MCL is a Vision . . . for now

Published Friday, April 27, 2012 by Chuck Schwahn in  

We are frequently getting requests to go see the school that is described in the video titled Lori Does Her Learning Plan. (The video is available through the masscustomizinglearning.com website or directly through YouTube) Sorry, but Inevitable: Mass Customizing Learning is only a vision at this point. Since the publication of the book, many school districts are taking "starter steps" so that they are ready for the "on ramp" when the technology catches up with the vision. A field book to help educators and school systems negotiate that on ramp is scheduled to be available sometime this summer. Some exciting "starter steps" that will be part of that Fieldbook are now available on our website.


At present, we are in discussions with a very successful tech-oriented company that may partner with us to make the vision a reality. The vision has great appeal. I worked with a group of 170 educators in Pennsylvania this Thursday (April 26). We spent 3 hours studying the rationale for MCL, the vision, what it could mean for learners, and what it could mean for our profession. It appears that there is near universal acceptance and support for MCL as described in Inevitable.

Visions are most powerful when they run well ahead of our present capacity to do them, and visions are more exciting when written in the present tense rather than the future tense. Creating the vision of a desirable and doable change is the first step in creating a new reality. (cjs)


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2 comments:

  1. Mark Davis April 28, 2012 at 7:17 AM

    Like many great ideas, the vision seems to be taking root in a classrooms first. It's challenging to implement a classroom scale version of MCL in a progressing, but still traditional, school and district. However, it is VERY much worth taking on the challenge! I've been pleased so far...

     
  2. Chuck Schwahn April 29, 2012 at 2:03 PM

    Thanks for the reaction Mark. I recall some research out of the University of Texas 20+ years ago that basically found that successful school innovation/change happened when the Principal embraced the vision/change and a lead teacher, one with credibility with peers, was seen as an advocate for the change. That finding makes sense to me and I experienced it a few times in my career.

    I was in PA this past week and watched two teams working toward MCL . . . one with two members and another with three . . . who were the buzz of the school. Learners were ENGAGED. Other teachers are watching and supporting. The Principal was doing a great job of supporting and encouraging. I would expect that the MCL approach will grow before the year is out and become the norm in a year or two. (cjs)

     

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