Thinking

We had a great Think Tank day on Tuesday.  We explored our thoughts around the conceptual curriculum and planning and assessment that can be involved with this new way of thinking about curriculum.  As our dialogue progressed, I was reminded of this thinking from Seth Goodin.

It's a lot easier for an organization to adopt new words than it is to actually change anything.

Real change is uncomfortable. If it's not feeling that way, you've probably just adopted new words.

In thinking about our conceptual curriculum, I think we are in danger of doing just that - changing some words but not our approach.  I think we need to take more time to unpack this thinking with all of our team - and this may be a process that takes years rather than days, weeks or months.  Having a conceptual curriculum aligns so well with our vision for learning, and personalisation.  It will be worth investing the time and resource into.

The Paragon Learning Inventory

Is this me?  I’m not too sure.  I don’t think this will be how others perceive me.  Maybe it’s me deep down.

I came out as an introvert, intuitive, thinker, perceiver (INTP).

The summary statement said: 

Quiet and reserved.

Especially enjoy theoretical or scientific pursuits.

Like solving problems with logic and analysis.

Usually interested mainly ideas, with little liking for parties or small talk.

Tend to have sharply defined interests.

Need careers where some strong interests can be uses or useful. 

Did I not think about or listen to the question well enough?  Did I make lazy choices?  If I’m not sure, I’ll just put ‘B’.  

Having done things such as this before, I think the main thing for me is to reflect on myself.  It’s not about the answer, but more on the process of being lead to look inward from different perspectives.  Sometimes it can be challenging reflecting on practice and purpose.  It’s also interesting to think of the pressure we can put on ourselves because we are concerned with how we think others need to see us.  

The ‘this is me in my job, and what I need to show to you’ compared with the ‘this is how I’m really feeling and what I think’.  The screens we put up, and the mirrors we see.

Why 'Leadership On The Run?'

So why have I called this blog 'Leadership On The Run' I hear you ask...  well, this resonates with me on a number of levels... firstly, running is current passion of mine.  I enjoy it physically and socially, and it is also a time when I do lots of reflecting.  I've also had some very humbling experiences with running.  I've been challenged to a point where I've questioned my ability to continue. Worked through pain (mental and physical) and come out the other side as, I believe, a wiser person.  With school leadership I also feel like I've been on the 'run' a lot.  The job can be a complex one.  Demanding physically and mentally, and also very humbling.
Both running and school leadership would also be two of the most rewarding things I've been involved with and learnt from (besides marrying my beautiful wife and having our equally beautiful daughter!).  I look forward to learning more through running and leading but not always leading the running!