Make a difference

One of the great things about being an educator is the thought, 'I can make a difference!'. As a school we've been thinking about our friends in Christchurch. We've thought about how we might make a positive difference for them, given the adversity they've faced. What might we be able to do to help and support them? How can we help bring some smiles back to the faces of those who have endured so much hardship?
This disaster, and now also the tragedy that has occurred in Japan, has caused me to pause and reflect often over the last few days and weeks. Watching the images and hearing the stories, I've felt a sense of helplessness - what can we do to help??? Money has been the most practical answer. Raise some money and send it down to help with the repair. As a school, we've done this, raising just over $1200 for a school in need in Christchurch. It was a good effort, and I'm sure will be appreciated. Well done to our school community!
Whilst celebrating this, my thoughts have also been on not taking for granted the ability we have to make a difference every day.
So the question is,
HOW WILL YOU MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS THIS WEEK?
Who might you connect with who you haven't done so recently?
Who might need that extra bit of support or understanding?
Which parents might appreciate a call to let them know how you're enjoying learning with their child?
Which colleagues have inspired or supported you? How could you say thanks or pay it forward?
How are you going to have fun and celebrate learning?
Can you make a bit more time for that learner that you've had a bit more difficulty understanding?
How can you look 'outside' of yourself, and towards a bigger picture.

As we get caught up in the busyness of life, both in school and out, it can be easy to lose sight of the woods for the trees. I believe that these local and global disasters can serve as a reminder - they remind me how fortunate we are, and that we should not take that, and our ability to really make a difference for granted.
I'm going to try hard to make a difference this week, I hope you are too!

Motivation and learning - Dan Pink

What really motivates us to do good work?

Behavioural physics - the intuitive sense of what drives behaviour, but not necessarily what we would think. Reward and punishment seems an obvious motivator to many people - but it's not for creative thinking.

As long as a task involves mechanical skills the higher the reward the better the performance.
But once a task calls for “even rudimentary cognitive skill”, a larger reward led to poorer performance.

'If / then' rewards work for simple routine based tasks but not for hueristic type tasks.

Our students will be using the cognitive skills of artists.

Nearly all schoolwork is like ‘commissioned' work. Non commissioned work gives more creativity. Schools should work towards more non-commissioned time.

3 important motivators:
Autonomy
Mastery
Purpose

Management is a technology designed to give compliance.

High standards and autonomy are generally what is talked about when people talk about best leaders or teachers.
People want autonomy over -
Time
Task
Team
Technique

Fedex days for schools - you have 24 hours to come up with 1 idea to improve our school - after 24 hours you have 3 - 4 minutes to present your idea.

The single biggest motivator ... Making progress in one’s work.

Do it yourself report cards.

Elevate the 'why' and don’t get too caught up on the how.

http://www.danpink.com/