Flow, Asian Bird Flu & Leadership Educational Leadership Risk-Taking in a Time of Transformation and Uncertainty

BLC08 40% of educators in attendance thought education today is “boring” About 40% thought that education today needs to be “exciting” What is missing: Creativity is present Innovation is missing

40% of educators in attendance thought education today is “boring”

About 40% thought that education today needs to be “exciting”

What is missing:

Creativity is present

Innovation is missing

But Let’s Go Back… Experts - 21st Century Skills: Global Awareness Self-Direction Collaboration Communication Critical Thinkers Problem Solvers Innovation Flexibility Adaptability Life Skills Civic Engagement Financially Literate

Experts - 21st Century Skills:

Global Awareness

Self-Direction

Collaboration

Communication

Critical Thinkers

Problem Solvers

Innovation

Flexibility

Adaptability

Life Skills

Civic Engagement

Financially Literate

Employers Want: Good Work Ethic Collaborative Teams Good Communication Skills Social Skills Self-Directed Worker & Learner

Good Work Ethic

Collaborative Teams

Good Communication Skills

Social Skills

Self-Directed Worker & Learner

What Do WE Want… On the ball In the groove In the zone…

On the ball

In the groove

In the zone…

Csikszentmihaly: Flow Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

Flow Components: 1. Clear goals 2. Concentration and focus 3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness

1. Clear goals

2. Concentration and focus

3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness

Flow Components: 4. Distorted sense of time 5. Direct and immediate feedback 6. Balance between ability level and challenge 7. A sense of personal control

4. Distorted sense of time

5. Direct and immediate feedback

6. Balance between ability level and challenge

7. A sense of personal control

Flow Components: 8. The activity is intrinsically rewarding 9. People become self-absorbed in their activity Not all are needed for flow to be experienced.

8. The activity is intrinsically rewarding

9. People become self-absorbed in their activity

Not all are needed for flow to be experienced.

Reflections… Isn’t flow what we want all students to experience as they learn? What is missing to keep this from happening? Are WE (as leaders) the “dams” to flow?

Isn’t flow what we want all students to experience as they learn?

What is missing to keep this from happening?

Are WE (as leaders) the “dams” to flow?

Switch Gears… But Keep flow in the back of your minds…

But

Keep flow in the back of your minds…

Assumptions About Our World USA will become #2 in the world Global warming is very real Huge global migration On-line learning will dominate More learning outside will take place outside of the classroom

USA will become #2 in the world

Global warming is very real

Huge global migration

On-line learning will dominate

More learning outside will take place outside of the classroom

Scenario Asian Bird Flu What would teaching look like? How is this different from what you are doing today?

Asian Bird Flu

What would teaching look like?

How is this different from what you are doing today?

What if we generated school assignments like this? http://newtools.org/showtext.php?docid=24

Where are we as LEADERS? Are we taking the bold risks we need to? Fullan: Small # of achievable goals? Focused on key strategies? Effective use of resources? Utilizing multiple levels of engagement? Is there connectivity?

Are we taking the bold risks we need to?

Fullan:

Small # of achievable goals?

Focused on key strategies?

Effective use of resources?

Utilizing multiple levels of engagement?

Is there connectivity?

Are our schools and students… Authentically engaged? Promoting self-directed learning? Utilizing project-driven instruction? Providing collaborative learning opportunities? Making content relevant? Making global contributions?

Authentically engaged?

Promoting self-directed learning?

Utilizing project-driven instruction?

Providing collaborative learning opportunities?

Making content relevant?

Making global contributions?

So… Are YOU being bold in your leadership? If not… What’s stopping you?

Are YOU being bold in your leadership?

If not…

What’s stopping you?

What are MY expectations from our leaders? TAKE A (calculated) RISK (but…) Research-based Thought out (Unintended consequences) Aligned to goals District administration INCLUDED (early on) in the process Appropriately developed (with) and communicated to all stakeholders

TAKE A (calculated) RISK (but…)

Research-based

Thought out (Unintended consequences)

Aligned to goals

District administration INCLUDED (early on) in the process

Appropriately developed (with) and communicated to all stakeholders

What are MY expectations from our leaders? GOALS are measurable TIMELINES are realistic FOCUS (not always on results) on the journey STAND UP for what you believe is right COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE

GOALS are measurable

TIMELINES are realistic

FOCUS (not always on results) on the journey

STAND UP for what you believe is right

COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE

Let’s Switch… Let’s go back to GOALS … Take a minute, and list 3 broad professional goals that you would like to achieve this year. (You will share.)

Let’s go back to GOALS …

Take a minute, and list 3 broad professional goals that you would like to achieve this year. (You will share.)

My Broad Professional Goals: Achieve the objective Take care of the troops Groom new leaders

Achieve the objective

Take care of the troops

Groom new leaders

OUR District Goals 08: Raise Student Achievement Engaged learning Create/maintain a positive culture in our schools Mandate internal accountability Focus, Focus, Focus Year of and PBS and RTI Retain Staff Think & Be Green

Raise Student Achievement

Engaged learning

Create/maintain a positive culture in our schools

Mandate internal accountability

Focus, Focus, Focus

Year of and PBS and RTI

Retain Staff

Think & Be Green

Do LESS of this… Blaming students and parents Treating teaching and learning as disconnected Ignoring morale and staff concerns Adopting rules that are the opposite of our educational goals Not treating parents as partners Source: Pedro Noguera, Ph.D.

Blaming students and parents

Treating teaching and learning as disconnected

Ignoring morale and staff concerns

Adopting rules that are the opposite of our educational goals

Not treating parents as partners

Source: Pedro Noguera, Ph.D.

Do MORE of this… Understand pressures facing kids Adopt strategies for kids to think about and plan for their future Commit to excellence and equity Teach code switching Prepare kids for life Source: Pedro Noguera, Ph.D.

Understand pressures facing kids

Adopt strategies for kids to think about and plan for their future

Commit to excellence and equity

Teach code switching

Prepare kids for life

Source: Pedro Noguera, Ph.D.

Thank YOU! For attending this CASE conference and caring about our kids! -Mark

For attending this CASE conference and caring about our kids!

-Mark