Quality In Education?
With the onset of the No Child Left Behind, schools have been particularly interested in the concept of quality in education. Districts around the world have embraced the quality movement in efforts to increase academic achievement for all students.
Critics of the quality movement in education wonder how a "business concept" that focuses on customers and data can impact the educational system. Can a focus on quality really help the bottom line in education? Educators now more than ever are taking a closer look at quality initiatives such as:
-Koalaty Kid
-The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence
-Six Sigma
This blog will encourage discussion around the topic of quality in education. It is hoped that educational professionals will interact with this blog to share resources, discussions and insights that will help educators along the road to continuous improvement.
Updates to this blog will be made at least 3 times a week. A few questions I offer to begin the dialogue...
-What are your experiences with quality in education?
-What resources have you come across to assist you in your quality journey?
-How can educators utilize quality processes and tools to meet the demands of No Child Left Behind?
-What are the driving and restraining forces of implementing quality in education?
I encourage and look forward to your insight.
Comments
I appreciate this information and overview, which can certainly help those of us starting on the journey of "continuous improvement." This will be a helpful document for Action Research Teams anywhere, I believe. Thank you for sharing this, Jay.
R. Krejci @ Harding
Posted by: Randy Krejci | November 28, 2005 07:14 AM
Jay,
What a great opportunity for us to share using technology. Great idea. Thanks.
Are you trained or training in six sigma?
dale
Posted by: Dale Monroe | November 28, 2005 07:25 AM
Dale,
I've not had Six Sigma training yet, but have been learning more about it. I'm also trying to learn more about "Lean" and "Value Stream Mapping". I figure that by knowing and applying the best of Baldrige, Six Sigma and Lean, I will have an arsenal of tools and processes to apply in the educational setting.
Here are some good websites to learn more about:
Baldrige in Education- http://www.baldrigeineducation.org/
Six Sigma In Education- http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c011029a.asp
Lean Six Sigma- http://www.georgegroup.com/lean_six_sigma.php
Posted by: Jay | November 29, 2005 06:58 AM
Randy, thanks for your feedback. I look forward to your comments and thoughts on these topics as the blog develops.
Yours in quality,
Jay
Posted by: Jay | November 29, 2005 07:03 AM
Dear Jay,
Thanks for listing my content as reference towards SIX SIGMA IN EDUCATION.
http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c011029a.asp
best wishes and greetings,
Dheeraj Mehrotra
City Montessori School & College, Lucknow, INDIA
Posted by: Dheeraj Mehrotra | January 18, 2006 01:13 AM
The Quality in Education is the buzz world also alongwith being one of the indespensible facts towards TOTAL QUALITY PERSON (TQP) A term designed towards TOTAL PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT towards facing the challenges in life.
This is my belief and I presume all the teachers do agree with me.
Dheeraj Mehrotra
attention@computerscienceexpertise.com
Posted by: Dheeraj Mehrotra | January 18, 2006 01:15 AM
Dheeraj,
Thanks for your comments and feedback. I'd like to hear more about the TQP concept when you have a chance. Also, I appreciate the link to 6 sigma in education- lots of good information.
Jay
Posted by: Jay Marino | January 18, 2006 07:39 AM
Dear Jay,
Since I have started teaching/facilitating learning I have been fascinated by the teaching/learning strategies. Are the facilitators of learning teach in the way that ensure students learning or are they teaching for the sake of teaching? Quality education should be the vision for all facilitators of learning. Thank you for bringing this discussion.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Jibrea | July 13, 2006 03:27 AM
Mary,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The point you made when you said "Quality education should be the vision for all facilitators of learning" is exactly why this blog exists... to promote quality in education. I appreciate your insight and look forward to other thoughts you might contribute to the blog.
Jay
Posted by: Jay Marino | July 13, 2006 07:24 AM
I am teaching at the university, and one of my personal projects this semester is to use Design for Six Sigma to "reengineer" my course syllabus. It's going to be exciting, as it is harder to quantify "wastes" or "defects" in learning. I will let you know how it goes. in the meantime, I wish this blog would be kept alive.
Posted by: Mickey | December 16, 2006 09:45 PM
Mickey,
Glad to hear that you are teaching Six Sigma. Be assured that the blog will be kept alive. Please check back often and we look forward to your contributions.
Jay
Posted by: Jay Marino | December 17, 2006 08:09 PM