Nebraska Change Agent
' I am entirely certain that twenty years from now we will look back at education as it is practiced in most schools today and wonder how we could have tolerated anything so primitive.' John W Gardner
Sep
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What it Means to Be a Change Agent
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Beth Still on September 16, 2009
My dear friend from Louisiana sent me this tweet this morning:
Somehow my blog made a list of 100 Blogs for Teach Savvy Teachers. I have been labeled as an “Innovative Teacher” which is a label I can live with! I started to reflect on the original purpose of my blog and I would like to share my thoughts with you.
In February of 2008 I attended a workshop where Howie DiBlasi discussed the role of change agents in education. He went on to say that it is possible for one teacher to make a difference. Something Howie said that day stuck with me and early in the summer I started my blog. It took me a long time to come up with the name, but I eventually decided on Nebraska Change Agent.
So what does it mean to be an agent of change? I asked my PLN to define this phrase. Here is what they had to say:
@ktompso: 1) one who helps others adjust to change 2) one who makes change happen to them.
@jasonbuck: One that pushes the limits to demonstrate that there are other ways of thinking and doing.
@kylepace: A person who brings a new vision to the masses so that all may benefit.
@edtechsteve: Anything that inspires (or forces) individuals, groups, or institutions to alter the way they do business.
@web20classroom: A person or persons who alters the system to achieve a high degree of achievement.
@moehlert: All progress begins with dissatisfaction. Change agent = someone who is dissatisfied enough to act.
@jdog90: One that pushes the edge, takes the risk, is willing to fail.
@oswego98: Someone who works toward improving the educational system.
I would agree with all of these definitions. Change agents work toward deep, meaningful, and permanent change. They take the lead, push the limits and take risks. Change agents must have a clear vision in their head of where they are going and what they want to achieve. They must also truly believe in what they are doing and be passionate enough about their cause to win over converts. My goal when I started blogging was to bring change to my region of Nebraska. In respect to that goal I have failed miserably. I live in a very conservative area where tradition trumps everything. Generally speaking change is not openly embraced. Unfortunately this is leaving many students, including my daughter, unprepared to face their future. If I was not teaching her about blogging, wikis, RSS feeds, iGoogle, etc. she would never learn about it. Schools in my region just don’t teach about these things. Is it any wonder why students leave after high school and never return? We aren’t giving them what they are looking for. This is not just a problem in Nebraska either. It is everywhere. It seems like there are only pockets of schools getting it right. What is the secret to making those pockets the rule rather than the exception?
While I have not been able to make much of a difference locally, I have been blown away by the response I have gotten from some of the people on Twitter. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about giving a gift PLN to an administrator. It was an extension of the idea that Tom Whitby suggested. I came up with a list of fifty people who were selected specifically for my administrators. With in a few weeks I had heard from administrators all over the country who had just started on Twitter who used my list to start their PLN. Someone even told me that my blog is now required reading for their grad students. Really? My blog? I was honored, but want to say that there are many blogs out there that are far superior to mine. Just check out my blog roll which does not even begin to scratch the surface.
So why do change agents work so tireless to get their message out? Why do we sacrifice sleep, time with family, and our sanity? I think it is because we feel like we have to. According to this chart there are not many people who are truly innovators. If we don’t keep pushing the envelope, then who will?
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11 Responses to “What it Means to Be a Change Agent”
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September 16th, 2009 at 8:38 p
Someone has to push that envelope. I’ve been moved by this metaphor for years now. I don’t think it’s simply work ethic. The motivation to support improvement and extend practice for yourself and your students, and, by extension, the practice of your colleagues and their students is intrinsic and supported by a desire to see positive change push through.
The metaphor crystalized for me with the opening scene of “The Right Stuff” back in the 80s — short post on
“Push Back the Outside of the Envelope”
September 17th, 2009 at 8:22 p
What is the difference between change and improvement? Change, to me, does not necessarily have a value to it. Ice changes its state to water, for example. Same chemical make up, same amount of mass. If educators are focused on change just for the sake of change, then it is counter productive. I believe it was Deming who said that only 10% of institutional changes are actually improvements. I challenge all of us to be improvement agents, not just change agents.
I do hear your concerns about digital literacies and your students. But don’t sell them short; my guess is that all of us (i.e. adults) were able to learn this stuff outside of the K-12 arena.
Mike
September 20th, 2009 at 11:06 p
Mike,
When I say that I want to see change I guess I just naturally assume the changes will be improvements. Change merely for the sake of change would not be something I would promote. One of the changes I have pushed for is getting schools to open up their filters to allow teachers to get on various Nings during the school day. Most teachers I know do not do much professionally outside of the school day so if these tools are blocked at school they will never have the opportunity to discover how beneficial they are. I am also a proponent of getting schools to move beyond the walled garden and allow students to interact with students from around the world on blogs, wikis, and other platforms. Far to many teacher do not use a computer beyond managing grades. I am pushing to see that teachers begin opening doors and allowing their students to have as many opportunities as possible.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:56 p
Sometimes improvements aren’t enough because what you are improving was doomed to begin with. That’s where change comes in. Technology doesn’t only improve a math, science, social studies, etc., lesson, it can change it. It changes the way that students learn and teachers teach. That’s a big deal. Worthwhile change is much bigger than an improvement. For technology to be a valuable asset in your learning environment, you have to have a solid curriculum. If your curriculum isn’t up to snuff, there’s no sense in improving it…change it. “Sometimes you need to rock the boat…sometimes you need to tip the damn thing over.” (I believe Dean Groom…someday I’ll look that up
)
September 17th, 2009 at 4:05 p
Beth:
First and foremost I want to reassure you that your inclusion on this list was appropriate. Looking at the definitions of Change Agents, I’d say you’re doing pretty darn good sticking to the “job description”.
I don’t live in Nebraska but instead a relatively conservative area in upstate NY. Up here there is a heavy push, though, for systemic educational change such as what you are an advocate for. And believe it or not – from halfway across the country – you have helped spur some of that change on. I certainly have been effected, and I’m sure @cheryltice and @oswego98 could say the same. (I met them through you – and they live less than 20 minutes from me!) Sometimes it takes small steps and patience…
So what I’m saying is that you need to open up your blog description. You are a Change Agent based in Nebraska… but you inspire and impact educators worldwide.
Ryan
Oh, PS: I’ve read your “So what the heck is a PLN” post about 12 times and sent it to numerous friends and co-workers. I’ve also sent your “Gift of a PLN” to a few administrators in the last couple of weeks.
PPS: Your work and dedication brought @rmbyrne to Washington for all of us to meet, and now you’re working to bring Jason Schrage to Denver. That, my friend, is what a change agent does – gets stuff done.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:19 p
Ryan,
This is literally the first time I have been on here since last week. Your kind words sort of got to me. I still think it is crazy how I introduced you to Jason via Skype in the Bloggers’Cafe shortly after I announced he was the Newbie for 2010. (I still don’t like it that you got to meet him first!) How many times has a teacher from Nebraska been able to introduce two teachers who live 15 miles away from each other? My guess is NEVER!
Thank you for sharing some of my posts with your coworkers. It means a lot to know that I might be able to help people get their PLN up and running.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:41 p
Beth:
I just found your blog on the top 100 blogs for tech savvy teachers. I too am from Nebraska. I too believe that we are WAY behind in teaching our kids what they need to know in this global society. I am just getting off the ground in my own technology experience and integration. Also like you, who sees her own child “missing out”, my children inspire me to work at opening this big world up to them. The world has a lot of offer and teach. I want my kids and my students to know that.I’ll be following your blog, so keep it up! I look forward to your future posts.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:27 p
Sharon,
So nice to meet a fellow Nebraskan. Unfortunately, most of the US is way behind on teaching kids what they need to know to compete in a global society. There schools across the country that are getting it right, but for the most part the changes are happening just one classroom at a time. This is not good enough in my mind. If true change is to happen it will have to be mandated from the top and I don’t see that happening.
Thanks you again for saying hello!
September 21st, 2009 at 6:51 p
I am currently going to UNK and I grew up in Nebraska and I agree. There is not enough teaching going on about how to blog and how to use the RSS feeds. The first time I have ever heard of these things was when we talked about them in my technology in the classroom education class.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:55 p
WOW–fellow Nebraskans are coming out of the woodwork! Nice to meet you, Michael. I took an online class through Chadron State a couple of years ago. There were over 20 of us who were supposed to work on a project together. The instructor expected us to collaborate on the discussion board. It would have been thousands of posts long so I suggested we start a wiki. Pretty much everyone was on board with the idea, except the instructor who just did not get the logistical issue. It was just very frustrating to see a post secondary instructor who turned his nose up at technology. I think a lot of it had to do with the fear factor. I hope your professors at UNK are more open to tools and technology than mine were.
How much longer do you have until you graduate? Best of luck!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:43 p
I have about 1 and a half to two years left depending on how much I want to crunch for spring semester and summer. but yes they are more open to technology. it has been a complete eye opener.