in Action: Learning by Design<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    But, I have to tell you the stats are absolutely pathetic. It is a wonder I post anything at all. The social media honeymoon just might be over. I note that the second most read post this year (2. A Window into Learning) was\u00a0even published last year, in December 2014<\/em>. At that, the post Treasure Wild Ducks: The Flight of Innovation<\/a><\/em><\/span> continues to be the most popular\u00a0piece\u00a0and that was published way back in November, 2013<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    Top Three Blog Posts I Would Like to be Writing<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Chris seems disappointed more people are not blogging. He gives no explanation for why there is less blogging but leaves us hanging for a \u201cnext post\u201d (unintended irony) on that topic. With no excuses–I expect to find him unpacking it for us in the New Year. And I would like to point out, I, at least, have excuses. I have not even started<\/em> the blog posts that I would really like to finish. I would if I had time. I would if I could think clearly. I would if I didn\u2019t have an inbox full of email. I would if I didn\u2019t have four children underfoot (even<\/em> Chris could have used that one). Posts that keep swirling in my head:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Scaling Up: Chasing the Unholy Grail of Transformation<\/em><\/li>\n
    2. Research Results from a District-Wide Learning Commons Implementation<\/em><\/li>\n
    3. Passion, Purpose and People: The Interlocking Keys to Excellence<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The Top Three Regularly Used Education words<\/strong> (that show we still don\u2019t really know what we are talking about)\"\"<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Transformation<\/li>\n
      2. Innovation<\/li>\n
      3. Personalization<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        See also \u201cscaling up\u201d referred to above. Pardon my cynicism.<\/p>\n

        Top Three Videos I Have Watched<\/strong><\/p>\n

        First of all, I would like to know when people have time to watch all these TEDx videos? I am\u00a0still relishing\u00a0the same animated\u00a0movies\u00a0from previous years.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. How to Train a Dragon<\/li>\n
        2. How to Train a Dragon 2<\/li>\n
        3. Despicable Me<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          I feel better AND I am inspired by the sheer art and beauty of them. Sometime I will find a list of the Top 10 videos for Educators, make some popcorn (or melt some butter and sprinkle it<\/strong> with popcorn) and then watch them all.<\/p>\n

          The Top Three1<\/sup> Stories People will be talking about in BC in 2016 (see also above category regularly used education words)<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Reporting (aka Communicating Student Learning).<\/li>\n
          2. Transformation.<\/li>\n
          3. Innovation.<\/li>\n
          4. Personalization.<\/li>\n
          5. Scaling Up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \"\"The Top Three2<\/sup> Things I Learned This Year<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Hard Work Isn’t Always Enough<\/li>\n
            2. Excellence is in the Eye of the Beholder<\/li>\n
            3. Timing is Everything<\/li>\n
            4. Professional Learning\u00a0is Never Done<\/li>\n
            5. Sometimes You Need to Let it Go<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Top Three People\/Things That Inspire Me<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Good Friends: They help me to \u201clet it go\u201d<\/li>\n
              2. My Staff: They are amazing at what they do<\/li>\n
              3. The Quiet: Silence in the swirl of work & home is treasured<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                The Top Three Books I Am Still Working On<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. The Genius Hour Guidebook<\/a><\/span> by Denise Krebs & Gallit Zvi<\/li>\n
                2. The Innovators Mindset<\/a><\/span> by George Couros<\/li>\n
                3. Accelerate (XCR8)<\/a><\/span> by John Kotter<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Top Three Professional\u00a0Highlights for 2015:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. New Staff Members<\/em>: Karen Fadum (@mrsfadum<\/a><\/span>) and Joe Tong (@teachertong<\/a><\/span>), both Communicating Student Learning Helping Teachers, Shauna Nero (@MmeNero<\/a><\/span>), Modern Languages Helping Teacher and Maryanne Kempthorne (@Maryakem<\/a><\/span>), new Manager of Learning Resources. You should follow them\u00a0all on twitter–they are great additions to an already amazing #sd36learn<\/a> Education Services Team!<\/li>\n
                  2. A Window into My<\/strong> Child’s Learning<\/em>: Having my own son get a digital portfolio (via @freshgrade<\/a><\/span>) was an unexpected surprise. I’ve been working on this partnership\u00a0for three years and when it reaches \u00a0my own child who attends school in\u00a0another district–that’s personally and<\/em> professionally rewarding. I\u00a0get my own\u00a0parent view!<\/li>\n
                  3. Learning from Others<\/em>: Finding out how other leaders do their work \u00a0in other districts in B.C. and across Canada, inspires me.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Leaders I Admire:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. Dean Shareski (because I won a coveted #deanie award<\/a><\/span> and he is a most gracious and giving man)<\/li>\n
                    2. Chris Kennedy (I continue to be inspired and learn from his work)<\/li>\n
                    3. Many Woman Leaders (some identified in this provocative post<\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      To sum up the 2015 year can be a daunting task. To follow the high bar set by Chris Kennedy in his blog Culture of Yes<\/em> is impossible. I have blogged, though, at last.<\/p>\n

                      And a big thank you to those of you that take the time to read my posts. Thanks for your patience with me as I continue to learn what it means to push the boundaries of innovation<\/em>, attempt to transform<\/em> education, personalize<\/em> learning for both<\/u> students and teachers, communicate<\/em> that learning to wider audiences and scale<\/em> up these changes across our district and beyond.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

                      I will be, forever, a dreamer.<\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      Footnotes<\/em>:
                      \n1<\/sup>Did I mention I have a Numeracy problem?
                      \n2<\/sup>Numeracy continues to be a challenge.
                      \n3<\/sup>Guilty, I am.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                        The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always. Arthur Miller I tried not to do it but I couldn\u2019t resist. I have parodied Superintendent Chris Kennedy on two previous occasions, taking his masterful Top Three List and brutalizing it a bit with my…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[226,252,3,23,254,6,253,230],"tags":[51,297],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2026"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2062,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026\/revisions\/2062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}