The Art of Leadership
What am I really trying to do as a leader? So what if I have a vision. What is it that I am hoping to achieve? The more I think about this, the more I realize that what I am trying to do is change the mental models that people have—their mental models of education, of technology, of 21st century learning. Everyone, regardless of whether they are involved in the education system directly or not has an opinion or idea about what education should look like. And since we have all been raised in the industrial age model of education we tend to have a mental model that is in line with what we have experienced.
But education today can be, and has to be so much more. We need to shift our mental model. How do we do this? It’s a process that requires great skill. I ran into someone the other day that seemed to have a mental model of education that didn’t really include technology as a part of the model. In order to move that person in the direction of a shift, we need to ask questions. The skill comes in asking the right questions, in the right way. If we are not careful, we can end up making that person feel inadequate or even stupid. We may disagree with their mental model, but to change it, we must approach the effort with skillful questioning and inquiry. I’m realizing that I’m good at seeing the need to shift mental models, but not always able to communicate effectively in order to change a flawed mental model.
This is why leadership fascinates me. It is good leadership that will help us change mental models so that we can move classrooms into the 21st century - new pedagogy and new tools.
July 4 addition: This link (through David Warlicks recent post - A Long Way To Go) is just one example of a out-dated mental model. Notice how frequently he refers to his own education. It’s amazing how he thinks that is what we should still be doing.
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