__ LIPS – Leading in Public Schools

There is no doubt that online video content has emerged as a powerful medium for getting all sorts of messages through.  A look at any of the online news sites will show just how extensively short video grabs are being used as an “on demand’ means of getting information.

The growth of sites like YouTube and Google Video has also allowed the opportunity for almost anybody with some simple hardware, software, and the inclination; to publish their own creations on the internet for sharing with others.

You may be interested to see another site, set up to provide a place to share short video content which can have a link toward education and leadership practices.  There are a number of  short demo videos at the link below.  You may have some content or ideas you would like to share too.  If so, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Click here to visit the site now

Much of the discussion at the recent Curriculum Corporation Conference assumed a shift in context for the things we do. 

Even within this thinking, however, there are many consequences which we may or may not have considered.

The article in today’s SMH Technology section uses the example of journalism and online feedback to illustrate an outcome of the web, and web 2.0 especially, which may cause a reassessment of the nexus between qualitative and quantitative measures when it comes to evaluating a skill like writing.

Makes for an interesting read.  Click here to read the story

It reminds me of the quote I have on a slide somewhere which draws a parallel with the sense of unanticipated consequences when he related the view that probably, when automobiles were first used, that nobody was thinking of pollution or traffic snarls or multi storey carparks ! 

We may not know exactly where the web world might take us.  Like any binary model, however, we will always have clear choices we can make about how we treat our part of the journey.

Big Picture Schools

One of the speakers at the Curriculum Corporation Conference in Sydney this week was Elliot Washor, one of the founders of the Big Picture Company which is in the business of providing public education to a design specification which they believe provides an optimum environment for authentic learners and learning 

The Big Picture Company was founded by educators Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor, both formerly of the renowned

Thayer High School in

New Hampshire and the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. In 1995, they began collaborating with

Rhode Island policymakers to design a student-centered high school, and created The Big Picture Company as the launching pad for what has now become a national education reform movement.  http://www.bigpicture.org/aboutus/index.htm

Big Picture Schools all operate based on some common criteria or ‘distinguishers’  One of these related to engagement of parents and families.  Clearly one result is absolute clarity about product definition… or, could we even suggest that there may be a basis for comparison with other ‘chain’ operations.  Elliot wanted us to not see a sense of similarity with a quick anecdote about differences in Starbucks in different places..Still..there is a wealth of information on the site which outlines fairly specifically a whole range of expectations and beliefs about whole range of facets of provision of a learning environment.

The following excerpt will give you an idea of the specificity of expectation observable..If you get a chance, have a look at the material on Principal Development and the ‘capabilities’ required

There will no doubt be some other reflections on other content at the conference.  I’ll hope to post some more commentary here in the next few days.  If there is anybody else who was there, why not click to link to ‘Comment.’ It seems there is no shortage of ideas about how we can do “it” better.  The trick, it seems to me, is building enough critical mass of understanding and desire within our culture and community that we actually collectively begin to celebrate and value our access to free and secular education.  I have deliberately left out the third word: ‘compulsory’ as it works against what was no doubt the original intent, the ensuring of participation.  In a country which has its heritage steeped in hugely unbalanced power relationships between groups, with the only power available to some often being the power to subvert or non-comply, we need to find a way to reconfigure our view of the concept of being compelled to attend ‘school’ to be ‘schooled.’  And yes, another way of suggesting that we need to work beyond school planning to actually planning schools

Anyway..back to the excerpt from the Big Picture website 

 Families play an active role in the school community that includes supporting the school politically, participating in celebrations and social gatherings, and supporting new parents and students. They are also viewed as life-long learners who need support in learning how to play a proactive role in the school life of their children through high school and on to college and the work world.
Essential Elements of Parent/Family Engagement – Adult Support Include:
·         Families are educated and asked to play an active role in the education and school life of their children ·         Parental voice in school organization and culture ·         Families attend and participate in learning plan meetings and exhibitions each quarter ·         Parents as well as students are Interviewed and sign participation agreements along with their students upon enrolment·         Families are educated to play a proactive role in the college process ·         Families play important and proactive roles to garner and show political and community support for the school http://www.bigpicture.org/aboutus/distinguishers/parentengagement.htm