Subject: Fall 2010 In Review (getting back to the original question)

Posted by Tony Phuah on 12/26/2010
In Reply To:Fall 2010 In Review (getting back to the original question) Posted by Richard Turnock on 12/25/2010

Message:

Hi Richard

While comparison is certainly useful, don't be too soon to conclude that some teaching interventions did not work, because there may be some unidentified factors (e.g. intervention time not long enough).

Linda Booth Sweeney's Systems Thinking introduction article reminds me about the possibility of time lag between teaching intervention and the evidence that students has "learned":
"These kinds of delays can be the biggest reason that unintended consequences happen. Why? Because when we don't see instant results from our actions, we often continue to tinker with the system, coming up with more "fixes" even though we've already taken appropriate action. (We just don't know whether our steps were effective because the results haven't yet made themselves evident.)"
"For instance, as frustrated parents of teenagers try to keep in mind, the lessons that you teach your kids about the value of family and community may not "sink in" until the kids reach adulthood."

Regards
Tony