Developing Effective Procedures

Tenets:

High Expectations - Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson

Educators - who hold high expectations for their learners, communicate those expectations clearly, and encourage learners in their charge to work hard in order to rise to the level of those expectations – can make a difference in students’ success. High expectations move learners forward, even if those learners don’t achieve total mastery. Educators also have a role in helping their 21st century learners set significant aspirations for themselves in a media-rich, global network of unlimited possibilities.

“We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness."
- Maxwell Maltz, American cosmetic surgeon, author of Psycho-Cybernetics

Climate of Mutual Respect - Rensis Likert
Learners are empowered to take risks necessary for growth when they are in a learning environment where mutual respect is evident. In the ideal situation, learners are valued, their ideas are considered, and their mistakes are seen as opportunities for correction and reflection. Additionally, there is courteous regard for one another, and time is structured to allow all learners to process and produce ideas and opinions.

“Just asking a team to be creative won’t get you to be innovative. It’s having a corporate climate that give people space to experiment and take risks.”
- Steve Brown , author, radio announcer, seminary professor

 Teacher Knowledge and Skill - Benjamin Bloom
Innovative educators are knowledgeable and skilled in techniques that enable learners to maximize the benefits of each learning experience. Innovative educators continue to expand their arsenal of pedagogical techniques and focus on keeping pace with current educational initiatives. Innovative educators realize their influence in the learning environment; they can motivate, inspire, and challenge individuals to achieve excellence in living and learning. Innovative educators are life-long learners.

Key Ideas

• Establish procedures and expectations early! Insure success!    Make expectations clear.
•  Foster an atmosphere where learners are led to be responsible for their own actions/behaviors.
• Establish procedures that promote effective use of time, talent, and the space and resources in the environment.
• Procedures are practiced until desired results are evident. Procedures are not punitive.
• Model consistency, patience, and support.