Quality in Education

Lately the word with me is MEANINGFUL...There is so much which exists in the CI process, that becomes so much less powerful if it does not truly have meaning. Charting information becomes little more than another task to complete if the information being charted isn't meaningful. Which brings me to the idea of alignment. It is hard to pick the big rocks, and the things I will be focusing on, when I am choosing my own path, which may be different from each other class on my campus. I look forward to really getting into the district and site level goals with MVWSD in the future (hopefully I am not too far off the mark with what I thought). I have one philosophical question that I have been kicking around for awhile as I have been trying different things for the student data folders...Arethere things which are big rocks in education which are non-quantifiable? (I don't know if that is even a word). Even when we break some things down into pieces, are there still some things that are essestially subjective in nature and can't be measured? How do we be sure to include that in our daily classroom life?

Hi Nerissa,

You are wise! Meaningful IS the key word.

There certainly are "non-quantifiable" big rocks in education. Because our work is in the social sector, we are often not driven by the "bottom line dollar" but by teaching, learning, motivation, enthusiasm, and other civic skills. These "social" skills can be more difficult to measure.

In answer to your question, it seems to me that we continue to look for ways to educate the "whole" child as our work is not just about helping every student make the NCLB hurdle. However, through an integrate continuous improvement approach, I believe we are, indeed, providing students lasting educational experiences that are preparing them to be 21st century learners.

What do you think?

Jay

PS- Thanks for sharing your comment on the blog- I like your thinking!

Jay,
You are right in advocating and raising the Big question in your saying Quote "it seems to me that we continue to look for ways to educate the "whole" child as our work is not just about helping every student make the NCLB hurdle." unQuote.
There are two objectives of student development: (i) Holistic and (ii) Local.
Holistic is a kind of development which will show less of variation in various faculties, and it is in line with Demings advice to reduce variation. Do we on the contrary need mediocres or those who demonstrate breakthroughs.

About Dhirubhai (the Indian entrepreneurial legend) and his education I have posted some stuff on my web site www.thareja.com

There are all such people who defy Dr Deming's profound knowledge, but as you practice with the belief, they could be better assets for 21 st century workforce.

Amen!
Priyavrat Thareja

Priyavrat Thareja,

Variation is an interesting variable in education... on one hand, we want to reduce process variation and results variation (in other words, we want high student achievement, all the time). On the other hand, we are dealing with children and people, not widgets. The variation that humans exhibit bring about an interesting challenge. Do we want to reduce this type of variation and have a "cookie cutter" approach to education? Certainly not.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

jay

Jay,
So I wish we could have a system that influences and nurses the educative environment around a child which apart from allowing the creative stimulus (in child)to prosper, does not dampen the vital, but weighty, knowledge load continuously showered by keen educator?
Priyavrat Thareja

As well as world is going toward modration/devolpment ,so everyone wants to move step by step with this world.Obviously it is happen through CI procss.People want improvment not only in their lifestyle but also in department,organization even in the initial level of education (school).If I ask from any student about CI,Unfortunatily they will not be able to define it.That's why, I belive in the collaboration of students & teachers in the school improvement plan (SIP).From this way teacher align geoals and student understand & do efforts to achive it.

Nirma and Priyavrat,

Thanks for your comments and contributions to the blog. Each of you commented on the collaboration of students and teachers working together.

One of the 21st century skills needed of students is teamwork. I believe that as educators, we have an opportunity and responsiblity to model effective collaboration and teamwork.

Thanks again for your comments.

Jay

Teachers are the ones who play primary role in SIP. Students come next to teachers. How do you expect someone to contribute to a plan without having to know the plan in the first place? The plan shall be well communicated to the students.