Saw this on Mastodon today and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Maybe because I’m GenX? Maybe because this all started with Reagan’s “trickle down” economics and other fiscal policies?
This is where I will spend countless hours over the next few months...working through a mix of digital and analog resources, to cobble a dissertation worthy of acceptance.
As I get closer to completion, I realize that the reward is no simply the doctoral degree, but the knowledge gained along the way. While that sentiment about knowledge gained may sound like a cheesy inspirational poster, it does resonate with me.
It has taken a lot of work to get to this point. And, it will require much more work to see it through.
"Get to work."
Continuing on my thoughts regarding efficiencies and organizational development...
Is this really the way education works?
Who is doing the work? Who decides how the work is to be done?
I’d like to think education is much more efficient than this. Yet, my experience and the shared experiences of other educators tells me we have a long way to go before any meaningful change is achieved.
Professional development, in-service, assessments, testing, social-emotional learning...
All these things hold value. Only, the seem to come from the top down. Meetings and trainings should be focused on craft and culture. All the mechanics can be shared in a slide deck or posted on the staff intranet.
People give me strange looks when I say I have homework or when I say I have reading. Their puzzled expression changes when I explain that I’m working to complete my doctorate.
Typically, I am then presented with a question like, "Why would you want to do that?" or "What job will it create for you?" To be blunt:
A) I am doing this for myself and B) I do not know.
All I know is that this terminal degree program has kept me busy, and that I have neglected my posts here. This blog was intended to be a chronicle of my experience as a doctoral learner. And, I need to prioritize a few things such as this blog, my health, and quality time with my dogs.
Since entering the program in late May, the focus on other aspects of my life has been tricky to manage. Yet, I'm still learning. Once I complete the program, I am positive that the job opportunities will present themselves...along with a new set of priorities.
So, I keep doing the work.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about words that start with work...
- workshop
- workspace
- workflow
- workload
- workforce
- work
shitssheets
What is work, and what does it have to do with schools and learning?
Some would argue that the education system is not doing enough to support the workforce. It is not a Millennial issue, or a standards issue. It is about emotions, and it is about relationships. It is about responsibility.
Developing A Sense Of Responsibility: Why Emotional Insight Is Critical For The Future Of Work
And, it is now a presidential debate issue, with 18 of 23 presidential candidates supporting some type of tuition relief or assistance.
"However, a 2013 McKinsey & Company study of youth, education providers, and employers in nine countries showed that while 72 percent of higher education institutions believe they prepare their students well for the workforce, half of students are not sure if their credentials improve their opportunities at finding a job. This disconnect can also be seen in the private sector where only 11 percent of business leaders ‘strongly agree’ that students have the vital skills for the labour market, compared to 96 percent of chief academic officers who believed their institutions were either somewhat or very effective at providing the necessary skills to students. While a post-secondary degree is still proven to be a career asset, the current level of disconnect between what employers want versus what is being taught must be addressed."
—McKinsey & Company, "The Voice of the Graduate"
✱ hat tip to David Culberhouse for sharing these ideas