Civic and moral education...Can be taught, but mostly caught.
If so, how can it be better 'caught'?
It can be
- caught by pupils who see the genuiness and sincerity of teachers who taught that values lesson.
- caught by pupils who are put through experential learning.
- can be better caught by pupils who gets to reflect and speak about it..and
- taught by teachers who know how to facilitate these experential learning process.
What other ways?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Holistic Education_a more balanced education
Holistic Education, some key words and adjectives for it:
Balanced, whole person, infused, along the way teaching (incidental), harmonized.
5 Aspects: Moral, Intellectual, Physical, Social, Aesthetic
Grouping them into 3 groups:
1. Moral/Social
2. Intellectual (or cognitive)
3. Physical/ Aesthetic (or generally 'talents')
Against the current situation of heavily leaning on Intellectual domain, for a balanced/ harmonized holistic education to happen in school, we need to determine the amount of time/ effort of school management, teachers and pupils. What is a good proportion? Will it be realistic? Can a school do it alone within its own system? Likely it would take the MOE changing it's policy, but will it be able to do it?
Balanced, whole person, infused, along the way teaching (incidental), harmonized.
5 Aspects: Moral, Intellectual, Physical, Social, Aesthetic
Grouping them into 3 groups:
1. Moral/Social
2. Intellectual (or cognitive)
3. Physical/ Aesthetic (or generally 'talents')
Against the current situation of heavily leaning on Intellectual domain, for a balanced/ harmonized holistic education to happen in school, we need to determine the amount of time/ effort of school management, teachers and pupils. What is a good proportion? Will it be realistic? Can a school do it alone within its own system? Likely it would take the MOE changing it's policy, but will it be able to do it?
Monday, September 12, 2011
KP dialogue 12th Sept 2011 about Leadership
Following up from the previous post on Leadership philosophy, I went for the KPs of N2 cluster dialogue. Some 25 KPs of N2 came together to discuss in groups of 5, about some 11 leadership skills, behavior and competencies. We were also to link them up them to form a framework, pictorial of concept map so as allow us to use it in continual growth as a leader. In my group of 5 middle managers from different N2 schools, we came up with this. I suggested the human pictorial link to help us to remember better. Now, I shall call it "The person of a leader"
Another contribution I made was to link SEL competencies, familiar to educators that leaders should possess and then continue to grow them with practical experience. As well as placing "Actions management" and "Developing People" as the hands (picture shows shoulders). Other teammates helped to place logical sequencing of vision, thinking, strategic planning as well as "communication skills" at mouth and linked to ear, and putting in feedback loop with it. All of 5 of us all agreed that the heart of leaders is "Service Orientation": remembering that we are servant leaders.
We were very proud of our contribution. Several other KPs also express their "likes" for it.
It was fruitful session: getting to know a few more KPs in N2 cluster; hearing different perspectives about leadership concepts; there was also some personal take-home about 1 one the 11 aspects- "Service Orientation" after Supt asked for views about what it meant for us. Following are some key words that caught my attention: "Cheer leader" (cheerful, encouraging, excellent spirit); "Humility" (humble leading in service); "Consistency-leaving a trail" (leaving an good impression, pleasant experience all time); "Persistent focus on Purpose/ Mission (of Serving others- heart of all servant leaders).
Another contribution I made was to link SEL competencies, familiar to educators that leaders should possess and then continue to grow them with practical experience. As well as placing "Actions management" and "Developing People" as the hands (picture shows shoulders). Other teammates helped to place logical sequencing of vision, thinking, strategic planning as well as "communication skills" at mouth and linked to ear, and putting in feedback loop with it. All of 5 of us all agreed that the heart of leaders is "Service Orientation": remembering that we are servant leaders.
We were very proud of our contribution. Several other KPs also express their "likes" for it.
It was fruitful session: getting to know a few more KPs in N2 cluster; hearing different perspectives about leadership concepts; there was also some personal take-home about 1 one the 11 aspects- "Service Orientation" after Supt asked for views about what it meant for us. Following are some key words that caught my attention: "Cheer leader" (cheerful, encouraging, excellent spirit); "Humility" (humble leading in service); "Consistency-leaving a trail" (leaving an good impression, pleasant experience all time); "Persistent focus on Purpose/ Mission (of Serving others- heart of all servant leaders).
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Leadership Philosophy
The KPs were asked to share about our Leadership (Behaviours, skills and competencies), ranking these behaviours and the reasons.
So I look back into my EPMS work review forms, found that I have some information. It was the 2007 WR forms, that year I became a HOD. In it, there was a section that asked us, the school middle managers, what are our belief statements of leadership and I put this down:
1. A good leader models the way
2. A good leader cares for fellow collegues and encourages the hearts
3. Communications is vital in ensuring good working relationship and work efficiency
I think it was that around that time that I was researching about leadership principles that I could introduce to the Student Council. It was then I came to know about "The Leadership Challenge" Model also know as the KP model (Kouzes and Posner). I also came to know that our Principal, Mr Stephen Chin, also uses it as his leadership principle.
As I read more about this model, I felt quite akin to the 5 Exemplary Practices that a good leader should have. Wanting the Student Council to have a Leadership model to shape their leadership practices and since our principal is also using it (and he can also use this principles to informally mentor the SC, I decided that this would be the Leadership Principles I would adopt and strive to excel in. I later used the following as part of the concept paper for Student Leadership Development. Personally, I have been checking myself how I am doing in these 5 aspects even as I assess and mentor the Student Councillors with these same 5 practices. These has also been useful in other domain of my personal life too as I also lead, influence and develop other people in my life (children, wife, church youths, young people etc)
As I reflect again on these 5 aspects, I thought of what I have done or at least tried to do.
1. Model the way:
- professionalism: doing things well, excellently
- continual improvementhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
- showing care for pupils and staff
- tried to be learning new things, being open and teachable.
Have I been exemplary in Learning and Caring?
2. Inspire a shared vision:
- firstly: I personally needs to catch a vision "For without a vision, the people perish". That vision thereafter needs to be cascaded down to Strategic Plans and then action plans.
- practicing "Influencer" skills: to motivate, influence and effect changes
(6 circles: Personal, Social, Structural x motivation, ability)
This is a useful concepts to influence people and effect change in organisation.
"How am I doing in forming the vision/ a target for the organisation, myself and people who are important to me? If the vision is clear, am I motivating, inspiring them, are the people following me?"
- organization and supervisees
3. Challenge the process
- This is one of my passion (look into not just own area but other part of organization) trying make things better, sometimes I will also use my handyman skills to effect change more quickly.
Eg: school environment, major functions, organizational excellence (pen picture forms), school culture.
- However, sometimes, there are challenges to effect change due to bureaucracy and money. I probably have to find a better way of packaging or sometimes use constant bugging of higher authority.
4. Empower others to act
- To me, it's more like coaching. To help and guide others to be able to do their job well. It can be
> through walking with them/ hand holding/ demonstration
> through modeling the way
- There are a few colleagues (new teachers as well as new leaders) that I am supposed to guide and coach.
- This is also an ability to Foster Collaboration/ build team spirit.
5. Encourage the hearts
- This is basically to be Caring, getting people to be Resilient, strong in their heart, not to give up.
- Have I done well here? Generally, people says I am caring. However, I probably still lacking in details.
Links and Ranks:
"Model the way" tends more to the personal caring attributes, just like "Encourage the hearts". I always remember and use this famous phrase: "The pupils do care how much you know, until they know how much you care". I have always shared with new teachers my philosophy as a teacher: the 3 Fs: Firm, Fair, to be a Friend. Before being appointed as a HOD, I have already been using this, and I strongly believe that all teachers should be able to practice the 3 Fs. The 3rd F requires us to be able to reach out to the hearts and interests of the pupil, encouraging them to bring out the best in them.
To be a leader of teachers who deal with young people, one should be exemplary in these 2 "Model the way" and "Encourage the heart". This, I believe is fundamental.
"Challenge the process": This requires one to be thinking, innovating, improving...not resting on the laurels but challenging status quo. If a leader is to be leading people to higher ground of progress, whether in academic, mental strength or even spirituality, he has to be knowing the way or finding the new and better way, exploring new frontiers. For the betterment of the organisation, always.
I have always feel that the last 2 are of the higher order, not just for the Student Council but for myself too.
"Enabling others to act" and "Inspire a shared vision" both requires one to be inspirational, motivational,sometime even charismatic..to gel people together. Enabling other to act requires one to be quite an expert before we can coach or at least facilitate other learning. To have a vision requires one to be visionary.. look very far ahead of everyone. Making it more difficult is getting all the comrade to share the same vision.
They are also the 2 areas of growth for me.
So I look back into my EPMS work review forms, found that I have some information. It was the 2007 WR forms, that year I became a HOD. In it, there was a section that asked us, the school middle managers, what are our belief statements of leadership and I put this down:
1. A good leader models the way
2. A good leader cares for fellow collegues and encourages the hearts
3. Communications is vital in ensuring good working relationship and work efficiency
I think it was that around that time that I was researching about leadership principles that I could introduce to the Student Council. It was then I came to know about "The Leadership Challenge" Model also know as the KP model (Kouzes and Posner). I also came to know that our Principal, Mr Stephen Chin, also uses it as his leadership principle.
As I read more about this model, I felt quite akin to the 5 Exemplary Practices that a good leader should have. Wanting the Student Council to have a Leadership model to shape their leadership practices and since our principal is also using it (and he can also use this principles to informally mentor the SC, I decided that this would be the Leadership Principles I would adopt and strive to excel in. I later used the following as part of the concept paper for Student Leadership Development. Personally, I have been checking myself how I am doing in these 5 aspects even as I assess and mentor the Student Councillors with these same 5 practices. These has also been useful in other domain of my personal life too as I also lead, influence and develop other people in my life (children, wife, church youths, young people etc)
As I reflect again on these 5 aspects, I thought of what I have done or at least tried to do.
1. Model the way:
- professionalism: doing things well, excellently
- continual improvementhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
- showing care for pupils and staff
- tried to be learning new things, being open and teachable.
Have I been exemplary in Learning and Caring?
2. Inspire a shared vision:
- firstly: I personally needs to catch a vision "For without a vision, the people perish". That vision thereafter needs to be cascaded down to Strategic Plans and then action plans.
- practicing "Influencer" skills: to motivate, influence and effect changes
(6 circles: Personal, Social, Structural x motivation, ability)
This is a useful concepts to influence people and effect change in organisation.
"How am I doing in forming the vision/ a target for the organisation, myself and people who are important to me? If the vision is clear, am I motivating, inspiring them, are the people following me?"
- organization and supervisees
3. Challenge the process
- This is one of my passion (look into not just own area but other part of organization) trying make things better, sometimes I will also use my handyman skills to effect change more quickly.
Eg: school environment, major functions, organizational excellence (pen picture forms), school culture.
- However, sometimes, there are challenges to effect change due to bureaucracy and money. I probably have to find a better way of packaging or sometimes use constant bugging of higher authority.
4. Empower others to act
- To me, it's more like coaching. To help and guide others to be able to do their job well. It can be
> through walking with them/ hand holding/ demonstration
> through modeling the way
- There are a few colleagues (new teachers as well as new leaders) that I am supposed to guide and coach.
- This is also an ability to Foster Collaboration/ build team spirit.
5. Encourage the hearts
- This is basically to be Caring, getting people to be Resilient, strong in their heart, not to give up.
- Have I done well here? Generally, people says I am caring. However, I probably still lacking in details.
Links and Ranks:
"Model the way" tends more to the personal caring attributes, just like "Encourage the hearts". I always remember and use this famous phrase: "The pupils do care how much you know, until they know how much you care". I have always shared with new teachers my philosophy as a teacher: the 3 Fs: Firm, Fair, to be a Friend. Before being appointed as a HOD, I have already been using this, and I strongly believe that all teachers should be able to practice the 3 Fs. The 3rd F requires us to be able to reach out to the hearts and interests of the pupil, encouraging them to bring out the best in them.
To be a leader of teachers who deal with young people, one should be exemplary in these 2 "Model the way" and "Encourage the heart". This, I believe is fundamental.
"Challenge the process": This requires one to be thinking, innovating, improving...not resting on the laurels but challenging status quo. If a leader is to be leading people to higher ground of progress, whether in academic, mental strength or even spirituality, he has to be knowing the way or finding the new and better way, exploring new frontiers. For the betterment of the organisation, always.
I have always feel that the last 2 are of the higher order, not just for the Student Council but for myself too.
"Enabling others to act" and "Inspire a shared vision" both requires one to be inspirational, motivational,sometime even charismatic..to gel people together. Enabling other to act requires one to be quite an expert before we can coach or at least facilitate other learning. To have a vision requires one to be visionary.. look very far ahead of everyone. Making it more difficult is getting all the comrade to share the same vision.
They are also the 2 areas of growth for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)