Since coming to work at IASB I’ve had such a different experience than I did when I worked in school. When I was a young teacher, at least 200 years ago, we worked independently and in fact hoarded our ideas and materials. Wanted to keep them fresh for our students only! I guess. Actually, I really can’t remember why everything was so private. But by the time I left 7 years ago, we were just learning to collaborate around instruction, plan lessons together, look at data together. The work environment here at IASB is very collaborative… people are on work teams and not much goes out the door without multiple contributions, multiple eyes having seen it, etc. While sometimes it frustrating, that environment makes for much better work products. Makes me wonder how that’s going in schools now? Are your collaborative teams focused on improving instruction? Better lessons? More challenging curriculum? Fill me in!
In addition to this, read about the environment Google expects their employees to be a part of and what one writer thinks is the disconnect between the environments in schools and the environments kids will need to adapt to when they go to work.
Wesley Fryer, writer and editor for the website, “Moving at the Speed of Creativity,” noted this question and answer posed to and answered by the CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, in Wired magazine in May 2007.
“Google’s revenue and employee head count have tripled in the last two years. How do you keep from becoming too bureaucratic or too chaotic?”
Schmidt’s Response:
“It’s a constant problem. We analyze this every day, and our conclusion is that the best model remains small teams running as fast as they can and tolerating a certain lack of cohesion. The attempt to provide order drives out the creativity. And so it’s a balance.”
Fryer comments
“Note his language: “..the best model remains small teams running as fast as they can and tolerating a certain lack of cohesion.” This connects directly to what we need to see MORE in the classroom, but many classroom teachers (as well as building administrators) don’t feel comfortable with: The noise/hum of collaborative learning and discussion. Teachers are often not comfortable “letting go” of the sense of control they have when lecturing to a largely silent classroom of listeners. The lesson here is that the business world does not merely want to hire listeners and fact regurgitators, but rather thinkers who can collaborate, “run fast” and create innovative ideas which reflect both higher level thinking as well as creativity.”
Fryer’s blog: http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/04/29/collaboration-in-schools-more-reasons-we-need-it/ :
Do you agree with Fryer’s comments? Why or why not? How can we connect better with the world our students are going to?
In addition to this, read about the environment Google expects their employees to be a part of and what one writer thinks is the disconnect between the environments in schools and the environments kids will need to adapt to when they go to work.
Wesley Fryer, writer and editor for the website, “Moving at the Speed of Creativity,” noted this question and answer posed to and answered by the CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, in Wired magazine in May 2007.
“Google’s revenue and employee head count have tripled in the last two years. How do you keep from becoming too bureaucratic or too chaotic?”
Schmidt’s Response:
“It’s a constant problem. We analyze this every day, and our conclusion is that the best model remains small teams running as fast as they can and tolerating a certain lack of cohesion. The attempt to provide order drives out the creativity. And so it’s a balance.”
Fryer comments
“Note his language: “..the best model remains small teams running as fast as they can and tolerating a certain lack of cohesion.” This connects directly to what we need to see MORE in the classroom, but many classroom teachers (as well as building administrators) don’t feel comfortable with: The noise/hum of collaborative learning and discussion. Teachers are often not comfortable “letting go” of the sense of control they have when lecturing to a largely silent classroom of listeners. The lesson here is that the business world does not merely want to hire listeners and fact regurgitators, but rather thinkers who can collaborate, “run fast” and create innovative ideas which reflect both higher level thinking as well as creativity.”
Fryer’s blog: http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/04/29/collaboration-in-schools-more-reasons-we-need-it/ :
Do you agree with Fryer’s comments? Why or why not? How can we connect better with the world our students are going to?
Would you like the world of google? Let us know... Susie
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