CEDu 527 Week 6 The Finale

When we first talked about this course I was kind of annoyed that we would have to take it. After all, I'm not pursuing an administrative license. After the six weeks of this course, the readings, discussions, reflections and the game, I can say that I definitely see the value in this course. I have learned a great deal about my role as a member of my school community and the different ways that change occurs. I've learned how change should occur and how I can be a positive factor in that change. I was amazed to find that although I have less than no desire to take on an official leadership role in my school, there are many different areas where I am already serving as a leader and could potentially serve as a leader in the future. It has definitely been an enlightening 6 weeks.

Week 5 The Game

This week we met in a casual atmosphere, which was a nice change of pace, and played a game that simulated the change process a school would go through. It was interesting to work with an entirely different group than i'm used to working with. At first we tried to be very strategic about the game and were very frustrated when that didn't work. We made very minimal progress the first year-not unlike a real school. About half way through the second year, things started to click and we were beginning to make some movement across the board. The interesting thing that we found was that constant communication with all stakeholders was necessary in order to make progress. I think that is the downfall of my own district when attempting to implement change. Things tend to come from the top down and involve a handful or fewer of the other stakeholders.

Week 4 Change Continues

Thinking about my participation in a change for the table was a good exercise. It's not often that I look back over things to evaluate why they did or did not work. It seems like change is the inevitable in education and you just need to hold on and ride it out. Sometimes it's for the better and the benefits are obvious. Other times it's not so obvious. Often I've found myself wondering if it isn't merely change for change sake. As an educator we typically don't have the opportunity to evaluate in such a formal manner, but it would be valuable to do that more often. It definitely would make it easier to determine the reasons why something was a success, near success or out right failure.

Week 3 Cedu 527

Change This week we read and discussed change and the need to accept and address it in our instruction. The Beloit list was quite an eye opener. Thinking of all the things that this year's college freshmen take for granted and don't remember living without. Times, they definitely have changed over the past 18 years! Change will continue to happen, especially from a technology stand point. We need to be willing and prepared to adapt our teaching styles to meet those changes.

we read the Who moved My Cheese story. I have read it before and find it to be a reminder to lighten up. I find too that it tends to be my mantra. It seems that as soon as I start to be comfortable with something and feel like I have a "groove," it changes. That is especially true with respect to how special education services are provided in school districts. Don't get used to it because it's going to change...

I think our future explorations into dealing with change will be enlightening and beneficial.

Week 2 Cedu 521

Here it is Week 2 and already I'm behind. I'm a little late with the Blogging this week...funny story, or I'm sure it will be in 10-15 years. I needed a new desktop computer and about 2 weeks ago Best Buy had the one I wanted on sale, so my husband and I went to get it. All the while I kept telling my husband (we'll call him Mike) that I needed to clean a bunch of things off the old computer and back them up, and under no circumstances was he to switch them before I had a chance to do it. I also warned him it would be a few weeks before I had time. Well, last Saturday I got home from 13 hours of riding on a cold school bus and judging 4 rounds of forensics competitions--you guessed it, he had switched the computers. Not only will the old computer not boot up so I can get everything off of it (including my action research, but our wireless internet wasn't working. Well, a new router and a new receiver later, I have the two desk tops working and 2 laptops going, but one laptop is still crippled. No luck getting info. off the old computer either. Mike's still alive, but it might be temporary. Maybe that's one of my leadership skills. When there was a mess everyone looked to me to clean up the mess. Gee thanks.

I have found that people I work with see me as compassionate, understanding and organized. They look to me to solve their technology problems, which is great because I enjoy solving the problems and explaining to them how they can do it themselves. i think a lot of times people think I'm organized because I use Excel a lot to keep the things in my life organized. Lists I can manipulate and merge. I also use my outlook calendar to keep all aspects of my life merged. I have trained the members of my department how to use Outlook calendar to schedule meetings and invite/remind attendees. They are amazed at how simple it makes things.