Right or wrong, the word “coalition” carries with it sinister connotations these days in our run-up to the May 2nd Federal Election, but taken to its true definition, the concept of a coalition has enormous potential for all of us connecting here in the digital space. I feel part of a digital community that has dozens of regular contributors and, from time to time, swells to hundreds and even thousands of people who are passionate about education.
Speaking from the standpoint of my own learning network, we are an eclectic mix. We are students, teachers, school-based administrators, district administrators, elected officials, ministry personnel, parents and others in the community. The core group of my network is based in British Columbia, but it also draws on expertise from across Canada and around the world. Within the group are some who are very connected to formal structures of influence (union leadership, parent council chairs, etc.), yet it also includes others who provide valued insights from the viewpoint of unrelated fields. Our group has both public and private school staff working side-by-side to improve our system. We also have the attention of traditional media outlets which follow our thoughts and discussions. We are quite a group!
Nevertheless, as we have all mused about the system over the last several months, I realize how much we do have in common in our thinking. While we disagree around the edges of some issues, we have much more that unites us than divides us.
So, I have been wondering:
How do we move from being a connected network to becoming a group of influence?
How can we aggregate our thinking in a way that has influence in the larger community?
A couple posts related to this have struck me lately. I loved reading the inaugural post from 4 moms 1 dream; a great example of a grass-roots movement to help rethink schooling. I was also struck by Jason Leslie’s recent post where he pondered the kind of education he wants for his children. Pretty exciting stuff.
I do worry, at times, that the digital space tends to reassure the engaged and converted rather than expanding and recruiting new input for our group.
Of course, there are efforts to do just what I am writing about. This summer, I am planning to participate in Unplug’d – The Canadian Education Summit which examines this issue from a Canadian perspective. Many reading this will also likely be attending Edcamp Vancouver which is a great bypass of traditional structures and hierarchies.
I just think there is more we can be doing to take advantage of our group on a provincial or more local stage. We have all the traditional partners represented in our community, we are supported by outside experts and we are passionate and committed to a great system.
So, instead of waiting for someone else to produce something that we respond to, how can we take the lead?
I don’t think we realize how powerful our digital coalition is or can be.
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I agree. We do have a tremendous amount of power, and we are currently under-utilizing it. Events like Unplugged and Edcamp Vancouver are just a drop in the bucket.
I’m super excited about Edcamp Vancouver, and I’m hoping that we can use the event as a momentum builder for stronger connections (and more immediate in terms of communication time) between school districts in BC.
I wish I could go to Unplugged as it sounds fabulous. I was invited but do not have the funds this year to attend. It will be amazing I’m sure.
While they are drops in the bucket – they are at least models of new ways of connecting that move beyond role-specific groups. I am so sorry that I won’t be able to attend Edcamp but I am so pleased to see the buzz that has developed.
Thanks Dave for your leadership in our digital coalition.
We will have to figure out what’s next.
Coalitions, interest groups, committees, ad hoc gatherings, (flash)mob etc all share something in common–purpose. This raises the question–what is the purpose of the “group of influence”. Influence who or what? For what purpose(s)? Who benefits from the group? Who loses? Indeed, what is influence and how is the term/concept being used?
For example, making a difference in the lives of children is laudable–but what does that difference look like? Is there agreement with respect to how to “make a difference”? What criteria will be used to assess “difference”? Who will do this?
Johnson and Johnson remind us that “together is better”. I agree. So, what is that better? What is the purpose of together?
Thanks Robert – we have to sort this out. I am just struck by how many thoughtful, passionate people are thinking, speaking and writing about the system change they want. Somehow we need to find ways to bring this diverse community together to define purpose and establish criteria to leverage the power of this great community.
Unplugged will be an amazing experience… I am missing it by 10 days, before my return to Canada, but I’ll try to plug-in to unplugged if I can. 🙂
Chris, I have been thinking about this for a very long time. I created a slide show and then video about the Brave New World Wide Web, and how we have the potential in education to do things… like your Student Live Reporters… which makes engagement in real learning the experience of all of our students, rather than a selected few. Someone said in a comment to me, ‘I think your video preaches to the converted’… and that got me really thinking.
How do we speak to those that need to hear us?
I think districts, and even our province, needs to start doing two things:
1. Embed professional development and specifically ‘learning’ into teacher schedules. We are in the business of learning, and learning needs to be something we continually ‘do’, not just ‘administer’ to/for others.
2. Highlight the pockets of brilliance happening in our schools and develop the scaffolding to teach and support educators in becoming brilliant! I specifically say ‘educators’ because there are some amazing administrators and support staff that I include in doing brilliant things that we should be replicating ‘on purpose’ rather than by chance.
The first point involves structural change, and will cost money. I’m not sure how to make that happen?
Regarding the highlighting of the great things that are happening, I think people are doing that now, but not necessarily in a way that supports other educators in developing the skill & know-how to inspire change… change for those not already in the ‘digital coalition’.
I wrote this in an email recently:
I believe that there is need to develop a district or province-level position that would be in charge of developing sustainable programs that continue in schools and programs even after teachers/administrators move. And, it is clear to me that exemplary teachers and classrooms need to be shared more effectively so that we can see the practices of these teachers spread in an efficient and effective way. The development of an ‘exemplary teacher’ trainer program, where teachers become the leaders, would go a long way to create a model that can be replicated and grown at a pace required in today’s world.
If a ‘digital coalition’ is going to create meaningful change, it needs to do so for those outside the coalition. It’s easy for me to plug into a Pro-D session on the other side of the world, happening at 11pm (sometimes later for me)… I’m ‘plugged-in’ (and I don’t require a lot of sleep). I love the learning that I can foster on my blog, find on Twitter, and get from reading and commenting on others’ blogs. But I choose to seek that out on my own time. Unless we went about the unrealistic approach of making this kind of extra-curricular learning a requirement of teachers, we need to embed learning opportunities into what they do during their hours of employment. And, we need to build structures to make sure that what is being shared is both desirable and supported enough to be attainable and sustainable.
Rather long-winded of me (sorry), but that’s how I think we can take the lead!
Like your plan Dave. I think we have a need to engage the larger community outside of education. We do that somewhat through social media with our tweets and our blogs, but we need to do this more. I think we (those inside the system) need to come to some agreement on what we believe and want – in thirty seconds be able to explain what schooling could / should look like. We then need to find ways to take this out to the larger community in a coordinated way.
Here is one you might have some thoughts on – What is the new “product” we use to share our thinking. The old way was we would produce “white papers” or “thought papers” on a topic and circulate it in the community and maybe create some sort of one-way feedback. Is the new way a website like Born to Learn, is it a video like New Brunswick did, is it a multi channel approach. If we actually can agree on some basics pieces – almost universally in the province about the system we desire what is (are) the vehicle(s) we use to share it. When I hear people are commissioning a “paper” on change I just don’t think that is going to do it.
What I think you’re asking is how to leverage this loosely joined “crowd” to make positive change [in BC education]. Getting people to actualize a change is difficult. I think most people are so busy coping with today’s reality that to consider the future beyond the theory is difficult. When you look back in history, it took decades or hundreds of years for change to take place. The underlying driver was usually some form of technology. This is certainly the case in our memory in our society and world. Education has evolved with the changes but not yet been disrupted into something new.
So, in general I think what you’re suggesting probably needs more momentum and more people joining in – the coalition isn’t large enough. And we need to get more people to see how radically different the future is likely to be, from today and how important it is that we prepare students, teachers, and parents to be able to cope and succeed in that future. Ultimately, people want to know what will happen if they do or don’t change – what’s in it for them?. IE, is it worth it? Is there an imperative to avoid something bad or to gain something better? We need to really concretely answer the question “what’s so wrong about our current education system?” and “why doesn’t what we’re doing now prepare students for the future?”.
I think the coalition idea is really a crowd acceleration concept – we know those work. Just need a larger coalition and a common belief about the future.
Yes, I agree Brian. We are challenged by a lack or urgency. While the United States seems unable to really move the change agenda along, they do have the advantage to us of having a greater urgency for change. I think almost all would agree that in general terms our system is in much stronger shape than their system. I wonder how big we can grow the group until the urgency increases?
I’ve been asking these questions of myself too – just like all of you!
And I keep coming back to one thing:
Do things differently. (Or the “Nike Way” – “Just Do It”)
David Wees is exemplifying this by leading the change through EdCampVancouver – and opening doors of possibility for the future of professional development.
So many are doing it differently in pockets – doing really amazing and excellent things. Teachers in classrooms, parents as part of PACs, principals leading entire schools, Superintendents leading Districts, even our Ministry organizing around teams to break down pillars.
What I DON’T see right now in BC is the sharing of these excellent things in broader ways, broader conversations.
Our “coalition” gets it – we are sharing. We “get” how to create and maintain a PLN, we use Twitter, we blog, we YouTube, etc… But how do we take that to a broader audience?
Here’s where the infrastructure matters – the “system” we use matters. If it isn’t easy and intuitive and accessible and interconnected – it isn’t going to reach beyond this small (slowly growing) group of technology leaders.
There were ways to connect on the Internet a long time ago, but only a tiny percentage did. You had to know how to run a computer, understand command line code perhaps, understand programming languages.
Why are the masses connecting on Facebook now? Not because there was a “new” need to connect. Not because there was a coherent, clearly articulated vision either. It’s happening NOW because it’s easy and everyone (even my friend’s grandma!) can do it without training classes or Pro-D.
I’ve been talking lately to some people about how to “just do it” – to begin a project to assemble the technology that would connect our Province. To support educational discussion and change. I believe that providing the infrastructure will grow the conversation. Growing the conversation will connect people doing great things, grow ideas, grow relationships, accelerate innovation. Connecting people in bigger ways will highlight the legislative, procedural and other systemic changes that need to happen in order to allow these ideas or innovations to become sustainable (and widespread). Knowing the systemic changes needed will allow coalitions to mobilize to advocate for such changes. THIS is how we can make change a reality in this Province (and beyond)!
What will such an infrastructure look like, exactly? I can’t say yet. What I DO know is HOW it needs to be built. It needs to be developed collaboratively, in the real world with real teachers and students and parents and leaders. We need to keep it focused on “easy, intuitive, accessible” and centred around the flow of learning and relationships (not political requirements, not procedures, not legislative structures, not limitations of technology). We have to constantly ask ourselves not only what we want to do, but also whether we’re having the effect we intend to have. We have to ask for feedback – the more honest (even brutal), the better. We have to connect people from where they are, not make them come somewhere new – no one wants another “add on” to their day. We have to start small, yet with the clarity that this will eventually scale to the entire Province. We have to figure out all the logistics along the way to make sure it will be sustainable – software licensing, support, ongoing change or improvements, server hardware, internet connections, etc…
Let’s just start doing it! We have to not only THINK outside the box, we have to ACT outsidse the box. I had an interesting conversation recently with Microsoft…
Thanks Heidi – I agree that we have to get “honest (even brutal) feedback” as we grow this group. As long as we can focus on ideas (which to date happens over 90% of the time in my experience) rather than taking issue with people we are going to have success.
So, do we create the channels or wait for others?
It is very exciting to see these conversation taking place both digitally and in some schools and districts across the province. It is also exciting to see Edcamp taking place. This event while available to interested participants in the lower mainland, is basically unaccessable to those in rural BC. So how do we (or even can we) replicate Edcamp to be available to everyone across the pronvice? How do we move from simply great conversation to action across the province? Challenging questions.
It is intersting to note that Will Richardson (http://weblogg-ed.com/) along with other educators in the US, are attempting to spark a national discussion with parents on education to have a real conversation on education and change (http://weblogg-ed.com/2011/expanding-our-reach-engaging-parents-educon-23/). It is also interesting to see what they have done so far and I have often wondered if or how we could possiblity use the same type of format that he is using to plan such an event, to begin a provincial conversation with educators and community members to take these conversation forward. A format that is financially viable to allow all who are interested to participate in. Something to think about.
The time is right.
Thanks for taking the time to comment – I really like what you have done with your blog. I think, given the geography of our province, we will need a strong digital component of whatever process was used for engagement.
I am finding more and more parents commenting on blogs like this one, and engaging with educators side-by-side. We need to capture this momentum.
So, what next?
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Just thought I’d mention some of my thoughts here. Sorry it took me so long to jump in!
I have been following some of the conversations and outcomes of Edcamp Vancouver and have been enjoying the post-event blogging and reflections from a number of individuals! I think many of us have the on-going question about, “What’s next?”, as we share, learn and connect with others in different ways, and make efforts to influence change in certain directions. It is easy to get frustrated that our efforts aren’t making a difference fast enough or reaching a larger audience and/or forum, whether within our own province or region, or across borders. I think we should realize though that there is influence going on which we may not always see as something measurable and concrete before us! Even if we don’t think we are making enough difference as a collective group or coalition in one district, I think the awareness created by twitter of what others are doing elsewhere does empower individuals in their own challenges, situations, and roles. There is broader impact…..and we may underestimate that at times!
I can speak quite personally to this. Being aware of events and connections and dialogue happening in other areas quite distant from my own (BC being one) impacts and influences my own actions, thinking, and planning of next steps, as well as how I face challenges in my own locale. I would think that I am not the only one! So let’s try to keep encouraged by knowing that the conversations and ripples of change and empowerment do reach much farther than we may realize!
Nicely said Sheila. I agree that hearing the conversations happening in Alberta, Ontario and elsewhere is also very encouraging for me when I look at our conversations in BC.
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