This is Mr. Evans, nerd librarian extraordinaire. Today, we're discussing the art and science of leadership--where it comes from and where it can take us. Simon Sinek articulates some insightful views on leadership:
Mr. Sinek's circle analysis is comically simple yet hauntingly profound. Disregarding online education, his discourse on what make meaningful, effective leadership is applicable to any situation. Specific to online education, however, I find that his principles are needed now more than ever in online education. I'm not speaking solely of the teachers; I believe that administrators, curriculum builders, and even politicians need to begin to approach online education from the inside out. The educational population needs leaders who can stand up and share there beliefs about WHY online classes are useful, and why students should take them. His views intersect with world famous Tony Robbins. His discourse on why we do what we do touches upon how our motivation is linked to our emotions on a primal level.
In class on Wednesday, we viewed a host of myths about online education. While these myths are, no doubt, partially born of a resistance to a new form of education in a new era, I also believe that Sinek's circle can explain much of the misconceptions behind online education. As consumers of education, we've always been offered the "what" without ever being explained the "why." Yes, it can be convenient; yes, it's new. But online education is vastly more than that, and it's the future. We need leaders in the field and individual teachers of online courses to stand up and shout from the rooftops why we should take these classes and what they believe in.
I have taken a few online courses, and never have I been offered a succinct, let alone impassioned, reason for the existence of the class, nor any reason why I should take it and embrace it. Sinek is dead on when he states that people are not motivated by the "what" but by the "why." I'm still waiting for someone to detail to me why I should take an online course. The fact is, I already know some great reasons why I should take them, but I want a teacher who is red with passion for the forum and who shares with me such a passion. That's what leaders are all about. And that's what's missing, to date, in online education.
Sources:
Tony Robbins: Why We Do What We Do." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2015.
Start with Why - How Great Leaders Inspire Action | Simon Sinek TEDxPugetSound." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2015.
Paul EdgarFebruary 8, 2015 at 9:20 AM
ReplyDeleteACCAN 888February 8, 2015 at 9:15 AM
This is a great blog! You get right to the heart of this whole program and the future of education in general. Our success is dependent upon our intentions and passion. We can be geniuses with all the latest educational technology but without the passion and leadership we will just go quietly into to that good night and start blending in with the furniture where we work. The leadership component in the title of this MA program is there for a reason and you're the first person that has expressed anything about it so far. It's a good reminder for me why I applied to do this program in the first place. You have a great writing style too. Here are my grades for you according to the rubric for this assignment on a scale of 1-4: 4 being the best:
Content and Creativity: 4
Voice: 4
Mechanics: 4
Text Layout: 4
Hyperlinks: 4
Graphics and Multimedia: 4
Citation: 4
Outstanding!
Janndon the information provided in your blog is very interesting. It emphasizes not only the way we think but also why we make certain decisions. I agree with you. Online education is becoming more common than previous years. I believe that schools will eventually have to incorporate technology in their curriculum. Most of our current students already communicate constantly like this. The style and mentality of how teachers teach will have to change. I believe that as an educator you constantly must adapt to change to not only stay current but also relate to the society and culture you are constantly exposed to. In the video by Simon Sinek he explains how great leaders used what he called the Golden Circle. I agree with him a great product or a great idea is always guided by the why. The reason you do something or the reason why you want to accomplish it. Overall, your blog meets all of the criteria needed.-Maribel Ruiz
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