EDC 668 - Week 11 Blog

How has the course been effective in broadening your perspective and skill set for managing technology for change?

My perspective has been broadened a lot. We read a few books that really add value to what we "think" we know as individuals -- Next (by Michael Lewis) & Everything Bad is Good for You (by Steve Johnson). In Next, the author describes a series of technological "ah-ha" moments that make the very makers question what happened to technology. We are ever-so dependent on the technology yet we take it for granted. In many ways we haven't pushed it to its fullest potential to transform lives. In Everything Bad is Good for You, the author presses a different perspective of all things that we once found to be inherently evil could actually be a "gift" of learning, communication, discovery, and ..... EDUCATION! As scary as it sounds to incorporate video games into school minutes, the author gives the perspective of the "other side" in that not all things we once perceived as bad should be taken at face value.

Our class discussions have helped me see ways that I have the power of leadership and the ability to change others by example, encouragement, and my steadfast approach to modeling. When others see success, they follow. If we must become a global nation, we certainly must see past the generic judgements, bell schedules, silly formatting (APA... yes!), and seemingly religious tactics those who began running our education system have come up with.

Finally... as this was one of our assignments... if I were president, I would change education drastically (although, I really couldn't because it's a state-run legislation)... so maybe if I were the Queen of the universe I would most certainly:

Change schools to become more progressive - meaning they study actual-life trades as they gather a love for learning with purpose, more internships in high school, starting students out on an early pace-system in middle school, do away with short classes and silly bell schedule, eliminate state-mandated testing, NCLB, and anything that inhibits our kids from actually learning like school was "designed" (although poorly) to do.

Change is in the making. One OMET group at a time. Thanks Melissa, Gary, Paul, Bill, and Margaret for your incredible wisdom in this process of tranformative thinking. I have learned a lot this year and as Margaret has said before though... we have not done our jobs until we take our learning and multiply it. That is the true test of learning.

Peace sign.