Liane Benedict

Ken Robinson hits the mark in this TED Talk. It is a bit long but worth the watch. He makes some very good points and is quite humorous.  What the heck are we going to do about this folks? Pay attention…

I just downloaded the 2010 Horizon Report to my Dropbox for near-future reading. However, I did  just read a summary of it  here , written by David Nagel.

“For educators on a quest to help students grow as 21st century learners, this report is a must-read, one-stop source for information about emerging technologies that have the potential to transform education,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN.

The summary shares the critical challenges we face in education, as identified by the report:

1. Inadequate digital media literacy training for teachers;
2. Out of date learning materials and teaching practices;
3. Lack of agreement on how education should evolve, despite widespread agreement that change is needed;
4. A failure of education institutions to adapt to informal education, online education, and home-based learning; and
5. Lack of support for or acknowledgement of forms of learning that usually occur outside the classroom.

I am anxious to read the report.  I am equally as anxious to start doing something about it…its becoming my focus.  There are many people out there much more entrenched in this work, doing amazing things.  I am here to learn from you and with you.    i am wondering how others might prioritize the above mentioned challenges.  Where would you start?

We don’t have a choice, do we? And I believe it starts with the relationships and connections we build. Yes, the start is that simple. We need to create the synergy of innovation, creativity and change through these relationships. We need to stop waiting for someone else to do it.  We spend too much time and energy on things that don’t really matter and not enough time on the things that do. And we always have an excuse for why that is…

Came across an interesting site. Read an excerpt below…

Excerpt from “The 2006 Map of Future Forces: What Has Changed and Does it Matter?” March 4th, 2010 by Jillian Darwish

YES!  In fact this is exactly how large-scale change happens in living systems.  First, a catalyst inspires separate local efforts toward change.  Those local efforts then connect in networks where knowledge and commitment are built.   The strengthening of interactions and dependencies among local efforts results in emergence and as these connections become stronger they create a system of influence that shapes and defines accepted behaviors and practices for the larger population.

Big change begins with the local actions of a few committed people courageously moving in a new direction and connecting with others doing the same.   What other local actions might we connect to encourage the emergence of a world of learning?

So maybe my work in trying to facilitate connections in thinking and learning for those I support is a good thing.  I am a change agent. That is my work. I don’t know all of the answers but I am clear on my purpose…