I just had a call from a dear friend and colleague who called to catch up. I love those kind of calls. Mark and I have known each other for years. Our paths have crossed professionally twenty years ago when sat next to each other in an educational workshop. A friendship was born that day and has grown and matured for 20 years. We have been there for each other no matter the deal. We always will. We think we know each other quite well.
In the course of the conversation I asked him how his latest educational learning conference went. He responded in a highly enthusiastic manner. I was surprised as the main theme of the conference was how to use the technological tools of today to learn. It is no secret that Mark has not been on the front line of change when it comes to integrating the technology of today into his professional life. I asked him why now as I listened to him excitedly talk about his learning and what he was going to do with it. He simply said, “It is about readiness”. I should have listened to you years ago but you have to wait until you are ready. Simply stated and yet so profound.
So my question to all educators of learners of all ages is simply this. When will we really get that? When will we accept the fact that no one learns the same things in the same way on the same day. Just because we shape an entire P-20 learning system to run that way doesn’t make it happen. Never has, never will. How many more learners will we sacrifice to a system that is built on the wrong engine?
Readiness? When will be ready?
Tags: Education, learning, educational leadership, educational change
