In the “data-driven” world today, school leaders are always in search of data that will support their decisions. In many cases… no… in all cases (at least I have yet to find any instances in which it isn’t), the “data” comes from a test. I’m not going to consider the potential problems with tests (including Read More
Category: Leadership
Another View of Appropriate, Proper, and Reasonable
In this blog, I have reasoned educational technology must be appropriate, proper, and reasonable. As I think about this more, it seems there are three separate and related, but largely independent groups that must give input into the management of information technology in school organizations. Steering Committees are diverse groups comprising representatives from across the Read More
Wickedness and Planning
I found this conclusion to a piece I wrote about 2 years ago… seems timely now: School leaders are encouraged to develop plans for continuous improvement (Cohen-Vogel, Cannata, Rutledge, & Socol, 2016) and they are also encouraged to use data to inform their decisions (Saltman & Means, 2017). Many of the problems school leaders seek Read More
“Why are we doing this?”
Educators are very familiar with the question that gives the title of the post. We hear students ask it… frequently. We speculate at their motivation: “Are they trying to distract me?” “Are they trying to get out of doing work?” “Are they challenging my authority?” are all reasonable interpretations of the question. Leaders are familiar Read More
Thoughts on “Education for Misinformation”
I’ve been kicking around the concept of “red herrings” for a few years, at least since I started to recognize them. I attribute this skill to the habits I developed while a doctoral student, but we all know how “reliable” such stories are about ourselves. For me, red herrings always appeared in our school structures, Read More
Tired Thoughts After Reading About Design Research
I finished all of the books on my “to read” pile, and I just haven’t gotten to placing another order yet… I maintain my list on Amazon, but have committed to buying all of my books from independent book sellers, so the stream of new to me books has been interrupted. Fortunately, my copy of Read More
What “Stay in Your Lane” Says About Your Leadership
“Stay in your lane” is the advice leaders give to those who they have “empowered” to take leadership positions. When committee chairs or other individuals begin to make suggestions or ask questions that are perceived to be beyond their duties or the charge of the committee they are told to “stay in your lane.” Ostensibly Read More
Education and Science Are Political… and That is A Good Thing
My social media feeds recently have been filled with calls that “you” not be political. I am included in the “you” because I am an educator (retired from almost 30 years in K-12 and continuing to teach and support teachers in community colleges). I am also included in the “you” as I have a background Read More
Lessons from Remote Teaching
In the months since “remote” teaching became a “thing,” the tension between educators and technology professionals seems to have become more obvious. I believe this arises in port form the fact that many who were successfully avoiding technology in their teaching no longer have that option. This hassled me to revisit the “technology planning cycle” Read More
Leaderspeak: “Everyone is going to have voice.”
I am attempting to refresh the thread in which I give my (clearly cynical) interpretations of terms and phrases I have heard form leaders over the decades. This phrase is tossed around with abandon by many leaders and educators. Ostensibly, it is used to communicate the idea that the speaker is open to ideas and Read More