791 Sensemaking and Research Design Bog |
Over the course of the is class I have come to the realization that less is more. Not exactly profound, but for someone who likes to talk a lot, do a lot, go...go...go, it is important lesson to learn. I have a lot of ideas, and I want to do them all. But over committing, and over-doing has lead to stress and a lack of quality. You can't have 15 priorities, I have tried. We have all worked for districts or schools that have a million goals...none of them get done well. I don't want to add to that frenzy. I want to have a more singular message. A minimalist approach. How can I whittle my idea down to the most fundamental core? How can I present my message in such a simple way, that it leaves the view with a sense of peace, instead of that frantic feeling..."oh great! another thing I need to start doing!" I have always agreed with Baggio's philosophy on keeping visuals simple and clear, even before I knew who Baggio was. Visual clutter makes me cranky. But I have never though about the mental clutter. If I relate Baggio's ideas to Dervin's sensemaking, I see a connection. Dervin relates sensemaking to building a bridge between the learner and what they want or need. If Baggio was the bridge builder, there would be clear signage...you would always exit to the left..not the right. The lanes would be clearly marked. There wouldn't be a lot of extra billboards selling Hot Wings or Happy Meals. The path would be clear. The message direct. My message can get lost in my excitement. I want to add more, do more, throw in a few more strategies. My bridge will be cluttered with billboards, side roads, bike lanes, on ramps and exits. These paths might eventually lead you to the same destination, but the path is confusing, the driver might get lost and give up entirely. If my message is to increase student talk, I need to minimize the number of different strategies and focus on a basic strategy that will lead to maximum impact. I think teachers will appreciate using one strategy in a myriad of ways and situations. Less is more. Less of the new info; More ways to use that new info in meaningful ways.
4 Comments
Kelley Miller
4/30/2017 10:06:46 pm
... So I'm wondering if you would consider a second career in transportation planning, if this teaching thing doesn't work out? Because now I feel even more vindicated about hating complicated road signs that clearly do not have drivers' best interest in mind. Always exit to the left. Take the direct path. Make it clear. Driving should be an exercise in reaching the destination, not in testing our ability to anticipate merge lanes. Your metaphor, Becky, is so good!
Reply
Zack
5/2/2017 03:09:15 pm
I love the images you included in this post. I think less is more is a maxim for class and life. Much of frustration is the overcrowding of goals, I also have the frustration when there are too many, and you end up going with mostly first drafts. In teaching and the nonprofit sector this has been my experience, it is exhausting and can feel very unfulfilling (and misrepresenting of skill).
Reply
Jennifer Wade
5/2/2017 04:30:02 pm
I could not agree with you more and I loved the highway metaphor coupled with the street sign imagery. Your message was certainly not lost here.
Reply
6/12/2017 12:13:28 am
Becky,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2017
Categories |