by Terry Heick
I was talking (tweeting) with Mark Barnes tonight and he mentioned the idea of challenging existing ways and practices. And then someone tweeted the image above, a quote attributed to Rear Admiral Grace Hopperaccording to image source globalnerdy.com–and I was happy and favorited, saved and blogged.
“We’ve always done it this way” implies legacy and tradition, which can be a good thing. But it is also one of the most dangerous phrases we can use, and this danger also extends to education.
I talk a lot about disruptive teaching and Paradigm shift in teaching and learning. Not because I’m inherently rebellious or some kind of academic anarchist. I’ve taught long enough (in a wide variety of places) to realize that this idea of progress (and slow iteration) through data, sharing, and “opening the door to our classroom” simply isn’t enough.
which is not bad, It simply does not reflect the priority and urgency of our collective challenge. At best, students come to school to play and be considered smart and successful; At worst, they become disruptive and resistant and simply survive the year because they see no value in what they do.
We have to create laws to force students to come to school, and often it is the students who need school the most who are not “cut out” for it; That is, the school is made for students who are good readers and writers who can handle their work while learning to play well with others.
Changing lives often comes from relationships with teachers rather than the power of the curriculum. But talking about mobile learning, self-directed learning, new content areas, adaptive learning, or valuing questions over answers can kill school conversations and elicit polite smiles from teachers, mainly because those aren’t the rules of the game. that they know.
The problem with the safe approach to teaching is that it will not produce anything more than what we have always had. without doing things radically differentthe most we can hope for is some kind of increase. This is not a call for chaos, but rather for the courage to make mistakes.
The phrase “We’ve always done it this way” symbolizes stagnant thinking and resistance to innovation, reflecting an unwillingness to question established methods or consider new ideas. This mindset often stifles creativity, limits progress, and impedes growth by clinging to outdated practices simply because they are familiar.
It can also create an environment where change is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity for improvement, discouraging people from challenging the status quo or exploring alternative solutions. Over time, this rigid adherence to tradition can lead to missed opportunities, lower efficiency, and a lack of adaptability in a rapidly changing world. To foster innovation and continuous improvement, it is essential to replace this mindset with one that values flexibility, embraces change, and encourages forward-thinking approaches.
“Experiment” with students (because that’s what’s already happening anyway). Dream, test and collect data.
Do something different this year.
Not necessarily – and without thinking –do what they tell you.
Illuminate a new path.
Creatively, professionally, and persistently shake up your department, grade level, school, or district so that they not only become the best version of who they are, but become something more they didn’t think was possible.
The same hope you have for your students.
The most dangerous phrase in education
