The map I created has several Historical Black Colleges and Universities(HBCU's) placemarked. When students are approaching their junior or senior year in high school, I would have them research a historical black college or university. The students would have to state why they chose the college, the history of the college, their intended major if they where to attend, and map the distance from their home to the college or university.
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Chapter 21: Trends and Issues P-12 Educational Change
Educational change (improvement) is a term that most districts struggle to achieve. Chapter 21 helped me to understand why most districts struggle with making a positive change and never achieve a significant improvement. The first point that really stuck out and reminded me of my own school district’s which is currently struggling with making an improvement is the system employed when trying to make changes. In my district we operate using a piecemeal system. The improvements usually consist of changing one or two parts within each individual school in an effort to achieve educational enhancement for the students. Initially, during the planning process the entire school is enthusiastic about making improvements because we (the staff) all know that there is a great need for improvement. By the end, after implementing the new changes we are usually left feeling frustrated with little if any success.
After reading Chapter 21, I realize that in order for our district to improve we must look at making a district wide ecological systemic change. According to Squire and Reieluth (2002), ecological systemic change is based on a clear understanding of interrelationship with interdependencies within the system of interest and its “systemic environment. The two models (GSTE and SUTE) discussed in this chapter both offer assistance in helping a district reform to an ecological system. With the example given the districts that tried this process ended with successful results. I believe that when a district is in need of major reform, there should be an in-depth look at either model. Both models could prove to be resourceful for many districts.
However, in order for a district to make significant change one must have the proper funds to support change. With our current economic status, hoping for an ecological systemic change is just a dream for some. My district, as well as other districts, is in a financial crisis. We have encountered a tremendous amount of lay-offs, class sizes have increased and support staff has decreased to the bare minimum.
Due to the lack of financial support, we must look for ways to improve districts where cost is not a major factor. Even though there has not been much success in using a piecemeal system. There must be a low cost way to achieve reform in all districts. If you look at struggling districts, one must conclude that we know why a change is needed, but the question is how and who will fund the project.
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3 comments:
What a great idea for the map and historical colleges. I really like it.
As to the piece meal approach to school improvement... you are not alone. Our district is the very same way.
Tamara
You said it ~ "change is based on a clear understanding" of the interrelationship with interdependencies within the system. If there were a giant diagram/flow chart and school districts kept on track to achieve the picemeal goals, the system would run more efficiently.
I liked how you incorporated your map into a current project - great way to enhance their experience with searching for post-secondary education.
I think many of us have encountered your same issues with the piecemeal approach to changes, so you are not alone. I have found it interesting when a district makes a small piecemeal change, and when it doesn't work they change back to the old way, or something similar instead of making a harder attempt at fixing the problem. Piecemeal is good in some cases, but not for making long term positive changes for an entire district that has encountered a ton of change due to all those funding and personnel cuts. It's tough to comprehend at times, but there's got to be a good answer somewhere out there.
I too liked your lesson idea for the maps. :)
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