Get the RSS feed | Leslie Wilson Archives

Re-Creating Education - We Can Do It!
by Leslie Wilson


 

The advent of United States stimulus dollars has educators (including ed-techies) buzzing. There is much work to be done in a short time span. Authentic transformation can come from applying these funds to meaningful, sustainable efforts that emerge from a shared vision. The devil is in the details. Focused hard work, quick-time communications, deliberations and action plans are necessary to ensure these resources go toward the right work.
The USDOE assurances are clear. They make sense. Creating plans based on reform efforts that have substance is paramount. Ensuring scale and sustainability must be part and parcel of garnering these funds. It seems a daunting task.  
Daunting-yes. Impossible-no!  I was a presenter at the SETDA/SMART Education Briefing in Chicago on May 19-20. This session was a SETDA proof of concept to determine the efficacy of such an approach. Seven states (Utah, Alabama, Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Nevada) participated in visioning and planning activities that led to top quality strategic action plans for engaging the stimulus funds among their local districts. They planned around each assurance, extensive state-wide communications and sharing, expeditious deployment of funds and accountability/evaluation measures. Included were professional learning community activities and task forces that would provide for ongoing dialogue and feedback loops. Their work was impressive!
Several state workers reported never having had the opportunity to work together, face to face, until this session. Some had never actually ‘met’ their state counterparts until the DC conference. Those state employees reported their DOE departments operated as ‘silos’. The establishments and bureaucracies prohibited their coming together for collaboration.  SETDA’s and SMART’s wisdom to bring all together in this important work is applauded!
The Chicago meetings were edifying.  All learned from one another with regard to planning for stimulus resources. My part was to discuss the planning process. Following is a synopsis of what I shared.
A state’s/district’s vision must involve all stakeholders. It should be a ‘living’ document that defines a short and long term set of scenarios. This isn’t an easy feat given the time constraints. I urged all to consider the following ‘drivers’ as they pulled around stimulus plans.
1)      Personalization of education. Future trends and research are clear. Learners must be the center of all transformation measures. 
2)      An ecosystem that is NOT bound by bricks and mortar – but ensures uninterrupted connection between teaching and learning and the local and global communities
Consider:
                                                              i.       virtual environments, distance and online opportunities
                                                            ii.      interconnectivity and usability of current and envisioned technology capacities
                                                          iii.      all users having responsibility for trouble-shooting and problem solving
                                                           iv.      plans for scale and sustainability
3)      Students’ 24/7 ubiquitous access to digital resources.
4)      Strong home and school connectivity – band-wise; human-wise.
5)      Technology tools that have a driving force in facilitating student achievement and organizational efficiency goals.
6)      A guaranteed curriculum and instructional program that guides these decisions.
7)      Emphasis on professional learning networks, face to face and virtual, that promotes a coaching/mentoring model.
8)      Invitation and engagement of student-owned personal, portable technologies in school environment.
9)      Assimilation of social networking applications and web-based software programs.
10) Rigorous research plan for new projects, technologies, programs.
These are exciting and opportune times! There is great hope for the future of education!!
Leslie Wilson is President of One-to-One Institute (OTO), a national not-for-profit serving schools, districts, states and countries in their implementation of 21st century teaching and learning. OTO’s genesis is Michigan’s Freedom to Learn, one-to-one teaching and learning program. Ms. Wilson’s consultancy, Wilson Public Sector Consulting, LLC, serves the education industry. She holds a BS Ed and completed Ed Leadership doctoral work from the University of Michigan, Sp Ed Administration endorsement from Eastern Michigan University and M. Ed in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University. lesliew@one-to-oneinstitute.org
 
 

 

Post new comment