I guess there are many who see teaching/learning as a matter of doing what people already know how to do well. We spend so much time searching for (and acquiring) the best programs, the best ideas, the best materials, the best resources, and more- more is better, right? And still we continue to wonder what will make the learning deeper. But being the best in education is more a process of inquiry and innovation rather than “accumulating” resources and skills and doing more!

Our leadership team has started to have some brutal conversations focusing on what could and should be different… we have believed we were traveling down that yellow brick road only to find that we had a road map that was so busy and complicated that the directions themselves hindered our destination of deep learning. Since October we have started to bypass the “known” milestones of past success by engaging in fierce conversations about learning and the “unknown” path.

It has not been easy. There are forces that make it easier or more difficult to act in “new” ways in an organizational setting. Adjusted learning and new thinking calls for continuous openness to learning through action, brutal feedback, as well as deep, honest reflections. We have spent hours in small groups teasing out and processing our thoughts, ideas and beliefs, holding onto our sacred cows or allowing the slaughter. In this often painful and challenging path, we are truly integrating work and learning, and emulating a true learning culture.

Nowadays, our leadership meetings are starting to present authentic learning and leading opportunities through our conduct in open, exploratory, and inquiry-orientated manner. We are far from achieving an ideal culture of learning, but at least serious steps are being taken in that direction with substantial positive consequences of building understanding in our organization.

How brutal are the conversations at your team meetings? What enhances new thinking, innovations and learning? What hinders leadership for learning?

Even without definite position openings, I somehow find myself participating in both formal and informal interviews as candidates pass through town! While unexpected, nothing was more mind blowing than my first virtual recruiting experience. It all started with a simple (free) Skype conversation- a teacher at the end of a school day in his classroom in conversation with a principal on the other side of the world!

Our dialogue began but a parent who entered the classroom interrupted us. Parent and teacher discussed how things were going and she thanked him for everything he had done for her child. I was able to follow the conversation! The parent departed and the teacher and I were back to our conversation. By now I had already seen and heard the respect and appreciation between the teacher and parent.

In the background I could see the classroom that contained the context of the teacher’s craft. Our conversation along with the capability of Skype naturally evolved into a virtual tour of the classroom. I could see how different this space was and how it enhanced the learning described so vividly by the teacher.

An idea came…I was asked whether I would be interested in watching a lesson “tomorrow”- via Skype. Well, of course I was…but I added, I was equally interested in talking to a few students after the lesson!

On arrival at school the next morning, I received per email a rubric and a number of Internet sites related to the lesson I would follow later that day. The power point presentation that would be used during the lesson did not make it through the email. Too bad!

I invited a few colleagues to be part of the virtual “lesson”, “learning”, “observation”- what would we actually call this???
After connecting via (free) Skype we sat and watched…taking notes…for 35 minutes. But the power and WOW came after the lesson while talking with the students. These two students clearly articulated their learning as we continued to ask them about their learning. The main points included:
We are learning about the freedom fighters…that people have choices. We have learned about the traits of freedom fighters. Some of these people are famous like Gandhi or Malcolm X…but we are researching some of our own “heroes” who have similar traits….It’s about non-violent communication…
This year we are learning new ways of learning…our teacher doesn’t ever want to tell us, he wants us to THINK about it. He asks a lot of questions…the big questions are not yes/no questions, they are questions that make us think, they usually do not have right or wrong answers…we have learnt to listen to the opinions of other people…

These students were obviously emotionally involved in their learning. Their reflections revealed to us something much deeper about their learning than a teacher could in any interview. This was real! This was instant! This was different!

That evening I followed up with another (free) Skype reflection- this time with the teacher. I asked him what the students did well, what they learned and the evidence he used. He discussed what hindered the learning. He shared the changes he could have made to enhance/deepen the learning. This teacher demonstrated the ability to deeply reflect on best practice and clearly articulated his own learning.

It is clear that this teacher is a risk taker, comfortable with technology (he used a SMART board), has an open door to his classroom, invites everyone in, and wants to talk about, reflect on, and learn from his work. You can tell all of this instantly without asking one question!

And what have I learnt?

We can engage in different hiring strategies by observing student learning in their classrooms AND tap into student reflections AND follow up with teacher reflection and, and, and…this is endless…and VERY exciting!!!

Finally, my new tech learning is how to RECORD all of the above Skyping!!!

If we can virtually step into any teacher’s classroom, do we need to go recruiting?
I wonder whether recruiters and/or applicants see any real alphas or deltas to the choices we have when it comes to hiring strategies.
What are the essential elements when we go searching for talent?

I can’t recall in the past as a young(er) teacher ever being totally “blown away” by conferences….but it has happened numerous times now that I have come home feeling WOWed (and overwhelmed) by new learning. Is this a sign of the times? (and I am wondering whether our students get WOWed on a daily basis, but that’s another topic).

We educators have a huge responsibility to our students and learning for an unknown future. This is not an easy responsibility. We seem to be learning “just-in-time” skills that are outdated as soon as we learn them! We continue to fumble along…we can only guess! But the more we are aware of how this world is unfolding and evolving, the better our guess will be. And I am afraid that if we are not guessing right, we will be deeply hindering the learning.

So what will it take to move out of our industrial aging schools and to ascertain a bold learning environment that fully embraces the technological changes upon us? How long can we wait? How can we be smart about what we know and what we do not know?

I have returned from the Learning 2.0 conference to my own safe space to ponder! Technology is changing everything. While I do not believe that I need to be a technology geek (by the way, I love their humour), I do know I must be a passionate appreciator of technology. I also know I must re-imagine the learning and my work as an educator. We must develop a new mandate to pursue. What will that be?

Jumping ahead to find the cutting edge, here are some questions I am messing with:

• How can we brand our school?
• What innovative ideas can we develop?
• How can we re-imagine our role as educators?
• What part of our industrial aging school can we dismiss?
• How can our learning hub truly support and inspire learning?
• How can we use technology to truly blast learning into 21st century?
• How can we ensure bold learning?
• How can we take parents on this ride to the future?

Can you add to the vision? Please share any creative ideas that may help us (re)design a brand new school of thought and action?

Technorati tag: learn2cn

Of late I have become particularly interested in the concept of distributed leadership. It is one of those terms that gets kicked around and can mean different things to different people.

The distribution of leadership, as I see it, is the invitation to look outward towards shared responsibility and engaging the leadership of others. I believe it is about opening up the stage for teachers to creatively explore and participate outside the  “isolated classroom of learning”. It’s about what we can learn from each other. But ultimately, it is about sharing and looking for learning together and responding to that learning. What it takes is innovation related to improving learning.

The lone principal or leader simply cannot do it all, neither does she possess all the skills and knowledge necessary. In our school for 2007-08, we are embracing an evolving model of greater distribution of leadership. What will that look like? We hope it will look different. For the moment, we have invited teachers to the circle of leadership, to explore possibilities, and to become partners in learning of targeted projects. Here is an incentive to develop a new “product”….

I would like to take the concept of distributive leadership a step further…to an innovative level … I believe we could have a break through of ideas if we can encourage each other to tap into abilities and attitudes that matter most- those that are born out of intrinsic motivation and pure passion- these are the designers of education for the future. It’s about having everyone focusing on their individual added-value!

It takes the distribution and contribution of many talents, skills, knowledge and leadership to deepen learning and sustain successful schools. Can distributed leadership be a force to “flatten” our school?

I’m all for developing vision, taking risks and conceptualizing what could be.
Who knows? It could just powerfully transform our school.

What do you know that could help or inspire us into deeper action?