From the category archives:

school_politics

How To Build A Meeting

by Mark May 18, 2010 cooperative_learning

200 or so technology teachers gather once a month for a meeting … an old fashioned, analog, meeting.
Announcers announce announcements (which were sent out in email beforehand). Managers manage, specialists present their specialities, pointers point out points with pointers, counterpoints are made, facsimiles of discussions are had.
Askers ask questions, but in the active engagement of [...]

Snow Hangover Planned

by Mark February 20, 2010 instruction

There is a proposal to our School Board that recommends extending the school day for a half hour from March 8, 2010 to June 21, 2010. I can’t begin to tell you what a negative impact that will have on learning…

10 Strategies for Any Problem

by Mark February 19, 2010 school_politics

1. Avoid
Doing nothing about something, is doing something. Do something else, clean the kitchen, back-up your data, do errands…(This gives you time to do the other nine strategies.)
2. Think
Sit back and think about the issue, just let your mind go…
3. Research
Look up stuff, go through your old projects, but avoid Google if it takes [...]

Education Loses a Lioness

by Mark January 28, 2010 school_politics

Karen was different. If something was wacky, she would raise her hand and point it out. A radical idea, I know. But a function greatly needed in Education. In private industry, malarkey doesn’t last long. It get killed by people who are better than it. In Education, that’s not the case. The bull wins too much of the time.

Other Duties as Assigned

by Mark January 24, 2010 instruction

One of the many hats I wear is that of an Information Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) at a Title One elementary school outside Washington, D.C.
It’s a little break-fix, a lot of training teachers how to use their tools in teaching and with the kids.
Jenny said yesterday she could never do my job because “the job [...]

Central Office Fail! – Thinking They Are Experts

by Mark January 11, 2010 school_politics

In a small school district in New England, a central office shows the very worst in how to manage things. A parable.

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