Quality in Education

This addresses a nice issue. Diversity is fine but then that should lead towards the goal. Thanks for this blog.

The illustration is as interesting as the concept. Say well aligned. The blog talks of the deficiency - 'missing link in the alignment process which is lack of the connection of work being done in classrooms to the school improvement plan'. Since it is necessary to cater to provide requisite infrastructure and ensure its implementation, the school implementation plan (SIP) should obviously address consummation of the both the infrastructure and implementation, however not forgetting the real purpose. That is aligning the students for a tomorrow's high Quality civilized society.

Its all about the alignment of your goals and objectives with the utilization of all available resources to get an optimized result. The blog talked about SMART goals philosophy which is revolving around these five smart things

S pecific
M easurable
A ttainable
R esults-oriented
T ime-bound

If one adopts these things, moves in the right direction towards his destination, and always steps ahead systematically, he would definitely be able to turn all dreams into REALITY.

All effective organizations are aligned from top to bottom, and our schools are also needed to be aligned with the classrooms SMART goals which are necessary for SIP that is already aligned to the DISTRICT plans. So, a very well organized management is required for all this to happen.

Jay, I really like that you have started a discussion on the Power of Alignment. In the book by the same name the authors, Labovitz and Rosansky, point out that before you can have alignment you must understand the "Main Thing." When the Main Thing becomes the Main Thing, it is the focus of the organization, or classroom, then we have a point of reference that causes alignment.
If the Main Thing in the classroom is the student learning and the alignment of the system is to provide learning then how could we go wrong.
We go wrong when goals are inflicted upon us and the system begins to tell us what we have to do to be politically correct but we lack the support, process knowledge and resources to make learning happen. Education is a dynamic system that is constantly changing and we cannot afford to teach the same way we have taught in the past.
I come from the business world and it isn't any different there. Let’s find the Main Thing for all of us and point our strategies in that direction.

Gary,

Thanks for your comments. I believe your perception is correct... Often times goals are inflicted upon our system. We get into trouble when we don't have the proper "filter" to determine how to spend our resources (the "3 T's- time, talent and treasure). I believe the "filter" we need to use is our strategic plan: vision, mission, core values and goals. As a system, we shouldn't be spending our "3 T's" on anything that isn't in direct alignment to our strategic plan.

If we keep guard on how we spend our resources, we are more likely to align our efforts to what's most important.

Thanks again for your insight!

Jay

Adnan,

I appreciate your thoughts on SMART goals and alignment. I especially can relate to your comment "All effective organizations are aligned from top to bottom". The big question is this... How do we ensure that this happens in our educational systems?

Jay

Priyavrat,

I enjoyed your comment... about "not forgetting the real purpose." We can get so caught up in alignment that we miss the big picture.

I also appreciate your statement- "That is aligning the students for a tomorrow's high Quality civilized society." That is, afterall, what we are all about in education!

Keep the comments coming.

Jay

Hi Jay!
With the reference of my comments you said
"The big question is this... How do we ensure that this happens in our educational systems?"

From my point of view a well defined definition of a realistic goal should be set up before keeping the very first block of a school's building and the whole process must be documented for comparing the progress with a pre-defined procedure. Whenever any deviation is observed in your train's (system's) direction towards the destination (goal), necessary actions must be taken to align it BACK with the TRACK.

Adnan,

Well said. Thanks again for your contributions to the blog.

Jay

Well! The train is back, completing a full circle.
To re-align itself once more- though that should now be with a renewed throttle.
Two things have been reiterated time and again above: the infrastructure / resources and the filter (as Jay vividly entrusted per the three "T's".
Goals and the 'smartness' in process is fine, but we have neglected the "Main Thing"? Gary If I had known that, this Blog would have already been working unidirectional, with all Time, Talent and Treasure.
So what is that 'Ram Baan' (The God's weapon) which should enable me to seek the 'Main Thing'? And what all is that that Goal?