The school gate is more than a physical barrier between the outside school world and the inside school world. It also represents a cultural barrier where many students walk out of their real world and into the world of school. How do we ensure a seamless transition, where the world inside the school gate better reflectsContinue reading "6 ways to ensure that the world outside the school gate is relevant to the world inside the school gate"
Making Change Stick: Three ways a leader builds momentum
Change is necessary and it is hard to get going, but once the momentum kicks in there is little stopping the energy for change. The key for any leader is to be able to keep going in the early stages until leading change becomes energising. You will know because: The desired culture is evident andContinue reading "Making Change Stick: Three ways a leader builds momentum"
The principles of Making Change Stick: Its more ‘mud map’ than ‘blueprint’
One of the things I love to do is work with groups, speak about change and present ways of navigating a path that will transform schools and engage this generation. Because my role at Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning (SCIL) is embedded in Northern Beaches Christian School (NBCS), I use the school’s experience asContinue reading "The principles of Making Change Stick: Its more ‘mud map’ than ‘blueprint’"
Back to basics? Time to redefine ‘basics’ for the 21st century
The headline in the newspaper cries: ‘Tests show NSW [Australia] students behind in everything except spelling’ …followed by: the state's new education chief promised she will order schools to get "back to basics" - as tests showed NSW is behind other states in everything except spelling This is the reaction in my state and myContinue reading "Back to basics? Time to redefine ‘basics’ for the 21st century"
Making Change Stick: Bicycle Wheels and Spider Webs
The senior leadership or executive team is probably one of the most important groups in any organisation. They carry the vision, establish culture and represent the leader. The quality of the relationships within this group is a role model to all staff. It is essential that the leader and this team spend time investing inContinue reading "Making Change Stick: Bicycle Wheels and Spider Webs"
Making change stick: The important ‘unseen’ in a culture of innovation
Highly innovative and creative contexts can be challenging in the day-to-day, so success for the long haul depends on a strong foundation of policies and practices that provide the scaffolding for change, innovation and creativity occur. We all sit somewhere along the innovation and change continuum. At one end, some thrive in a free-fall andContinue reading "Making change stick: The important ‘unseen’ in a culture of innovation"
Why do we continue to use 20th Century spaces for 21st Century learning/working?
The classroom is a relic, left over from the Industrial Revolution, which required a large workforce with very basic skills. Classroom-based education lags far behind when measured against its ability to deliver the creative and agile workforce that the 21st century demands. This quote is from Prakash Nair in a commentary in Education Week*. InContinue reading "Why do we continue to use 20th Century spaces for 21st Century learning/working?"
Making change stick: Is your school a learning community?
The question almost sounds ridiculous. Is your school a learning community? Students may be learning, but is it a community learning? This is significant for schools in a couple of ways: 1. Students are immersed in an environment where learning is modelled as a key value at every level. There are numerous lists of skillsContinue reading "Making change stick: Is your school a learning community?"
Making Change Stick: The Power of Language
Can you impact culture through adopting new terminology and ditching the old? Does the language of your school point to the future of school education or the reinforce times past? What do these words have in common? Headmaster/Headmistress, Teachers/Masters, Period, Subject Head/Master, Classroom, Timetable, Homework, Year/Grade, Bells, Detention. These are the highly recognisable words ofContinue reading "Making Change Stick: The Power of Language"
Changing a culture is hard work
This headline caught my attention "Jennings could hardly talk at 4.30pm". The story is about a wellknown Sydney rugby league player who was under the influence of alcohol when he came to afternoon training and when it was 24 hours to their next game. The club, in their defence, took strong action against the player,Continue reading "Changing a culture is hard work"
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