Guerilla Education

I've finally discovered the term that suits me....suits our team.  Guerilla Educators.

We are a small group.  We are an irregular group.  Many days we feel like we are fighting...fighting for quality instruction for all learners.  We are challenging a larger system....traditional education....all students doing the same thing, at the same time, driven and focused on standardized testing.

Yes....we are freedom fighters.  Seeking freedom for teachers to do what they know is right for students.  To break free of the tyranny dictated by focus on microscopic data points.  To challenge students to think hard, to find and pursue a passion, to solve problems, to collaborate.

Great learning is often an impromptu activity.....not "authorized" or directed.  It takes place when there is disharmony between what is know and information that is sought.  It is active....

So, call me crazy....

Another year older

We've had two young, new, vibrant people who have joined our team in the past few weeks...AND THEN....(duh, duh, dahhhhhhhh)....I had a birthday.

Such a dichotomy for me!

• I don't feel older, but my body reminds me on occasion. 
• Thinking I practice what I preach, but my resistance to open my Chromebook as I know I will need to learn something new
• Sitting in a meeting sharing our vision, realizing it just jumped several decade in the blink of an eye.
• Thinking I'm cutting edge, then hearing new tools and concepts that are completely foreign to me.

It really is true...the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.  So after taking a nap, I am determined to stay young through these new teammates.  I need to reopen my learning box and fill it as much as I am able.  Some days there will be more room than other days, but I can't ever close the lid.

Professional Reading

I so admire my colleague @TracieGCain for her dedication and desire for professional reading.  She makes me want to be a better professional.  My perception was that I don't read much professionally at all.  While I am no @TracieGCain, while I was working on keeping my ongoing summer community active....I realized that I just do it differently.  I am a skimmer and tend to dip my toe in.  When I find something I can grasp at the time....I dig deeper.  I am more of a need to know/just in time reader....but maintain listserv connections and collections of favorite blogs on my igHome page (my replacement for the.....what was the Google Home page called that disappeared?)....

Below is the point where I discovered, I really am a professional reader.....

As I jump in and out of my professional reading (which I stink at)....I continue to think about this amazing group. 

Here is an article I ran across today that I wanted to share with you. 

Which of these 10 points speaks most to you?

My favorites were....
1) Last year our discussions emphasized getting kids engaged in learning; this year, the conversation shifted to teaching kids how to learn for themselves. 
............because we talk so much about getting students engaged during our training sessions. I see this as the next step for those who are ready.

AND

4) Everyone has trouble staying disciplined and motivated with work.
............because I have had to put some of my Maker projects on the back burner for other immediate priorities. I am so grateful for this group which gives me some sense of accountability and keeps me motivated. 

This is the "Cream of the Crop"?

I am so blessed!  I have been working with the cream of the crop...those who rise to the top, take an official or unofficial leadership role.  This past week it was teacher leaders in a small North Texas town.  Each teacher received a Windows tablet during Teacher Appreciation week.  Our task with this group is to support the instructional use of technology tools. We had two kick off days to begin our year-long work together that will include face-to-face time and individual coaching.

At first glance, we could complain....

• I only have three high school teacher in the group of sixteen....BUT I have three high school teachers!!!
• Many in this group are struggling with the basics of the device....BUT these leaders are actively participating despite the fact that they are still uncomfortable with their device.
• Most in the group have experienced poor performance from technology tools and network connectivity....BUT they are taking a leap of faith that their tools and infrastructure will continue to improve.

YES!!!! This the cream of the crop!  This group designed a staff development day for their colleagues and volunteered to lead a small group to learn a specific tool/concept.  That is a huge risk BUT I believe their payoff will be grand.  I will learn much more from them than I could ever repay

Am I typical?

Thanks to my colleague, @TracieGCain for sharing....

http://www.justintarte.com/2014/06/the-typical-educator.html

I LOVE this!!  It goes hand in hand with the Robert Ballard explanation about innovators beating your head against the wall.

The typical person/educator recognizes that the brick wall is a barrier and follows expected behavior.

It also explains why it is exhausting to do the work we do and why we are perceived as "rule-breakers".

It's NOT that we break the rules (most of the time), it is that we see a goal, a land of milk & honey on the other side of the brick wall.

We believe that if we push, sell, cheer, model, coach, cajole, take over, etc. enough....that the brick wall will move.

I believe it moves....one degree at a time. 

As Tracie will tell you, one degree makes a HUGE difference!!

Water is water at 211⁰ but becomes steam at 212⁰.

That is great if you start at 211⁰, but in most cases, we are starting at room temperature.

So what’s our response?  Do we just accept it?  Sorry girls!  Not in our nature.

As Robert Ballard explained….we do “it” because of who we are.  It’s who He built us to be.

And, I believe the wall will move…..of course, we’ll discover a new one…for that is our nature….

Unleash Innovative Learning

It's amazing, absolutely amazing, when the dots connect and I am fortunate to see the ideas of brilliant people converge to unleash even more brilliance.  I was blessed to facilitate a process with an amazing group of Instructional Technology Specialists (Digital Learning Team).  They spent 2 days solidifying what they believe, where they are going, and creating action plan that will help them focus on the priority needs for their learners.

They developed a logo inspired by the image below.... and a tagline - UNLEASH INNOVATIVE LEARNING.

Their focus will revolve around the "4 C's, with three audiences - Curriculum & Instruction, Administration, Campuses.  They are equipped with research based resources to connect other district initiatives and terminology to the 4 C's.  I'm looking forward to seeing their plan in action and watching the growth that emerges from their work.

They immersed me into the role of a 21st century/future ready facilitator of learning.  Some of the hardest work I've ever done was preparing for this workshop.  The actual workshop day was exhausting, but for a different reason than past experiences.  I did little more than wander the room, occasionally asking a question to coach the team toward their goals.  I was physically exhausted from standing all day, but not from talking.  I was mentally exhausted from thinking....not from thinking about what I was going to say, but how I could phrase my questions to....

UNLEASH INNOVATIVE LEARNING form the group....

Praise goes not to me....but to those who have previously fed me with strategies, structures, and tools!; To my amazing team of learners for their innovative learning;  and the One who is in control of the unleashing....

When does MAKING belong in core content?

That is a huge question!

Can I make something without thinking at all?
Can I make something that doesn't serve a purpose - knowing the purpose might be beauty, taking up time or fidgeting?
If I make something, and THEN reflect on it, how does it fit into curriculum?
If my teacher allows me to "make" but controls time, parameters, materials, does that fit into curriculum?

This biggest reflection is exactly how to design a lesson that gives students flexibility, allows them to have choice and includes a maker mindset/design thinking.

I started with curriculum objectives from 5th grade Science and the topic of movement.  Thinking what I wanted to make was a simple version of kinetic wind art....and wouldn't it be a bonus if I could harvest the wind power to possible power a water feature for my yard.


See this article for more details

I quickly realized how much learning/thinking I did this morning just trying to wrap my head around this project.  The primary question is, what allows objects to move in multiple directions.  I still don't have the answer to the question, actually.  I'm thinking several sets of ball bearings and thinking to actually make this work would require some hands on.

Just that simple question, was deep enough.  I'm not sure exactly what additional content objectives will be covered, but I am sure that there will be lots of experimentation with adhesives, materials, and shapes of blades, to get the end result I'm looking for.