View Content #25392

Procedure:

Using this week’s topic of the week as a springboard for reflection, think of an ideal you strive to uphold in your classroom. What is an ideal that you believe strongly in and know supports a productive learning environment but is difficult to uphold? Write it in the box below (you can print out this worksheet here).

My cherished (& productive) ideal is:

Use this diagram to help you visualize how a moment of decision (the black dot) has various waves of consequences that play out on different timescales. The numbers correspond with the questions below.

0- Think about the moment of decision. Why is this ideal difficult to uphold in some cases? What are the common situations were I find myself transgressing the ideal and flagging on my commitment to it? What immediate consequences am I avoiding by setting my ideal aside and choosing a different path?

1- Think about the initial consequences of your decision. What experience are you avoiding by deviating from your original plan. What are the immediate consequences (positive and/or negative) of your choice to deviate from your original plan?

2- Think about the mid-range consequences of your decision. What are the medium range implications of deviating from your plan? Is it worth enduring these consequences for the relief (or satisfaction) you experienced initially?

3- Think about the long range implications of your decision to deviate from your ideal. What are the likely long term consequences of deviating from your initial position?

4- What are some possible positive and negative externalities (unforeseen consequences) that might arise as a result of deviating from your original plan?