Fruits of Labor
January 28th, 2010
In education we do not get to see the fruit of our labor until many years have gone past. But when it happens it always makes a profound impact. Today was just such a day. As many of you know I worked with the Alabama Best Practices Center for four years in Alabama with schools across the state on a 21st Century Learners project. We worked with schools on reconceptualizing their teaching, classrooms, schools and districts in ways that would meet the needs of the networked learner. We pushed hard for reculturing and a shift in curriculum toward project/problem based learning. I remember wondering (more than once) if anything I was saying, sharing, modeling, and teaching was getting through.
Then today I get this letter-
Sheryl,
Yesterday, I attended a 21st Century Showcase at Winterboro in Talladega County. You will remember that they joined the project in the second year. I wish you had been there with me.
They have completely transformed the school. It is now geared around problem-based learning. They have added four learning suites to the school - which was built in 1930 - that enables interdisciplinary teaching. Each suite has computers on each desk, and desks can be reconfigured to meet whatever task is being done.
The students were amazing and they were ENGAGED. The teachers who had been at Winterboro before the transformation noted that before many students couldn’t look adults in the eye. When I approach the school, one student saw me, came outside to open the door for me, reached out his hand, looked me in the eye and said, “Welcome to our wonderful school!” Within one minute, five other students had made a point of coming up to greet me.
There is a short video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCykWrOZCjo
It was made by a student who runs the school’s video studio.
Amazing, amazing.
Wanted you to know because you helped make this happen. Wish you could visit.
I was so happy, so proud, and so humbled. Change does happen. They are listening. You will see evidence of your hard labor.
Things are changing. They are shifting.
What a great post! I work in the UK in a similar field to you and can identify absolutely with what you’re saying. What we do DOES make a difference, we know that but it’s so great to get something like this! Well done! The student’s video is great and I’ll be showing this to teachers & students here as inspiration for them!
Sheryl — as your partner in some of the ABPC work, I can testify that you are the reason many Alabama teachers who participated in the 21st Century Learners initiative have begun to define a new paradigm for teaching and learning. Many were eager for change, but it was your daring vision of the future that gave the risk-takers and trailblazers the confidence to move ahead.
Since you posted this, ABPC’s Cathy Gassenheimer has written about her trip to Winterboro School in her blog. Check it out: http://snipr.com/pbl-winterboro
Thanks John. I am serious when I say– you were my mentor. You saw things in me I never saw in myself. You opened doors, you supported me, pushed me, and made me want to work hard. Thank you for your comments here and I hope everyone will go check out Cathy’s blog.