Over the last few years I have read less and less fiction. I know I need to get back and read this genre but I am really hooked on so called "pop economics" style books. Freakonomics started this for me. I also find that Malcolm Gladwell's books are fun and thought provoking. I noted that even my university professors were using ideas and thoughts from Gladwell. I avidly follow his blog on The New Yorker and would suggest everyone read his latest, "Outliers".
This summer I read "Sway" that tries to explain why we make irrational decisions and how we can easily be manipulated from rational decisions for a variety of reasons. The concept of being more aware of rational decisions and the pyschological forces that push us to poor decisions is an important one for educators and educational leaders to consider. How many decisions have been made in schools or school districts in which a psychological "sway" pushes people into poor decisions. Common sense tells us that this happens all the time and is oftern, the result of group dynamics at meetings. Appeasement of bullies at meetings is common, or losing site of the purpose of education is easy to do. We must be vigilant to guard against these irrational decisions.
Having previously read two of Donald Tapscott's books, I picked up his latest book, "Grown Up Digital" which examines how the "Net Generation" of people have changed society and provides insight into how they have been POSITVELY impacted by technology. He is not myopic about some of the negatives of technology but is an avid supporter of technology, but more importantly he is a staunch supporter of the "Net Generation". He clearly paints rebuttals to those who cry that today's kids are "dumber" previous generations. His arguments flow together and use data gleaned from a wide number of sources to lend more than anecdotal evidence to his points. Tapscott devotes a whole chapter to education in which he condemns the current stand and deliver method of instruction. With the AISI/ETL project hitting the ground this fall for the Lethbridge School District we will have a great chance to discuss many of the points that he raises. It certainly is the intent for the project to address his concerns and deal properly with our students by engaging them more fully in their schooling.
