The book Schools That Learn by Peter Senge aims to capture the challenges of education. Education has become a concern in the United States. Schools are trying to fix these concerns by using strategies which may not be working. For example standardized testing, changing curriculum and classifying more students as Learning Disabled. These strategies don’t seem to be working over time. There needs to be a better way and better understanding of what children, schools and communities need to succeed. This book discussed a systematic change, better models and practices using
five learning disciplines of personal mastery, shared vision, mental models, team learning and systems thinking.
One of the disciplines I related to in Schools that Learn is Personal Mastery. I feel I am always trying to seek self improvement in all areas of my life. For example joining T.E.A.M. was to broaden my horizons as a teacher. It is important to set goals and try to reach them. Isn’t that what education is all about?
Shared Vision may be the most important of Senge's five disciplines It is bonding with people with a shared purpose and goal. Team learning encourages cooperation and interaction. It encourages sharing thoughts and their perspectives. I find it very rewarding and productive when I have brainstorming sessions with my peers. During these sessions are when my most creative ideas come out.
Senge feels that using technology during these sessions is not as valuable as meeting in person. Even though I find communicating through technology beneficial and convenient I agree with him. For myself, I find it more productive and easier to communicate in person. However, videoconferences or classroom to classroom conferencing is a valuable learning tool. Collaborative projects with classes from other schools, state, countries can be a wonderful experience for students and teachers.
After reading Schools That Learn I understand education is a multifaceted system of learning. It is not just the classroom but and intricate web of systems which facilitates the whole learning experience. Senge believes in order to be effective, solutions must be developed in each school and not by “specialists” who are out of touch with the individual school and outside of the classroom. I agree with that and feel communities should be involved in what is needed in their schools, their community. The school I am teaching in would benefit greatly if parents and community members were more involved. If we could get the school as a the heart of the community I feel there would be vast improvement in academics, camaraderie, and positive socialization.
Finally, Senge, quoting Stephen Brookfield, suggests when doing their own reflection, teachers (should) view their practice through four different lenses: their own, their students' eyes, their colleagues . . . and theoretical literature."
6 comments:
What a great response! I agreed with so much that you've written about. To me the most important thing you mentioned is about personal mastery and setting/achieving goals to continue learning. For myself, as a lifelong learner, I couldn't agree more - I am always trying to improve myself, just as you are :) Nice work!
I like that you reminded us about personal reflection. I think it's good practice for all of us to be looking at our work though our own eyes, our students' eyes, our colleagues eyes and theoretical literature. I know that each sees something very different from what the other sees. Too often teachers hit a comfort zone and never evolve as an educator.
So many great points made in your entry! As much as technology has made it convenient to meet with anybody anywhere, I am also a true believer of in-person contact and communication. Our students are spending more time online than ever before, I wonder if that will have a negative result in the lack of interpersonal skills in the future. Yet, I think there is a balance - to appreciate the benefits of technology without forsaking the value of what makes us human.
I liked your comments about the main points Senge makes in his book. I also agree that Personal Mastery is a worthwhile goal for educators to start with, since what better way to teach lifelong learning than to model it for our students ourselves? It's very hard to "teach" someone to be a lifelong learner, its easier to show them. Having made a major career change and having many people question why I would do such a thing, I like to think that pursuing the goal of lifelong learning leads us down many different paths as our lives continually change and that's not necessarily a bad thing!
Personal Mastery sounds like an IEP goal which is so appropriate for a Special Education Teacher - LOL. In my own humble opinion, I think that each person should have their own Individualized Education Program and that they should surround themselves with a network of family and friends that will help to support that specific person in their endeavors to reach their goals. This shared vision will help people to establish collaborations and connections and help to improve the community of teaching and learning.
I agree with what all of you said, but in my school Farryl, they try to avoid classification as much as possible. Actually succeeding in getting a student classified is like winning a war against the school system, when all we're trying to do is help the kid...
Christine, I like what you said about everyone having an IEP. My AP proposed the idea about a year ago, that every student should have what they called an IIP (Individual Improvement Plan). Basically, it was the same thing though...goals, objectives, scores. It never really took off because of the overwhelming amount of work, and the fact that in doing so it made our school look even more like everyone was in Special Education (23% of our students are classified; however, as I said earlier the city doesn't like to classify those that need services, so the actual numbers are much higher.). They did make the staff write our professional goals and objectives. After completing the "Schools That Learn" readings, I can see how if they had done something with them, that "Shared Vision" would have benefited the school (staff and students alike) greatly.
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