A different type of thinking ...

A different type of thinking

Schools are interconnected networks that can be either purposefully woven and crafted into a grand tapestry or carelessly neglected and snagged until only a knotted, tangled mess is left.

    Educators need to develop a whole new approach to teaching and learning.  The education students receive must prepare them for the dynamic, ambiguous future ahead of them. This means tailoring curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of the students, using technology as an effective tool, and creating a culture of inquiry and collaboration in the classroom focused on the future. It must also include a systematic approach to education to amplify learning and instruction.   Through continuous efforts to increase their capacity, schools can truly become places of learning where students can thrive and reach their goals.

                We cannot simply rely on the same types of thinking that have brought us to our current state. We must recognize that to affect the level of school improvement necessary to provide students with the level of education they will need in their future we must strive to implement better ideas designed to create better results. A strong and progressive education system is essential for developing the talent and skill base necessary to compete in the world market and defend the sovereignty of the US. It is up to us to ensure that our students have what they need to succeed.

    Part of this “new type of thinking” involves shifting our focus from what is wrong to looking for what is good and improving it. To be clear, this is not to say that we should ignore the problems in schools, nor am I stating that they are unimportant. What I am proposing is that rather than focus on learning about problems and focusing on what we already know is broken, we agree to focus on solutions and recognize that a good deal of what occurs in schools is the result of caring, skilled teachers interacting with students with a desire to learn and be successful.

If we spend all our efforts focusing on what is broken, how it got broken, or who to blame, when will we have time to make things better?

    The title of this article is, in part, it is a reference to a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein “We cannot solve the problems of today with the same type of thinking that we used to create them.” There is debate as to whether that is what Einstein said; however, Einstein did recognize that the development of atomic weapons changed how diplomacy would be carried out in the future.  I would argue that the same level of understanding must be adopted to create the change in the educational system necessary to prepare students to meet the challenges they will face.

    This different type of thinking will be guided by ten fundamental principles.  The first of these principles comes from positive psychology scholars who have developed the concept of appreciative inquiry (AI), a powerful change process based on the principle that organizations can decide to change. 

1.       Stop Trying

2.       Simple thinking won’t solve wicked problems.

3.       Schools must be places of learning.

4.       The right thing is not optional.

5.       Positive organizational leadership is not just being happy.

6.       If everyone is responsible, then no one is accountable.

7.       Schools require students and families.

8.       Great schools are great because they build staff capacity.

9.       Everyone must row in the same direction.

10.   Culture is king.