Saturday, February 21, 2009
AASA Tours
Even though my wife was thoroughly disappointed that Goldie Hawn was ill and wasn't able to speak at the opening session, she was pleasantly surprised with The Giant Redwoods and Sausalito Tour. In the spirit of Ian Jukes and providing for digital learners, I took my video camera along and put together a digital landscape of the Muir Woods. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I am "walking on sunshine" when it comes to covering my blogging expectations for the day. Tomorrow, its Art and Wine in Napa Valley.
AASA Author's Breakfast
I had the privilege of attending the AASA Author's breakfast at 7:00 AM today at the San Francisco Marriott. As a contributing author to one of the books selected as for the AASA Professional library (click here), we were treated to round table discussions with the other authors.
For all you AASA members, don't forget to check out the benefits of membership in AASA Professional Library. (details here).
The breakfast was sponsored by Corwin Press and free books were distributed to the visitors that stopped by.
For all you AASA members, don't forget to check out the benefits of membership in AASA Professional Library. (details here).
The breakfast was sponsored by Corwin Press and free books were distributed to the visitors that stopped by.
Friday, February 20, 2009
What a Team!!
As I listened to Patrick Lencioni talk about teams this morning, I reflected on what a great team it takes to pull off the AASA National Conference on Education. I have been truly impressed with President Randy Collins, Executive Director Dan Domenech, and the whole AASA team. I knew the team was very good, however, I did not realize how organized and to what level of detail they followed until today. The morning started with the Superintendent of the Year line up and rehearsal. Everything was well planned and last minute changes were handled with minimum commotion. Herding a bunch of school superintendents is like herding a bunch of cats, however, the AASA team did a great job. Then the Superintendent of the Year luncheon was a wonderful event. To see the legends like Rudy Crews, Bill McNeal and other former Superintendents of the Year sharing war stories at the lunch table was a lot of fun.
Patrick Lencioni talked about 5 dysfunctions of teams. I like to think that Executive Director Dan Domenech has assembled a team that exhibits the 5 components of great teams. You can tell when working with the AASA team that there is trust within the team. You can tell that Dan encourages diverse opinions. The commitment to the organization is evident in all that is done. Also, you see accountability in that everyone expects a job well done and corrects mistakes when they are made. The job well done is very visible with the daily on-line accounts of the conference. Jay Goldman and his team are doing a terrific job. As a presenter, I can also say that Molly O'Neill and the conference planning staff left no detail to chance!!! Finally, the results speak for themselves. General sessions have gone off flawlessly and we have had outstanding speakers and education sessions.
The team is very creative. I am looking forward to the weekly webinars concerning the stimulus package. Yes, I think Patrick Lencioni could use the AASA team as an example of a high functioning team. His five components of dysfunctional team are certainly reversed as you look at the AASA team - trust, seeking diverse opinions, commitment, accountability and results are very positive and apparent. Hats off to Dan and the team for a great conference. If you see team members on the final day of the conference, let them know what a great job they have done!!!
Patrick Lencioni talked about 5 dysfunctions of teams. I like to think that Executive Director Dan Domenech has assembled a team that exhibits the 5 components of great teams. You can tell when working with the AASA team that there is trust within the team. You can tell that Dan encourages diverse opinions. The commitment to the organization is evident in all that is done. Also, you see accountability in that everyone expects a job well done and corrects mistakes when they are made. The job well done is very visible with the daily on-line accounts of the conference. Jay Goldman and his team are doing a terrific job. As a presenter, I can also say that Molly O'Neill and the conference planning staff left no detail to chance!!! Finally, the results speak for themselves. General sessions have gone off flawlessly and we have had outstanding speakers and education sessions.
The team is very creative. I am looking forward to the weekly webinars concerning the stimulus package. Yes, I think Patrick Lencioni could use the AASA team as an example of a high functioning team. His five components of dysfunctional team are certainly reversed as you look at the AASA team - trust, seeking diverse opinions, commitment, accountability and results are very positive and apparent. Hats off to Dan and the team for a great conference. If you see team members on the final day of the conference, let them know what a great job they have done!!!
The Digital Divide
Ian Jukes made some provocative statements today. Here is a short list of my favorites.
Many of this year's presenters have pounded home the idea that we are in an era of unbelievable change and the changes are only going to get faster and faster.
If educators don't try to catch up with the students technologically and learn to harness the tools they use daily - we are going to lose more and more students.
Gives you something to think about.
- Speaking about the great digital divide between generations he said, "Schools are doing a great job of preparing students for the year 1960!"
- Speaking about teachers and their teaching styles he said, "When the going gets tough the tough get traditional."
- "Digital kids think differently."
- "Today's students are not disabled, they are other abled."
- "Today's students will have 10 - 17 careers (not jobs - careers) ............by the time they are 35."
Many of this year's presenters have pounded home the idea that we are in an era of unbelievable change and the changes are only going to get faster and faster.
If educators don't try to catch up with the students technologically and learn to harness the tools they use daily - we are going to lose more and more students.
Gives you something to think about.
The Challenges of Educating Digital Natives!
Ian Jukes is a dynamic, passionate, thought provoking and convincing speaker. Ian spoke to us about some incredible new brain research regarding the emergence of a digital culture. This research supports that chronic bombardment of digital experiences changes the way kids receive, process, interpret and learn new information. This has amazing implications for the way we design and implement instruction. His message was clear. The children in our classrooms are more prepared with 21st century skills than the teachers who are responsible for educating them.
Brain research is not new to our field. For many years we have been trying to understand the implications of this research in terms of differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences. In our district we are finally beginning to see the results of this research and the impact it has on instructional practices and student learning. But Ian is right. This new brain research implies that the brain is highly adaptable and the intensity and duration of experiences can change students’ neuro-procesing powers enhancing visual memory and visual processing. Our students think graphically. They are not auditory or text based learners. They are visual or visual kinesthetic learners.
This raises so many questions for us as we move forward. We have asked ourselves, how do we provide our students with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century? According to Ian, they already have these skills. So the real question is, how do we prepare our teachers to understand the needs of the 21st century learner and adjust their instructional practices so that students can capitalize on the skills that they already possess? How are our universities preparing new teachers to address this new generation of “digital first language learners”? How do we help our seasoned teachers to understand that students think and process information differently and their instructional practices must respond to the needs of this new generation of learners?
I found this session very enlightening and validating but left with more questions than answers. Ian challenged my thinking and will change the conversations I will have in my district. The implications of this new research impacts curriculum, instruction and assessment practices and cannot be ignored.
Brain research is not new to our field. For many years we have been trying to understand the implications of this research in terms of differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences. In our district we are finally beginning to see the results of this research and the impact it has on instructional practices and student learning. But Ian is right. This new brain research implies that the brain is highly adaptable and the intensity and duration of experiences can change students’ neuro-procesing powers enhancing visual memory and visual processing. Our students think graphically. They are not auditory or text based learners. They are visual or visual kinesthetic learners.
This raises so many questions for us as we move forward. We have asked ourselves, how do we provide our students with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century? According to Ian, they already have these skills. So the real question is, how do we prepare our teachers to understand the needs of the 21st century learner and adjust their instructional practices so that students can capitalize on the skills that they already possess? How are our universities preparing new teachers to address this new generation of “digital first language learners”? How do we help our seasoned teachers to understand that students think and process information differently and their instructional practices must respond to the needs of this new generation of learners?
I found this session very enlightening and validating but left with more questions than answers. Ian challenged my thinking and will change the conversations I will have in my district. The implications of this new research impacts curriculum, instruction and assessment practices and cannot be ignored.
Networking Night Life
The AASA Conference bring a number of opportunities to those who attend. Networking with colleagues is probably as important as any. The Wyoming Association of School Administrators dined at John's Grill on Thursday evening. This is an annual event that is always well planned by the Executive Director Dan Stephan. It provides an opportunity to address issues, personal and professional, in a relaxed setting while discussing the Conference. For a State that only has 48 public school superintendents, we are well represented at the Conference. Tonight I am looking forward to attending and networking with superintendents at the Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota Reception at the Marriott.
Photo: Former Wyoming State Superintendents of the Year, Mike Hejtmanek and Dan Espeland enjoy the San Francisco spirit after dinning at John's Grill.
State Superintendents Recognized
Forty-eight State Superintendents of the Year were recognized in this morning's general session. Beverly Hall from Atlanta Public Schools was named the AASA Superintendent of the year.I believe this celebration is as important as anything we do here at the National Conference. It compliments Donna Brazile's concept on finding the good and praising it. Celebrating success is a research based requirement in promoting lasting change. I was especially proud of my state superintendent of the year, Kevin Mitchell. Kevin works in the same county as I do and it is heart warming to see a colleague share the stage with other esteemed superintendents.
We all dare to dream and I am sure 48 superintendents lived out part of their dreams today. Well done ladies and gentlemen!
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