Just Say No–To Bake Sales!

Just Say No–To Bake Sales!

by | Dec 10, 2012 | Blog

No I’m not on a diet nor do I have anything against baked goods–although I’ve never liked cake brownies.  My harsh words about bake sales have nothing to do with the goods being sold, but the missed opportunities to teach students tangible skills through the event.  Now before you send the president of the PTA after me, give me a chance to explain myself. If your school is anything like the one I teach at, your mission and vision statement says something like “our students are globally minded international learners who are prepared for environmentally responsible international globalization.” Okay I’ll admit that sounds a little sarcastic, and it’s not because I don’t think we have a responsibility to provide our students with opportunities to impact their local and global community.  We do.  Yet so often we fail as educators to allow learning to guide our impact.  A bake sale is a perfect example of misguided giving with little impact on learning.  Sure the intentions are good; sell baked goods to raise money for some kind of charitable need in the local community, while simultaneously fulfilling service learning requirements for National Honor Society, IB, or some other program.  It’s quick and easy, but often the results are superficial and temporary. Whenever there is bake sale at school I’m always solicited to buy something (again no cake brownies please).  However, instead of giving into their demands I like to ask a few questions first.  For example, this week when an enthusiastic 11th grader asked, “buy a brownie?” I replied “sure, but first what were your input costs for these brownies?”  Unfortunately...
Learning from the Worst

Learning from the Worst

by | Nov 19, 2012 | Blog

Even though It seems like the school year just started, somehow it’s already November, which also means it’s recruitment season.  As someone who is officially looking to move on and find a new admin position, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.  For some it can be even more difficult to make the decision to leave since when you say goodbye to your current position there is no guarantee you’ll even find a job.  For others the not-knowing that comes with the recruitment season is what makes it exciting. I’m guessing that when you think about your next school you imagine a place where, in the words of Garrison Keillor, “all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”  However, when the recruitment season ends some of us will find ourselves moving to schools where the character of the community is far from that of residents of Lake Wobegon (ok, I promise I’m done referencing A Prairie Home Companion…I am from MN don’t ya know). The other week I was talking with an international school recruiter who explained to me that “when you’re starting off in administration you have no choice but to go to whatever school is willing to take you.”  Now although I don’t disagree with his premise that new admin have less to offer in experience, I do argue that since we talk so much about ‘fit’ these days we need to challenge administrators to question experience over fit (says the newbie).  However, the concept of fit vs. experience is not what this blog is about.  What I’d...
Introducing Entrepreneurial Learning

Introducing Entrepreneurial Learning

by | Nov 2, 2012 | Entrepreneurial Learning, Leadership News

I’m very excited to announce a new phase in the development of Learn[ed]Leadership.  Through many conversations with school leaders around the world as well as ideas sparked from readings by Tony Wagner, Michael Fullen, and others.  I’d like to humbly introduce Entrepreneurial Learning, a multi-level and multiple disciplinary project-based approach to learning.  Although still a little rough around the edges, it’s my hope that the concepts of Entrepreneurial Learning can help schools partner with their local communities to develop realistic learning opportunities that empowers students to choose their learning objectives and spark the innovative learner so many of us are talking about. A vital part of the Entrepreneurial Learning curriculum is its connection with the website entrepreneuiral-learning.com, which should be operational within the next few months.  This website will serve as a base for schools and communities who use project-based learning to share stories, gather resources and sharpen the effectiveness of the program. Please click here to connect to the new Entrepreneurial Learning section and to learn more about the different phases of the...

Q: Does Your School Have A Brand? A: You Bet It Does!

by | Oct 30, 2012 | Blog, Guest Blog

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power branding has on our understanding of companies around the world.  When one thinks about companies like Apple Computers, for example, it’s not unusual for people to associate words like hip, trendy, youthful, rich, and educated.  This association is by no means an accident, and is another example of the power of effective branding.  As proof of this I’m reminded of a story I read this summer about the US-based travel website Orbitz, which would channel visitors using Apple computers to more expensive hotels and vacation packages because it was believed that these users would prefer options that started on the higher end. I believe that few would argue that branding is an important part of any business or organization (heck I’ve even taken a lot of time to think about what brand I’m creating at Learn[ed]Leadership)…but what about a school?  As I’ve interviewed various school leaders over the last year, some have seemed to be uncomfortable using the word brand while others have fully accepted it.  Either way I believe, whether we realize it or not our schools create a brand in our community for better or for worse.  However, unlike multi-national companies that can spend billions on building their brands and reputation, our schools’ brands are built on their standing in the community. I had a chance to speak with Nick Kent the current Assistant HS Principal at Concordia Shanghai, who put it this way: “[I find that when I] try to have conversations with people about marketing & PR of their schools, their immediate inclination is to think...
TLP: James Dalziel, United World College Singapore

TLP: James Dalziel, United World College Singapore

by | Oct 30, 2012 | The Leadership Project

There’s been a lot written in education theory lately about the power of play and its ability to form students who are creative, inquisitive and thoughtful. In his book Creating Innovators, Tony Wagner highlights this when he notes that the common thread between numerous successful innovators he interviewed was play, passion and purpose. As we begin to see more schools move away from a curricula that has over emphasized high test scores, towards one that focuses on encouraging students to find their passions, it will be critical to find educators who can model this to the students. After my interview with James Dalziel, Head of East Campus at United World College South East Asia in Singapore, it’s clear that he is one of these people.  Passionate and purposeful about his work Mr. Dalziel adds “I really see work as play…there’s rarely a day where I wake up and don’t think I can’t wait to get at it.  For the most part it’s really energizing and enjoyable.” Situated on two campuses in Singapore, UWCSEA provides values-based education to nearly 5000 students from kindergarten through Grade 12 (ages 4 to 18). UWCSEA is committed to the mission of the UWC movement to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. UWCSEA reflects the diversity of Singapore with an anticipated student population peaking at 5400 by 2015, many of whom come from very different backgrounds. Although managing a large campus poses many challenges it’s obvious that with the leadership of Mr. Dalziel and his colleagues, the UWCSEA East team is focused on taking advantage...