Goal 14: Cause a Ripple
Part of the 30 Goals Challenge Series
While studying in college, I came across the Ripple Efect Theory. I was so enthused about the theory, I
adopted it as a life moto. When we’re young we do that. Recently, I discovered that this theory has
been applied to educaton. According, to Wise Geek, Jacob Kounin coined this term in 1970 in
reference to classroom management. As Wise Geek describes,
“When you throw a pebble into a pond, you’ll see a splash and hear the resounding plunk of the
pebble. You might notce concentric circles rippling out from the locus point of where the pebble hit
the water. The thrown pebble might also have other efects… You are connected to the pebble, the
water and the efects of throwing by the ripples… You have caused change through a single and
simple act.”
I believe the ripple efect can be applied to the current movement occurring in educaton through
social media networks. I believe that educators are being inspired by their Personal Learning Networks
(PLN) to cause ripples in their schools and local communites. Steve Moore’s post, Is Twiter Just
Window Dressing?, made me refect on this ripple efect theory. Here’s my response:
I think because the numbers are there people will naturally look at them. However, every feld has its
community builders and with community building comes numbers. If every member is actvely
partcipatng then real change is inspired. That is what we need in educaton. We need educators to go
into their schools and cause a ripple. Even a small ripple makes such a lastng impact with a student,
parent, educator, or administrator who in turns sends a ripple. I love that about social media. I believe
PLNs inspire educators to cause ripples that are making a diference in a feld that has been
bombarded with bad policies and overrun by politcians who never were educators, do not have their
own children in public schools, nor have spent enough tme at at-risk schools trying to fgure out why
there’s such an enormous achievement gap that hasn’t closed for decades.
Preventng a Ripple
Ironically, the original intent of the theory by Jacob Kounin was preventatve. Kounin believed teachers
should deal with negatve behavior at the onset to prevent a ripple efect of this behavior. In a recent
Skype conversaton with Tom Whitby and Steve Anderson we discussed why lecturing is stll heavily
used in many schools and why many teachers cling to inefectve instructonal methods. One aspect is
that student teachers who are getng into the feld are trained by those who use traditonal methods.
Tom Whitby will be discussing more of these topics in his blog! Tom discussed how getng new
teachers the right type of mentors would encourage them to use efectve instructonal strategies.
Considering this informaton, I want to make a long-term goal of causing positve ripples and
preventng negatve ripples. Everyday is an opportunity to str the water, but are we actually making
conscious eforts to do this? Do we really refect on the consequences of all our actons before we
make a move? I don’t, but this year I plan to refect before I act.
Challenge:
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