PBS News Hour highlighted Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia last night (watch and share the video). If you have managed to go this long not knowing about SLA, now is the time to get up to speed and share with your school colleagues. In #EdJourney I cited SLA for leadership in several areas; I could [...]
What are some key steps to ensuring that innovation takes root at your school, that it is not just a spark in the dark or checking-off-the-box on a laundry list strategic plan? In their article in Harvard Business Review (HT Bo Adams), Scott Anthony, David Duncan, and Pontus Siren of Innosight suggest a 90-day framework [...]
What is the nature of human bonds in a time of radically increased connectivity? How and when do we connect and let go, and what are the values we associate with both? How does the availability of near-universal high frequency human interaction drive human evolution as both individuals and "colonies"? No doubt weighty research psychologists and [...]
On Thursday, with family and friends, many of us will turn our reflections on giving of thanks. I woke up this morning thinking of all I have to be thankful for in the area of profession, passion, and interest. My Edu-Thanksgiving list: All of the adult "educator-leaders" (this year I have tried to stop re-enforcing [...]
I have been asked to clarify my use of “teacher as farmer”. It is simple and captures the best image I can conjure of what is common amongst great teachers in the post-industrial age model of education. I think it is a more accurate image than teacher as sage, preacher, supplier, guide, coach, or mentor. It [...]
Is it possible for a school to make a rapid and dramatic shift away from the assembly line model of education? Is it possible in a public school setting with all of the normal demands, political pressures, and budget constraints? Is it possible in an underserved community and a traditionally underperforming school? I have been keeping [...]
Just finished #thefalconer. Pretty sure my life (& career) will never be the same. So in love with every word. Thanks, Grant! Pretty nice to come home to that Tweet from Erica DeVoe, a 9-12 teacher from Westerley, R.I. Some wonderful colleagues have told me that my first book, The Falconer: What We Wish We Had [...]
What does student ownership of learning look like? How do even young students rapidly engage when given the freedom to ask expansive questions? Do students really need to start at the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy before building to abstraction and synthesis? Do we even begin to tap the insights of students that would contribute richly [...]
As individuals and as schools, do we want to be successful or significant? Great or leading? What are common elements of the disruptions and mutations facing both K-12 and higher education? I was honored to share the stage with Dr. John Fry, president of Drexel University at the annual meeting of trustees and heads of [...]
Last year I wrote an article for ISTE's magazine "Learning and Leading With Technology"; it argued that technology was not a goal but a tool, like arrows for an archer, and gave a number of examples from my many school visits. ISTE reposted it yesterday, so if you missed it, here it is!