Introduction
Over the last several years, public schools have been facing considerable challenges when it comes to student achievement. This is because numerous assessment tests are illustrating how they are underperforming their peers from the previous years and in other countries. To address these challenges, Grant Wiggins is talking about redesigning the school system. So that it is more responsive to the needs of today’s stakeholders. This occurs in his book Schooling by Design: Mission, Action, and Achievement. To fully understand his ideas requires carefully examining the key points in chapters 8 and 9. These elements will highlight the best tactics to help schools and educators adjust with shifting requirements. (Wiggins, 2007)
Chapter 8: How Should Backward Design Apply to School Reform?
In chapter 8, Wiggins (2007) believes that the best way to reform schools is to take a backwards approach. This involves looking at the end solution and retracing different steps to reach the larger goals of the organization. The best way that this can be achieved is through utilizing a number of techniques in conjunction with each other. The most notable include: closing the gaps between vision / reality and having flexibility. (Wiggins, 2007)
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"School by Design".
As a result, there are several different steps that should be followed. These include: identifying the desired results, determining acceptable evidence and having learning experiences / instruction for everyone. When this is used properly; it will help educators, administrators and other stakeholders to troubleshoot critical weaknesses. This is the key in reaching the larger organizational goals by dealing with crucial challenges when they are small. (Wiggins, 2007)
These ideas are embraced by some of the most successful sports teams and businesses to evaluate and work on key issues. Over the course of time, this makes them more focused on achieving the larger objectives. For schools, this can be used as a blue print in building a strategy that is effectively responding to the needs of stakeholders. (Wiggins, 2007)
Chapter 9: What are the Desired Results of School Reform?
In chapter 9, Wiggins is discussing how to evaluate if the strategy is reaching its objectives. This involves focusing on several different variables to include: the mission related reform goals, vision, new objectives, understanding various points of view, predicting / effectively managing conflict, establishing connections and knowledge / skills. These factors are important, as they will help educators and administrators to adjust their strategy based upon what is happening inside the school. (Wiggins, 2007)
In many ways, this makes it more effective in customizing the various tactics to a specific educational environment. Over the course of time, the atmosphere and attitudes will be transformed utilizing these ideas. When this happens, everyone will consistently work together to collaborate on various ideas and challenges. This is the point, where the school will begin to outperform others from taking this kind of focus. (Wiggins, 2007)
Conclusion
Clearly, the best approach for educators in dealing with underperforming schools is to take a backwards looking approach. This involves identifying the larger goals and then retracing the steps as to how this will be achieved. After the strategy has been implemented, is when everyone must be the most flexible. This can be accomplished by objectively evaluating if the approach is working and making adjustments to it. This helps educators to succeed through giving them the tools they need to address critical problems. When this happens, they can more effectively meet the demands of different stakeholders.
- Wiggins, G. (2007). Schooling by Design: Mission, Action, and Achievement. Alexandria, VA:Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
