2009 Summer Blog Post!
If you are like me, I look forward to the long days of
summer to catch up on my reading. I enjoy all types of
genre and particularly love to share “good reads” with my
friends and colleagues.
I would like to pass along a book that I highly recommend
entitled, DISRUPTING CLASS--How Disruptive
Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, by
Clayton M. Christensen. I’ve actually had this book in my
personal library since it was released in 2008. I was
delighted to see that it was included in the July 13, 2009
issue of TIME Magazine in an article entitled, “Fifty Books
that Make Sense of Our Times,” and I highly encourage all
people interested in the future of education to read it.
Those of you in business may recognize author Clayton
Christensen for his best selling book The Innovator’s
Dilemma which transformed the way business looks at
innovation. In this book, Christensen, a Professor of
Business at Harvard, applies his theory of disruptive
innovation to education. The key premise of DISRUPTING
CLASS is that our schools need to customize education to
match the way each child learns best. In other words, our
schools’ focus on standardization of teaching methods
(commonly, a teacher lecturing and all students using the
same book) has limited the potential of many of our
students to learn. Christensen contends that improving
education therefore calls for a movement away from
standardization and the movement toward a student-centric
approach through the use of technology.
Christensen points out that schools have for many years
added computers and, most recently “smart boards” to their
classrooms, but this “cramming new technologies into
existing structures” is not the answer. Rather, technology
must be used to address different learning styles and be
used in “project based” or inquiry learning. Moving to a
student-centric approach to education is “disruptive”
because a totally new model of education results.
This is such an exciting time in education! I’m proud that
the hallmarks of our curriculum at Holy Family Academy
include differentiated instruction and inquiry learning.
Our teachers are skilled at adjusting the curriculum to the
learners rather than expecting the students to modify
themselves to the curriculum. Our Web 2.0 lessons (see
my Spring entry) used technology to teach and connect
students 25 miles away.
I encourage you to read DISRUPTING CLASS then re-visit
our school website. I think you’ll find “disruption” in
progress!
Have a great summer!
Dr. Gretchen Ludwig
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posted by Principal Blog at
8:51 AM
5 Comments:
Gretchen,
Thanks for the recommendation! I actually saw this book mentioned in TIME magazine and picked up a copy. I could hardly put it down because it seemed as if it was talking about all the attributes of HFCA! So many people think that all Catholic schools are alike--they have no idea that HFCA is so special! You and Dr. Alford, HFCA Curriculum Consultant, should feel so proud that a nationally recognized "innovation expert" has validated all the great things we are doing at HFCA!
I agree. Being one of the 2 alumni so far, I have to say that Holy Family is totally different from any other catholic schools. Holy Family definitely uses much more up to date methods of teaching and gives the students chances to interact with each other in a way that will help them further in life. Great article Dr. Ludwig. I can't wait to visit and let everyone know how well prepared i was for high school!
This is exactly why I am sending my son to HFCA. Many schools talk about differentiation because it is the current buzz word in the education business, but few schools actually apply it. Most schools are teaching skills that only prepare students for the top down hierarchies and the factory setting of the 20th century. HFCA is teaching students how to think and solve problems. These are the skills necessary to be successful today.
I love that Holy Family Academy is so innovative. Each grade has embraced technology in unique ways. Even the First Graders use a webcam and internet voice software for real time communication and sharing of projects with a school in another town. They also make a video documentary in First Grade. Remarkable!
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