we interrupt this narrative!
TRANSCRIPT
NARRATIVE!
MICHELE MARIE KING
I was born to
be...
THELEARNING
INSTIGATOR
THELEARNING
INSTIGATOR
I WAS BORN ON
JUNE 14, 1968.
I’M OVER 18.
I’M OVER 21.
I’M OVER 25.
BUT UNDER65.
HOW OLD AM I?
I’M 26.
I’M 46.
On average, I moved
every three to four years.
I LEARNED HOW TO
ADAPT TO
I RETURNED TO
TO STUDY
TO BECOME A
COLD WARWARRIOR
OR A DIPLOMAT
THEN
THE COLD WAR ENDED.
WE TELL THE STORY OF LIFE...
I TAUGHT
U.S. HISTORY
TO 8TH GRADERS...
HERE
HERE
for the past 15 years
All roads have led me to rethink the purpose of education.
Is Rome Burning...?“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Alvin Toffler
The first round of testing for the state of Pennsylvania began and ran for three Day 2s last week, and I felt like
Bill Murray in Ground Hog’s Day. I don’t know what the ambiance of the rest of the schools in the district was
like, but Jefferson’s joyful spirit was erased by stress and ennui. How does a place filled with children, beings
who are naturally curious, creative, and excited, devolve into anxiety-ridden nervous wrecks? From test ripping
to snacks to placate the unwilling, I have been in a spiritual crisis. I have been crafting this letter in my head
since we were invited to discuss the direction of our district, but I’m speaking from my heart today.
Simply, we are headed in the wrong direction.
I have no vested interest in blaming, criticizing for the sake of criticizing, or taking the position of a powerless
victim. In fact, I’m motivated to engage you, my colleagues, our students, our parents, and our community in
conversations about learning and teaching, relevancy, collaboration, innovation, and vision.
At the center of this conversation should be our students.
We are in the midst of revolutionary changes in all facets of life from the way:
we govern;
we consume media;
we create content;
we organize politically and socially;
we work;
and how and when and where we learn.
Every major sector in society has experienced a decentralization of authority and power. From the decline of
newspapers to cable TV to the music industry to bookstores. We as schools will not be immune to fundamental
changes. I wonder how we are adapting as an institution? How will we remain relevant? These are the types of
questions that keep me up at night.
As a teacher, I feel my role has shifted significantly since the advent of Google, Youtube, Wikipedia, Facebook,
Twitter, TED, a whole host of Web 2.0 tools, and a new generation of portable devices that have emerged. We
teachers are in the midst of a revolution in the way the creation of knowledge and its transmittal are evolving.
What is the role of the teacher, if knowledge is ubiquitous and can be accessible from anywhere and anytime?
The way of the sage of the stage is out the door.
Is this our Egypt?
This is a wake-up call for teachers to empower ourselves as the architects of innovation. We will need to
redefine teachers as facilitators and curators of rich learning that centers on the student. Creating situated
experiences where we can coach and facilitate ways in which our learners will be prepared to challenge a future
of unknowns and complex systems of millions and billions of human interactions.
Four years ago, I wrote a letter to my superintendent and colleagues entitled:
Is Rome Burning...?“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Alvin Toffler
The first round of testing for the state of Pennsylvania began and ran for three Day 2s last week, and I felt like
Bill Murray in Ground Hog’s Day. I don’t know what the ambiance of the rest of the schools in the district was
like, but Jefferson’s joyful spirit was erased by stress and ennui. How does a place filled with children, beings
who are naturally curious, creative, and excited, devolve into anxiety-ridden nervous wrecks? From test ripping
to snacks to placate the unwilling, I have been in a spiritual crisis. I have been crafting this letter in my head
since we were invited to discuss the direction of our district, but I’m speaking from my heart today.
Simply, we are headed in the wrong direction.
I have no vested interest in blaming, criticizing for the sake of criticizing, or taking the position of a powerless
victim. In fact, I’m motivated to engage you, my colleagues, our students, our parents, and our community in
conversations about learning and teaching, relevancy, collaboration, innovation, and vision.
At the center of this conversation should be our students.
We are in the midst of revolutionary changes in all facets of life from the way:
we govern;
we consume media;
we create content;
we organize politically and socially;
we work;
and how and when and where we learn.
Every major sector in society has experienced a decentralization of authority and power. From the decline of
newspapers to cable TV to the music industry to bookstores. We as schools will not be immune to fundamental
changes. I wonder how we are adapting as an institution? How will we remain relevant? These are the types of
questions that keep me up at night.
As a teacher, I feel my role has shifted significantly since the advent of Google, Youtube, Wikipedia, Facebook,
Twitter, TED, a whole host of Web 2.0 tools, and a new generation of portable devices that have emerged. We
teachers are in the midst of a revolution in the way the creation of knowledge and its transmittal are evolving.
What is the role of the teacher, if knowledge is ubiquitous and can be accessible from anywhere and anytime?
The way of the sage of the stage is out the door.
Is this our Egypt?
This is a wake-up call for teachers to empower ourselves as the architects of innovation. We will need to
redefine teachers as facilitators and curators of rich learning that centers on the student. Creating situated
experiences where we can coach and facilitate ways in which our learners will be prepared to challenge a future
of unknowns and complex systems of millions and billions of human interactions.
to try to
start a
conversation
Currently
Cultural Literacy
What is the purpose of education?
What is the purpose of education?
“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in
yourself.”
“Things become beautiful through design.”
Jesse Schell
Go out and instigate!