... continue teaching school like it is 1890.

“Blinding ignorance does mislead us.

O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!”

-LEONARDO DA VINCI

Here it is from Kris, a 15 year-old former student, "How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci".

I think this post should be mandatory for every student teacher to read before they graduate.

I can hear the rebuttals, and yes there are some sweeping generalizations made... but rather than being defensive, I think it is our duty as educators to make things better... in EVERY classroom. We have the tools, and the understanding of pedagogy to make things better even though logistics, economics and circumstance can impede us. What we need are the exemplars, the role models, and the educational leaders to help us get where we need to be.

Today I went to a Learning Team Celebration where everyone on learning teams shared their successes with regards to action based research, done with colleagues, to explore areas of interest. Learning teams (as described here) promote dialogue among peers looking at areas such as the use of reading strategies, social responsibility programs, numeracy initiatives, and integrating technology to engage students in more meaningful ways. I have realized over the past few months that it isn't technology per se that will change education. Instead, it is collaboration of teachers using best practice, and of students interacting with us and each other, that will truly and meaningfully change education. Technology, such as web2.0 tools, will help make the process easier, and speed the process up.

Consider this: I have had the honour of teaching with some truly amazing teachers, and yet I have spent little or no time observing them teach. I have not been able to tap into some 'masterful' resources just a few classroom doors away from me. Collaboration is key! Is it ironic or apropos that a post about da Vinci, a recluse that hid his work, is a post that highlights the value of collaborating?

Here are the 1st and 7th points of 10, offered by Kris in her How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci post:

Read the whole post! If you are an educator, then I challenge you to do two things:

1. Congratulate yourself! Recognize that your are a good teacher, and that you do things within your classroom that do not hinder your students as some of these generalizations do. See the positive. Noticing the good that we do, and acknowledging it as such, encourages us to continue and improve.
2. Challenge yourself! Recognize that you have the opportunity to challenge students in new ways, and know that you too are learning... share your challenges with your peers, seek out opportunities to collaborate, with your colleague across the hall or your web friend across the world. WE will make education better than it ever has been!