"Yes and ..."

The sun shines bright most days but wow did it find me a couple weeks ago. I was lucky to attend Apple Academy. I learned everything Lion, iWork and iLife that Apple’s professional development team could shove in my head. The tools stand on a pedestal higher than any comparable tool issue on a computer but the real magic behind them is how they open the doors of creation for learners.Apple Academy was a superior forum to learn tools. All of the credit goes to David and Peter (our gifted trainers). They continually tied the tools to educational pedagogy.

One battle all educators fight is the “no”. “No” is crafty and comes in different forms. My time at Apple Academy taught me a GREAT new conversational tactic … “yes and”. This is a challenge I make to you - be a “yes and” person instead of the variations of “no” that poison great thoughts and ideas.

I practiced this “yes and” idea in my conversations, albeit unknowingly, with the listeners. The results of my conversations were staggering. The social and professional lines that defined me as the “pawn” or as the “leader” were blurred. The conversation(s) was solution based, had purpose and all parties were on equal footing.

Not so much of a “Pawn” Leadership post … just LEADERSHIP

Don't say anything (or much)

Image by. TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³

A great leader even one that is leading from the front is a good listener.  Listen to those around you and formulate your thoughts BEFORE you speak.  There may be a lot more to the story that you don't know.  Your opinion may change once you know more of the details and back story.  The only way that you can get the details and back story is to really listen to what is going on around you.

20 Proven Things All Great Leaders Always Do

This is a great article from the Leadership Freak blog.


20 Proven Things All Great Leaders Always Do

By Dan Rockwell

Voltron

Does anyone remember Voltron? … no not Tron, the movie released this Christmas season … Voltron! Five characters in this 1980’s cartoon operated their own mechanical war beast, shaped like a lion. They were fierce, strong and fought for the good guys (duh). In true cartoon fashion, the five warriors would always tackle the enemy individually and would fail. They were forced to become Voltron in order to best their enemy. The five warriors, and their mechanical lions, would combine together to become a super gladiator. The gladiator was stronger, faster, and better equipped to beat the tar out of enemies … plus Voltron had a sword.

As a change agent, or pawn, we need to be gathering fellow Voltron members together to inspire and work for change in our districts. I know that in the past I have been guilty of fighting for change as a single person. In such efforts I felt my research supported my efforts, I was calm and rational during the presentation, and I showed how the ends would justify the means. Just like the individual Voltron members, I was thwarted in battle. I am beginning to think that when new projects/requests/plans are proposed they need to be done with the force of gladiator Voltron. I cannot be the only person in my district who wants change … we need to find others, rally together and fight.

**While the cartoon Voltron clearly identifies “good guys” and “bad guys” I am certainly not implying anyone in my district should be labeled a “bad guy” … It’s just a good analogy.

image - Humans, By. "Voltron Defender Of The Universe T-Shirt | Cool T-shirts | T Shirts - Shirtlog." Cool T-shirts | T Shirts Blog | Funny T Shirts - Shirtlog. Web. 03 Jan. 2011. .

A change of Plans Little Else

Image by aluzano

Alline Sada, a technology integration specialist at the Euroamerican School of Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico, and a 2011 Annual Conference Scholar has a great post about trying to be a pawn leader. In her post "A Change of Plans, Little Else" she writes about how hard it is to change the teaching culture around you especially when what you want teachers to do is new and scary.


Please read her post and leave a comment.

Best "Buy"

Buy in ... to get a project off the ground you need “buy in”. This reminds me of a question I have seen/had/read about over and over and over. What is the best way to get “buy in”?

With students, I have found it to be fairly easy. Make a student say “wow” ... “bought”. Put something cool in front of them and nudge them in the right direction ... “bought”. Show them something simple but done EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ... “bought”. Make their life or assignment ahead of them easier ... “bought”. (Keep in mind I don’t mean remove critical thinking, I mean easier. For example, providing a calculator to a student interpreting complex mathematics.)

With teachers, I have found it to be slightly more involved. I have found much of the same things apply to teachers as do students. Once you “wow” teachers you have them or make a teachers job easier ... “bought”. Putting something in a teacher’s hands is a great start but I have found that you need to show them multiple ways to use the tool to make their job easier or faster. Then you have them “bought”.

Effective administrators will constantly be looking to lead, will keep the time demands of teachers/students in mind when making decisions, will make economical decisions, and will work with people to get the best out of their teachers, students and community. If you want administrator “buy in”, you had better be prepared. “Wow-ing” and administrator has its perks but a good administrator will look past the “wow” and get to details. Showing true instructional value is paramount … and lets face it that’s the bread and butter anyway. Demonstrate instructional value coupled with making teachers more effective teachers … administrator = “bought”.

Think about the projects/objects/relationships that you value. More than likely they are the things you value because you have been able to put your own blood sweat and tears into them. Being able to show ownership or contribute to the value of something whether a project or device is a tremendous motivator and creates a natural “buy in”. Daniel Pink speaks to what motivates us and can therefore create the best “buy”.

An "expert" pawn

What happens when the pawn is the expert? You may expect the “King” to move the pawn into a spot where their knowledge and strengths are utilized to benefit of the rest of the players on the chess board. That has not been my experience but here is my story.

I have been working with iPod touches in classrooms for over two years now and our district is just now starting to think about leveraging mobile technology in education. Schools, teachers, and departments are going to be able to apply to a “grant-like” project. I have and continue to try and work with people to make this project successful. Instead I feel like I am merely obstructing the more powerful pieces behind me who are blitzing to the other side of the chessboard like that is some kind of educational finish line.

A committee (which I serve on) has been given the task of making this project happen but have been given no authority to actually get the job done. This committee of pawns wants nothing more than to work together to produce something worth our time. Instead we are being sequestered where one set of pawns creates one part of the project while others create separate but related pieces. What some of us fear is that the pieces we are creating will not create a complete puzzle at the end of the project but instead something entirely different. We have collaboration tools at our disposal but have not been utilizing them, nor have we been given time to sit face to face and discuss the broad scope (or details or implications) of this project.

I am hoping this project gets off the ground, sprouts big ole wings and flies off the chess board.