School:
Don't talk to anyone while you work. Don't copy the work of those who've done the same thing before you. Make sure you have all the stuff you need to know in your head.
Business or Work:
Talk to everyone, try to copy what they do and build on it, know how to find out the information you need. Be ingenious!
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Teachers reaching the end of their careers are often those who are most excited about the changes and opportunities in education. Is this because they are finally being released of the shackles of conformity that they have had their whole career? Is there a way to liberate teachers from this before they reach 60?
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Some people think technology is just about doing what we do already quicker, neater or with more colour. It's more useful to think about learning in terms of what we can do now that we couldn't do before thanks to technology, building, space, more thinking.
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Vocabulary is a heck of a barrier to making changes : 'Not School' had huge effects on the performance of kids because the learning wasn't learning. Learners were researchers.
"Is this because they are finally being released of the shackles of conformity that they have had their whole career? Is there a way to liberate teachers from this before they reach 60?"
From personal experience I can tell you that it's also because you don't give a damn about the hierarchy by the time you reach 60 - especially if you know you've been doing a good job. It's like the Colgate ring of confidence - which you may be too young to remember :-)- people don't bother you when you do crazy things.
Posted by: chris | February 23, 2007 at 05:04 PM
I enjoyed reading the comparison or not comparison between work and school. It is so right on. The more I start to read all of these blogs and entries revolving around reforming the way we think about school the more I want to lead the reform. Mr. Heppel has some spot on ideas.
Brian
Posted by: Brian | February 24, 2007 at 05:10 AM