Reflections on Larry Jacob's Presentation - July 10, 2009

Continuity – The biggest thing that I noticed was the difference in the approach to creating the vision. The “shared” part of “shared vision” was really made evident in today’s VC. It takes courage to let all stakeholders have input into the direction that the division is going, but that is what makes the vision all the more powerful. While it doesn’t guarantee buy-in, it gives a feeling of ownership to everyone involved. People are more likely to work well within a framework that they helped create.
In terms of actual continuity, there is a vision common to all of our resources. The fact that technology has become pervasive was illustrated in each case. All resources speak to the fact that the student is the ultimate consumer of our product (the lesson) and that we have to adjust our techniques to meet their needs.

Salience – Technology is so embedded in our society that Wolf Creek has no technology plan, they have an education plan. The education is the most important part.

Outcomes – The outcomes that were emphasized were the growth of all stakeholders, “learning for life.” Many supports are given in the form of PD opportunities, team-building activities, etc. Technology is an integral part of the learning process and, while the expectation is there that it will be used, the support is also available to ensure that it will be.
Processes – The collaborative approach in the process of developing the education vision gave everyone a say in the vision. This is in contrast to other models that have developed the vision centrally. Most educators value the integration of technology in their practice, but letting them have input no doubt made the change less threatening.

Characteristics – The primary characteristics of all of our guests has been that they are dynamic people who believe in their role as leader. It is also apparent that they believe in the people that surround them.