The Chains of Change

One of the questions that I hear most often is: "Why do we change so much?" That question is usually followed by: "We just started (insert new initiative here) and now we doing something else" I get the frustration. I also understand the confusion that happens. I think the most basic answer is that there is never an owner's manual or solution book attached to a problem. NEVER, I have looked. When a plan is created to overcome a challenge, there just aren't any guarantees that the plan will work. Will outcomes change? Has the problem changed? Will performance improve? If not, do we continue to ride a dead horse, or try another plan? Lets get off that horse and try something that might work better. It is our responsibility to persevere and try again. Have you read the book Who Moved My Cheese?

In my previous work-life, I saw first hand how public libraries are fighting tooth and nail to prove their relevance in the age of Google and the Internet. Some are winning, some are fading away; none of them are staying the same. I was recently surprised to hear the term "relevance"used in regard schools and education. The speaker was suggesting that schools are becoming less relevant to our students. How could that be? Children will always have to learn - won't they? Of course they will, but they may not always come to school to do it. Take a moment and check out the PA Cyber Charter School.

In 2006, Laura Cohen created the Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto and it created quite a stir. As you watch the video, try replacing the words library with school, users with students and librarians with teachers? Does it make sense? Can you visualize an Educator's 2.0 Manifesto? What would it say? How would it help us remain relevant to our students?

Students, Education and Modern Media

Michael Wesch is an Asst. Proffessor of Anthropology at KSU. In 2007 he focused his anthropology students on the question of how modern media has changed students. Thier work has produced some compelling video and reasons for change in the education field. Take a look: A Vision of Students Today