The+3+committments

=What are three things you can commit to doing in your practice as an educator that will effect positive change in your school climate? = =media type="file" key="The three committments take two.m4a" width="285" height="285"=

A leader does not need to be overt nor direct as a principal or president, but can be identified as one who inspires others to perform beyond their level of comfort, to expand and explore ideas and put them in practice in the hopes of success and difference in ideology and performance. As a behind-the-scenes leader, one who inspires discussion and influences performance; one who demonstrates a continued interest in learning, listens to the concerns of peers, contributes when consulted (and occasionally when not), displays energy, passion, and is not afraid to embarrass the self for the greater good, I will attempt to effect positive change in my school's climate in the following three ways:

Dewey insists "that students, as active organisms, must be involved in the establishment of objectives for their own learning." (Noddings, 2007, p. 29) It is in this vein that I will set out to improve upon the communicative understandings of a course's purposes, particularly in freshman writing lab. I intend to harness the connection between purpose and activity by allowing writing lab students the opportunity to articulate their involvement in the learning process through reflection.

The use of technology (wiki, moodle, or blog) during the construction processes of an essay will, hopefully, engage students in the here and now while allowing further opportunity to use the terminology and vocabulary of the writing process and rubric indicators. After all, Dewey tells us that "not only must there be continuity in educative experience, but the experience itself must have meaning" (Noddings, 2007, p. 32). Utilizing communication modes commonly used by today's tech savvy students is not just an opportunity but a necessity. It is my hope that by applying technology toward a particular aspect of writing lab, peer conferencing, students will associate greater meaning and authenticity toward their writing processes.

Precisely because "it is harder to turn the light of critical analysis on ourselves and our own ways of life than on others," (Noddings, 2007, p.7) I will strive to do just that. Sharing student work for critique and discussion during professional learning communities, or PLC, will be the most challenging and nerve-wracking of the changes to which I will commit. Yet...I will place myself in the ever vulnerable position as subject of the discussion, put my ego and fears in check, serve up my tender underbelly for the sake of positive change beyond my classroom walls.