GoogleApps and teacher transparency - 1

I've long been a fan of educational transparency. I just didn't know it was called that.

In my article Teacher Web Pages that Build Parent Partnerships that appeared in MultiMedia Schools way back in September 2000, I argued that teachers should be sharing everything with parents in order to make parents partners in the education of their kids.

I've been validated.

Educational change guru Michael Fullan makes transparency one of his six "secrets"  in The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive and Thrive (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008) Here is what he writes:

5. Secret Five: Transparency Rules

The first reason that transparency rules is that it’s going to, whether we like it or not. Easy access to information means that the public’s appetite for accountability cannot be thwarted.

The second reason it rules is that transparency is a good thing; in fact, it is essential to success. Yes, we all know that data can be misused. Public reporting of student results can lead to unfair or destructive actions. However, the alternatives—to keep information private or to refuse even to collect it—are neither acceptable nor useful.

Effective organizations embrace transparency. We know that people will cover up problems if the culture punishes them. So one thing we must do is develop cultures in which it is normal to experience problems and solve them as they occur. When data are precise, presented in a nonjudgmental way, considered by peers, and used for improvement as well as for external accountability, they serve to balance pressure and support.

Knowing that transparency is both inevitable and desirable for successful organizations makes it far less threatening.

How can teachers develop a culture of transparency and build trust, helping insure the success of their students, leading to their own professional success? Let’s open some windows.

 A well-designed online teacher presence can serve a variety of purposes. These purposes include:

• Providing a general description of the classroom or course.
• Providing a general outline and timeline of the units covered.
• Providing specific information about individual units or projects.
• Providing real-time information about the progress of individual students.

Over the next few days (it may be more than a few since I am out presenting at conferences for the next couple weeks), I will expand each of these areas and look at how GoogleApps can help teachers be more transparent in each of them. Stay tuned....

Comments

[Nathan Mielke]

I remember pitching to teachers wayyyyyyyyyyyy back in 2005 the power of "opening up the walls of the classroom" (was the tag line I stole for it) with a website. Pretty mild topic, I think. Holy wah I got some glares. I still believe strongly in the importance of giving access to the community on what's going on in the school and classroom. For some folks, it's like second nature. For others, it may take until retirement to convince them. And I don't think age is the major factor...like with most things I've found it's the person's relative state of mind.

[Stephen Downes]

> 've been validated.
I think you mean you've been vindicated.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Nathan,

There are some educators who see themselves as wizards who do not want to reveal their "secrets", I guess. Not sure if this is true of all professions or not. I've always found being upfront about what I do and why I do it just plain simplifies life. If there is disagreement, at least it is based on fact!

All the best,

Doug

Hi Stephen,

Perhaps "vindicated" is more appropriate, but I had not thought of myself guilty of anything - just ignored. But I found a second definition (British) meaning "to prove something right or true."

I love these sort of word nuances. Thanks for the heads up.

Doug