ALLIES
During a recent graduate class discussion of how to improve training, equipment and tech support for teachers to use with their students, the participants were planning ways to make their needs known. They discussed who they should bring their case to. One participant then stated “Admin, superintendent, not a teacher - it’s all the same to me!!”
I responded “I would suggest that one knows one's allies. [One of the district-level administrators discussed] is one of the people who decide what kinds of things will be taught in these [graduate] classes. She, along with [another administrator] are allies to those who want more professional development offered in what you all have been asking for. I know that they agree with the vast majority of things teachers taking this course have been saying. They also are doing as much as possible in letting others know your desires and needs. I had invited [these administrators] to monitor these discussions. As I previously have told all of you, I recommend one know one's allies.”
Mark Wagner in his workshop "Learning to Network & Networking to Learn: Beyond The Tools..." located at http://networktolearn.wikispaces.com/tenaya states that one way to cultivate change is to develop a network of educational leaders who are willing to
· Make connections with each other and make attempts to find others who would be willing to join them in dialogue. These connections also can become your personal learning network (PLN)
· Make conversation with and contributions to others in your PLN.
· Make plans with those in your PLN to help you all achieve your goals to improve learning opportunities for your students. Find the best-practice research and the examples needed.
· Make requests to the powers-that-be. This is where you need your allies in your PLN. There is strength in numbers, in persistence and in a great vision.
I’ll leave you with two questions:
1) Who is part of your PLN?
2) (The question Mark asked his workshop participants) How has your personal learning network impacted you, your work, or your students?
During a recent graduate class discussion of how to improve training, equipment and tech support for teachers to use with their students, the participants were planning ways to make their needs known. They discussed who they should bring their case to. One participant then stated “Admin, superintendent, not a teacher - it’s all the same to me!!”
I responded “I would suggest that one knows one's allies. [One of the district-level administrators discussed] is one of the people who decide what kinds of things will be taught in these [graduate] classes. She, along with [another administrator] are allies to those who want more professional development offered in what you all have been asking for. I know that they agree with the vast majority of things teachers taking this course have been saying. They also are doing as much as possible in letting others know your desires and needs. I had invited [these administrators] to monitor these discussions. As I previously have told all of you, I recommend one know one's allies.”
Mark Wagner in his workshop "Learning to Network & Networking to Learn: Beyond The Tools..." located at http://networktolearn.wikispaces.com/tenaya states that one way to cultivate change is to develop a network of educational leaders who are willing to
· Make connections with each other and make attempts to find others who would be willing to join them in dialogue. These connections also can become your personal learning network (PLN)
· Make conversation with and contributions to others in your PLN.
· Make plans with those in your PLN to help you all achieve your goals to improve learning opportunities for your students. Find the best-practice research and the examples needed.
· Make requests to the powers-that-be. This is where you need your allies in your PLN. There is strength in numbers, in persistence and in a great vision.
I’ll leave you with two questions:
1) Who is part of your PLN?
2) (The question Mark asked his workshop participants) How has your personal learning network impacted you, your work, or your students?
posted by Rich Levine | 5:22 PM
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