"Knowing the steps ahead of time is not important; being willing to engage with the music and mover freely onto the dance floor is what's essential." pg 162
"Information overload is a major problem. We aren't struggling with this problem just because of technology, and we won't solve our information dilemmas just by using more sophisticated information-sorting techniques. We are moving irrevocably into a new relationship with the creative element of life."
This goes well with the video themes. pg. 205, large print edition
I appreciated these two quotations: "The motion of these systems is kept in harmony by life's great cohering process, that of self-reference" (p. 167).
"Yet it is very important to note that in all life, the self is not a selfish individual. 'Self' includes awareness of those others it must relate to as part of its system" (p. 167)
I loved these two pieces together because they demonstrate the importance of the whole and the parts with reference to identity, which is so important in developing community and a sense of self as a school.
For me, it is not only science, I have read that gives me assurance that I live in an orderly world, even when it refuses to organize in ways of my choosing.
I loved this (p.162): "Whenever you can hear laughter . . . and somebody saying, 'But that's preposterous!'--you can tell things are going well and that something worth looking at has begun to happen in the lab." I can't think of very many times this would describe the planning or data review processes I've been involved in over the years (although, I have made some progress in my PLC meetings).
I like what Susie wrote the most. I will add... "If we can look at ourselves truthfully in the light of this fire and stop being so serious about getting things "right"...we can engage in life differently, more playfully." p. 161-162
"Wouldn't we all welcome more playfulness in our lives? I would be excited to encounter more people delighted by surprises than being scared to death of them... Surprise is the only route to discovery, a moment that pulsates with new learnings. The dance of this universe requires that we open ourselves to the unknown." (162)
Wheatley (2006) "If we fail to recognize information's essential role in supporting self-organization, we will be unable to survive in this new world" (p. 166).
As Dan Brown stated, information is losing value over time, and with technology, the monetary value of information is approaching 0. I feel that information, inherently, is incredibly valuable, but I do agree that we are reaching an era to where information can be gathered in many areas besides JUST the 4 walls of an educational edifice. It is not the value of information that is changing, but the value of how we acquire information.
Page 161 "If we can look at ourselves truthfully in the light of this fire and stop being so serious about getting things "right" - as if there were still an objective reality out there - we can engage in life differently, more playfully."
p. 166 "To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled.....People need to be free to do what has to get done."
Pg. 162, 2nd paragraph: "Were we to become truly good scientists of our leadership craft, we would seek out surprises, relishing the unpredictable when it finally decide to reveal itself. SURPRISE IS THE ONLY ROUTE TO DISCOVERY, A MOMENT THAT PULSATES WITH NEW LEARNINGS." - true learning cannot be anticipated, but found through experience and spontaneity
"Information needs to be free, and the necessity for freedom is another prevailing message in much of new science. This world insists that we develop a different understanding of autonomy and self-determination, moving far from the command-and-control approaches of the past. To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled. As one manager wryly commended, "I believe in fully autonomous work, as long as it stops at the level below me." Yet everywhere in nature, the freedom to self-determine is essential. What's peculiar about his freedom is that it results not in anarchy, but in global systems that support all members of the system. Individuals and local groups are free to do what makes sense to them. These local units respond, adapt, change. Another manager put it succinctly: 'People need to be free to do what has to get done.'"
p. 166 "To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled.....People need to be free to do what has to get done."
From Tisha's response. This spoke to me because while I agree in the theoretical sense, I do think that perhaps what we need is better management of teachers so that things get done the very best they can. For too long we have let teachers "just teach" and look at the results for our most underserved kids. That said, I also don't think the solution is really tight micromanagement. We just need to find a balance - I just think the quote took it too far.
"Knowing the steps ahead of time is not important; being willing to engage with the music and mover freely onto the dance floor is what's essential." pg 162
ReplyDelete"Information overload is a major problem. We aren't struggling with this problem just because of technology, and we won't solve our information dilemmas just by using more sophisticated information-sorting techniques. We are moving irrevocably into a new relationship with the creative element of life."
ReplyDeleteThis goes well with the video themes. pg. 205, large print edition
I appreciated these two quotations:
ReplyDelete"The motion of these systems is kept in harmony by life's great cohering process, that of self-reference" (p. 167).
"Yet it is very important to note that in all life, the self is not a selfish individual. 'Self' includes awareness of those others it must relate to as part of its system" (p. 167)
I loved these two pieces together because they demonstrate the importance of the whole and the parts with reference to identity, which is so important in developing community and a sense of self as a school.
For me, it is not only science, I have read that gives me assurance that I live in an orderly world, even when it refuses to organize in ways of my choosing.
ReplyDeleteI loved this (p.162): "Whenever you can hear laughter . . . and somebody saying, 'But that's preposterous!'--you can tell things are going well and that something worth looking at has begun to happen in the lab." I can't think of very many times this would describe the planning or data review processes I've been involved in over the years (although, I have made some progress in my PLC meetings).
ReplyDeleteI like what Susie wrote the most. I will add... "If we can look at ourselves truthfully in the light of this fire and stop being so serious about getting things "right"...we can engage in life differently, more playfully." p. 161-162
ReplyDeleteI picked the same one!
Delete"Wouldn't we all welcome more playfulness in our lives? I would be excited to encounter more people delighted by surprises than being scared to death of them... Surprise is the only route to discovery, a moment that pulsates with new learnings. The dance of this universe requires that we open ourselves to the unknown." (162)
ReplyDeleteYes--that was the rest of the quote I posted--playfulness . . . sigh . . .
DeleteAnd pairs with Susie's as well!
DeleteWheatley (2006) "If we fail to recognize information's essential role in supporting self-organization, we will be unable to survive in this new world" (p. 166).
ReplyDeleteAs Dan Brown stated, information is losing value over time, and with technology, the monetary value of information is approaching 0. I feel that information, inherently, is incredibly valuable, but I do agree that we are reaching an era to where information can be gathered in many areas besides JUST the 4 walls of an educational edifice. It is not the value of information that is changing, but the value of how we acquire information.
Page 161
ReplyDelete"If we can look at ourselves truthfully in the light of this fire and stop being so serious about getting things "right" - as if there were still an objective reality out there - we can engage in life differently, more playfully."
p. 166
ReplyDelete"To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled.....People need to be free to do what has to get done."
This was good too--wow.
DeletePg. 162, 2nd paragraph: "Were we to become truly good scientists of our leadership craft, we would seek out surprises, relishing the unpredictable when it finally decide to reveal itself. SURPRISE IS THE ONLY ROUTE TO DISCOVERY, A MOMENT THAT PULSATES WITH NEW LEARNINGS." - true learning cannot be anticipated, but found through experience and spontaneity
ReplyDeletepg. 166-167
ReplyDelete"Information needs to be free, and the necessity for freedom is another prevailing message in much of new science. This world insists that we develop a different understanding of autonomy and self-determination, moving far from the command-and-control approaches of the past. To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled. As one manager wryly commended, "I believe in fully autonomous work, as long as it stops at the level below me." Yet everywhere in nature, the freedom to self-determine is essential. What's peculiar about his freedom is that it results not in anarchy, but in global systems that support all members of the system. Individuals and local groups are free to do what makes sense to them. These local units respond, adapt, change. Another manager put it succinctly: 'People need to be free to do what has to get done.'"
p. 166
ReplyDelete"To many managers, autonomy is just one small step away from anarchy. They hesitate to use it unless they can be assured it will be carefully controlled.....People need to be free to do what has to get done."
From Tisha's response. This spoke to me because while I agree in the theoretical sense, I do think that perhaps what we need is better management of teachers so that things get done the very best they can. For too long we have let teachers "just teach" and look at the results for our most underserved kids. That said, I also don't think the solution is really tight micromanagement. We just need to find a balance - I just think the quote took it too far.