Subject: Changing the Culture

Posted by Michael Round on 10/12/2010
In Reply To:Changing the Culture Posted by Janice Hansel on 10/11/2010

Message:

Trying to link the "Creativity" and "Changing the Culture" threads, one looks at the system in place now - with rigid standards and a testing process virtually locking in place these processes - and wonders how legitimate and quality change could ever come about.

The lack of implementation from good movements as SD and TRIZ, as Cal Halliburton points out, is further evidence "the immune system is in place".

And, to me, the frustrating thing about this is, were I in their place (educators, that is), it would be hard, knowing what good stuff is out there, yet having to get from Point A to B in the textbook by weeks-end with 25 students of varying abilities.

Trying to figure out what a person outside the system - like me - can do, I realized it was a mistake to "try to get things into the classroom". It isn't going to happen. But it's also a mistake thinking nothing can be done! Are kids only in the classroom?

So I started =EQUALS=, a math/science/programming club, to work directly with kids, with the Montessori maxim "I did it myself" as a primary guide. Kids can do all of the stuff at this site - if they tried - if they were given minimal instruction ...

http://www.rationalsys.com/equalsclub.html


January / February will be devoted to SD / The Game of Life / Logistic Map / etc., to be quickly understood and played with in the Spreadsheet environment.

If you're in the midwest, come join us for a great time!

The kickoff event is October 18 (Monday). The agenda and spreadsheets to be discussed are on the site ..

Mike Round