There is hope for change despite our reluctance, despite the challenges, despite not always knowing where to start…
Cultural change is changing social connections, how we do things, policies and guiding constructs, maybe even power distribution.
Here is an example of a cultural change that could happen in my professional practice: Our school’s view shifts from technology not just being an add on but as essential in our educational practices. –>All members of our school community will be a part of this shift, we will create it and negotiate it as we go. The use of technology will become integral to the way we do things and it will adapt through the people who use it. The school community will undergo “cultural change”.
Cultural change through my inquiry:
If you think of classrooms as who is on the INSIDE vs. who is on the OUTSIDE, I think parents very quickly would view themselves as outside. The culture of my school is very collegial, open and very friendly. Parents are in and out of our school and classrooms at all times of day. (At least the ones who can be around.) These parents champion the efforts of teachers, support students and participate in the school’s day-to-day workings. What about those who are still on the “outside”? They cannot be present, make contact, see for themselves what going on on the “inside”.
My inquiry, that of creating a class website/blog, can shift that “inside-outside” position of parents. Making our “inside” experiences visible via the internet can open up lines of communication to those on the “outside”. As far as my inquiry goes, I haven’t decided to which extent the parent-teacher or student-teacher dialogue will actually happen on the site. I like the idea of leaving a reply though I feel some coaching about how to use this function appropriately would be in order. (For example, if a parent had a concern, they should email me rather than post in the blog.)
So, on a limited basis, if my website was to simply share information I still think it would effect positive change. It might be a place to start. My over-arching goal would be: bringing those on the “outside” to the “inside”, creating a culture of open communication and sharing.
Cultural change at my school:
“21st Century Learning” is coming at us whether we like it or not. I can see some teachers being thrilled, while others will be desperately full of dread. As far as I see it, here is what can’t happen: teachers working in solitary rather than solidarity. –>My District needs to support teachers beyond sending us new devices without any instruction/ways of implementing their use. –>My school needs to band together and those who feel competent with technology need to give a hand to those who do not; we need to learn together. –>My classroom needs to become a laboratory where my students and I are trying new things–with technology. If everyone involved in education actually participates in the “change” and the support for “change” is there, it will happen. If not, there will be a number of educators who can adapt on their own and the rest?? The technologically-able will influence the others but change in this way would be gradual and not nearly as powerful as if everyone worked together.
Big Ideas:
The idea of a unity to a composite unity…we are connected and constantly interacting with our environment/eachother. (Humberto Maturana/Autopoesis)
We initiate and sustain connections in order to survive (Structural Coupling)
We are linked through language (Linguistic Cognitive Domain)
Hey Jorden,
First, I just wanted to say it has been great working with and getting to know you in our inquiry group this week! We were able to look at some great options and I think we all made some progress with our topics and which medium of technology we are going to use. I am looking forward to being able to sit as a group and get started on these sites!
I really enjoyed reading this post on cultural change and the insights you made in connection to the cultural change of your teaching practice through the incorporation of technology. You will certainly be changing the culture of your classroom using your website as a tool for communication! Hopefully after you show some colleagues the site you will create in this course you will be able to inspire some who are more reluctant to use technology. Helping to change the culture of your school… definitely revolutionary!
~ Michelle
Hi Jorden,
Some interesting thoughts, I always imagined that schools go through changes, but the notion of cultural change which includes the infusion of technology in schools is an interesting notion. Can we get this change without policies regarding technology? It was one of the questions that came up when I read what you wrote. We have some technology, but no policy. So are we going under a change as you suggest? I have more questions than I can write.
I like your explaining the culture as inside/outside. Just by your personality, you would be inclusive to all people. Reaching out to parents to participate in their child’s learning through a website is a great way. If parents who are working don’t have the luxury to be physically present, the website can bring people together. Since you are a French immersion school you probably don’t have alot of ESL students or parents, but I can see having a teacher’s website translated in parts to help connect with ESL parents.
Your comment on giving us devices without helping us understand how to use them is so true. I’ve been given a PC and one day the tech department will install different software, but there is no dialog or instructions or even a FYI. When you get your library, you will see a lot of this happening with updates to your database. Back in the day the tech department used to all updates in the summer and when you came back, all your favourites or anything left on the desktop would be gone. No warning, things would just happen. I think they, the techs are all apart of this education model, but they don’t seem to think so.
One of the things my principal keeps saying that the gap between teachers who are okay with technology and those who aren’t will start to widen, if not already. So I think it is administrative problem that they need to solve. Having a tech policy with goals and pro-d would be the first steps. Our tech VP left our school this year, so I don’t know what will happen.
If you ever get to be librarian and I’m still around, don’t hesitate to email me for questions or advice.
It would be a true change in the course of education if all educators considered digital technologies as inseparable from learning rather than an add-on. I imagine your online site connecting with parents will include items that draw the parents to the site. I don’t know what the circumstances for your site will be, but will you be able to put up photos of kids in the class? What about examples of their work for parents to see? Something of a personal touch will keep parents checking in.