Models & Process
Michael Kaufman – Model Talk
Good morning. What is this? (holds up a brain)
- A brain
- A model
What are the characteristics of a model?
- It’s simple
- It shows part in a way you can work with them
Does a model have all the information as the thing it represents?
- No
What does that tell us about the model maker?
- They make choices
If the model contains everything then it is the thing itself. What else are characteristics about models?
- Sometimes they contain errors
Why do we make models?
- To communicate ideas
- To take them apart so you don’t hurt anything
- You have repeatability
- It’s more ethical
- It’s more adaptable
- Saves time and money
- For sales
- You can see things in action
- We’ve always done it that way
- Because it works
- We’re curious and we seek understanding
- To understand the world we live in
We have limited perception in certain areas. We make and use models to understand those things. The world is a complex place. Even though we’ve evolved, there is no one who can understand the whole of it.
What are other characteristics of models?
- Some models are kinesthetic and you can touch them
- They represent your current knowledge base
What are some examples that we use everyday?
- Maps
- Scaled models of buildings
- Toys
- GPS
- Instruction manuals
- Financial models, spreadsheets, checkbooks,
- Weather
- Credit cards
- Anything that shows up on a screen
- Textbooks
- Language
Are words models?
- Yes
What is happening when two people talk to each other?
- Conversation
- They are potentially creating a new model
- They shape each other’s realities
When two people talk to each other, they are sharing models. They are sharing less information than they perceive. Models are bumping into each other, which for the sake of this conversation I will call conflict. This is model conflict. What are ways to resolve conflict?
- Compromise
- Agree to disagree
- Take it to the judge
- Collaborate
- Find something that both can use
- Expand the model
- Create a new model
- Persuade
- Force someone else to adapt to your model which could be war
- Agree to wholesale accept another model
- Surrender
So what? Why do we talk about models?
- Because education is a model
- We all walk in with our own models
- We won’t always agree
- We want to create a new model
- We want to avoid war
When models are in conflict people are not. We make a mistake in identifying with our models. I would like to encourage you to get into that conflict. That can be cool when we realize that we are not in conflict but our models are. Things may show up that we didn’t expect.
What are traps of model making?
- It’s easier to continue doing what you’re doing because innovation takes a lot of work and effort
That’s model fixation. We sometimes do the same thing over and over again because we think it works. When our model is the only model we shut down certain senses. It’s natural and normal but it’s a trap.
What else?
- The opposite may also be a trap. Feeling like you need to change even when you don’t need to.
Some of us grew up with the model that the world changed slowly and we act that way. There is a blind spot there and sometimes we don’t see how rapidly some things change.
Other traps?
- We don’t have a crystal ball
- We assume the dominant design is the best one
- All models distort reality
- We focus so much on the model that we don’t actually do anything
All models contain predictions. It is so much easier to make models than to take the risk required to implement them. In all model making and innovation is risk.
The real act of discovery is not in finding new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.
Marcel Proust
This is a quote I really like. There is no such thing as a perfect model, but some models are useful.
There is sometimes more than one right answer. Sometimes there is a right answer right now, and then another one in this moment. What implications might there be for schooling if that is the case?
- Assessment might need to evolve
- We need to look with new eyes
- We need to continually evolve and change
Michael Kaufman – Process
This is not going to be a typical meeting. We have designed a series of activities in which you will be required to make something. Everything you make will be shared with the rest of the group. The process is iterative. This means you will be trying to solve something in not enough time to do it (such as world hunger in 45 minutes), but this work will come around again and you’ll have another chance to take another shot at it.
We’ll start broad and continue to narrow as the days go on. We work in parallel, so you will not be involved in all the conversations. There are no formal breaks. You are responsible to take care of yourself. If you need to take a break, take one; just be aware of how it will affect everyone else and especially your team.
We have tools for you to use, such as the whiteboards and markers. In every activity you will be working with different people so you will have a chance to meet everyone. We are all equal here; there are no titles today. We all are interested in the future of Papillion La Vista schools.
This is the longest you will be sitting in this area and listening to me. Thanks for your attention.
We’ll move into the next activity. Post your items up on the wall here under improvements and overhauls. Notice where you are on this teamlist. That’s where you will be for the next activity. First you will take two concept cards from the wall over there.
Improvement and Complete Overhaul
MK: There are post-it’s below your chair. The world is changing and we as the Papillion La Vista school district need to change to keep up or lead. List one change that would be an improvement and one that would be a complete overhaul.
The world is changing and we need to change in order to keep up or lead. What do we need to change? Identify one or more change we need to make that you would call an ‘improvement’ and one or more change we need to make that you feel would be a ‘complete overhaul.’ |
Click here for a document of all the post-its (.doc)
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