Comments on: Uncharted territory

By: Christian Long

Christian Long — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:23:17 +0000

Carolyn — While I’m flattered to have helped spark a connection of sorts, I am even more impressed by where your ideas took me. Learning to be comfortable in times of change IS the 21st century skill.

I believe that we spend too much time framing our kids’ experience around enforcing “responsibilities” when we need to be helping them become “response-able” in an ever-changing world.

Thank you for your inspiration!

Cheers, Christian

By: dharter

dharter — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:13:41 +0000

A terrific post! Wow…so well said.

As so many have said, change is happening. And while it is uncharted and to a large degree unknown, we have to adapt and change too. We NEED to learn alongside/barely-ahead/sometimes-behind our students for so many reasons that you have articulated so well: modeling lifelong learning being among the top of those reasons.

But also, if we, as teachers cannot venture into uncharted territory and take our students along for the ride, then how can we begin to expect our students to succeed in a future that is exclusively uncharted territory?

Change is not a choice…it’s an obligation.

Thanks for articulating so well, what needs to be said.

By: Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:11:21 +0000

This is a great post! Here’s a quote from Seth Godin that you’ll see again next week on my blog (for Change Week):

“There are two kinds of organizations. One kind likes to be on the cutting edge . . . to embrace the new. The other kind fears that, and holds back. . . . [Organizations] that are good at being edgy will always find a way to thrive. . . . What do you do when the [world] is moving away from you, not toward you? If you wait too long, it’ll be too late to do much of anything at all. Instead, recognize that change is coming, that the reality you operate in is dying out, and start practicing how to do the next big thing. Betting on change is always the safest bet available.”
- Seth Godin, The Big Moo, pp. 90-91

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:37:12 +0000

A thoughtful well articulated post! You have covered a lot of territory and made some connections for me. It is very helpful to have someone reflect back your thoughts giving them new energy and perspective.
I love this paragraph…
“But it also strikes me that we have to think about what happens when equilibrium and the status quo are disrupted. It can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and even make people feel angry. For those who love change, it can be very energizing, but also frustrating when not everyone ‘gets” what the change is about.”
It puts so much into perspective. I am one of the energized ones but not everyone is energized…thanks for helping me see their reality! I also appreciate that you do not stop here…we need to recognize this reality and still move on, still become lifelong learners and engage this new world of knowledge.

By: gregg

gregg — Mon, 28 May 2007 19:18:04 +0000

The idea that systems can’t be directed in a straight line reminded me of a quote from Anne Lamott:

“I’ve heard someone say that our problems aren’t the problem; it’s our solutions that are the problem. That tends to be one thing that goes wrong for me: my solutions.”

In the linear thinking process we employ to solve problems, we don’t expect, or in a sense even acknowledge, the unintended consequences of our actions. I think that the flexibility to learn and respond to changing situation is key, not to solving them, but to managing them and perhaps using them for our benefit.