Comments on: BLC06: Sustainable Learning Communities http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/ Education and Technology by Steve Dembo Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:39:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Don Lapre Lover http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-53795 Don Lapre Lover Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:19:40 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-53795 SLC is an important topic to educate everybody about, this includes the educators, parents, board members and the community. Each must be a part of it if it is to become a successful reality and I have to reiterate, our country needs it and some states more than others. Thanks for the post. Laura Don Lapre Lover www.lauraglydaband.com laura@lauraglydaband.com SLC is an important topic to educate everybody about, this includes the educators, parents, board members and the community. Each must be a part of it if it is to become a successful reality and I have to reiterate, our country needs it and some states more than others. Thanks for the post.

Laura
Don Lapre Lover
http://www.lauraglydaband.com
laura@lauraglydaband.com

]]> By: Walter http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47937 Walter Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:42:56 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47937 My Small Learning Community at the Queens High School of Teaching in NYC just read "Whats Worth Fighting for in Our Schools", by Hargreaves and Fullen we have an open disscusion on the book and school reform at www.monticohort1.blogspot.com My Small Learning Community at the Queens High School of Teaching in NYC just read “Whats Worth Fighting for in Our Schools”, by Hargreaves and Fullen we have an open disscusion on the book and school reform at http://www.monticohort1.blogspot.com

]]> By: Penny Small http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47899 Penny Small Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:59:43 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47899 I was fortunate enough to listen to Andy speak on sustainable leadership last month here in Australia. What a “ta da” moment-again Andy has analysed and articulately unpacked the core of how schools tick and what directions we can take to provide lifelong learning that is not held to ransom by a political agenda. His comments about literacy in particular blew me away. Why do we focus so much time money and resources on literacy when we get such great results? We know how to teach literacy really well down here. Therefore how do we equalise our learning system to encompass the gifts of each child and provide a successful, enjoyable educational experience for them -so they continue to learn, contribute and succeed through out their lives? If you combine the work of Lane Clark-authentic learning /authentic assessment and Barbara Prashnig -learning styles( The Power of Diversity) -with Andy’s framework for sustainable leadership there is the potential to create a school/system that truly does cater for the learning needs of all kids and foster that love that comes from success. At my school I am using Andy’s work as the blueprint for change. We have begun with the environment and are ensuring that the elements of a NSW Quality teaching Dimension: Quality Learning Environment reflects-Breadth, Depth, Justice, Diversity, Resourcefulness, and Conservation. In NSW we administer standardised literacy and numeracy tests in yrs 3 and 5. They occur next week and will influence funding-so what? It's a hoop jumping exercise that I, as Principal, will adhere to-however it will not dictate a 'teach to test' or 'death by black line master' culture. We’ll keep integrating authentic, engaging learning, rich tasks and real projects combined with ICT and the "f" word-fun! Each day I see change-for the better and real relationships being built on belonging, trust, mutual respect and a love of learning-by my teachers, my students and the wider community. Do yourself a favour-buy the book, attend the conference in November. I was fortunate enough to listen to Andy speak on sustainable leadership last month here in Australia. What a “ta da” moment-again Andy has analysed and articulately unpacked the core of how schools tick and what directions we can take to provide lifelong learning that is not held to ransom by a political agenda.
His comments about literacy in particular blew me away. Why do we focus so much time money and resources on literacy when we get such great results? We know how to teach literacy really well down here. Therefore how do we equalise our learning system to encompass the gifts of each child and provide a successful, enjoyable educational experience for them -so they continue to learn, contribute and succeed through out their lives?
If you combine the work of Lane Clark-authentic learning /authentic assessment and Barbara Prashnig -learning styles( The Power of Diversity) -with Andy’s framework for sustainable leadership there is the potential to create a school/system that truly does cater for the learning needs of all kids and foster that love that comes from success.
At my school I am using Andy’s work as the blueprint for change. We have begun with the environment and are ensuring that the elements of a NSW Quality teaching Dimension: Quality Learning Environment reflects-Breadth, Depth, Justice, Diversity, Resourcefulness, and Conservation.
In NSW we administer standardised literacy and numeracy tests in yrs 3 and 5. They occur next week and will influence funding-so what? It’s a hoop jumping exercise that I, as Principal, will adhere to-however it will not dictate a ‘teach to test’ or ‘death by black line master’ culture. We’ll keep integrating authentic, engaging learning, rich tasks and real projects combined with ICT and the “f” word-fun!
Each day I see change-for the better and real relationships being built on belonging, trust, mutual respect and a love of learning-by my teachers, my students and the wider community.
Do yourself a favour-buy the book, attend the conference in November.

]]> By: Miguel Guhlin http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47851 Miguel Guhlin Wed, 26 Jul 2006 01:59:52 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47851 Steve, thank you for sharing this information! As I read this, I'm reminded of the movie, "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young." One of my favorite parts is what happens when, during training, all the officers are wiped out. The lesson to learn was, "What do you do next? How do you take command if your leader is wiped out and continue the mission?" This sums up sustainability for me and is as true in education as in a combat zone. A bit more appears here... http://www.mguhlin.net/blog/archives/2006/07/entry_1852.htm Take care, Miguel Guhlin http://www.mguhlin.net/blog Steve, thank you for sharing this information! As I read this, I’m reminded of the movie, “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young.” One of my favorite parts is what happens when, during training, all the officers are wiped out. The lesson to learn was, “What do you do next? How do you take command if your leader is wiped out and continue the mission?”

This sums up sustainability for me and is as true in education as in a combat zone.
A bit more appears here…
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog/archives/2006/07/entry_1852.htm

Take care,
Miguel Guhlin
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog

]]> By: Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech » Focus on learning not data http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47403 Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech » Focus on learning not data Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:55:51 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47403 [...] Steve Dembo’s post on Dr. Andy Hargraves keynote has caught my attention. I’ve been involved in supporting teachers establish and build professional learning communities for the past several years. I would be the first to admit that it hasn’t always been smooth. The issues that have been most difficult to deal with has been time and focus. [...] […] Steve Dembo’s post on Dr. Andy Hargraves keynote has caught my attention. I’ve been involved in supporting teachers establish and build professional learning communities for the past several years. I would be the first to admit that it hasn’t always been smooth. The issues that have been most difficult to deal with has been time and focus. […]

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47401 Dean Shareski Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:26:25 +0000 http://www.teach42.com/2006/07/19/blc06-sustainable-learning-communities/#comment-47401 Steve, Our school division has been exploring LC's for quite some time now (6 years in some form or another). We've changed them and adapted them several times and recently with a number of new schools joining the fold with little or no experience, we've tried to move them more towards simply looking at data. I've been somewhat opposed to that model but am glad to see someone speaking out against it. I did a bit of a search on Hargraves but couldn't find much. If you have some links to his ideas, perhaps you could list them. Steve,

Our school division has been exploring LC’s for quite some time now (6 years in some form or another). We’ve changed them and adapted them several times and recently with a number of new schools joining the fold with little or no experience, we’ve tried to move them more towards simply looking at data. I’ve been somewhat opposed to that model but am glad to see someone speaking out against it.

I did a bit of a search on Hargraves but couldn’t find much. If you have some links to his ideas, perhaps you could list them.

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