Dr. Barbara Rogers Bridges
* Fifteen year veteran K-12 teacher
* Fifteen year veteran of higher education teaching
* Ten year veteran designing, teaching and coordinating partners in online and on-ground learning communities
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| Why is there so much conflict in today’s world? Why does the field of education jump from one theory to the next? How might educators come to consensus? How will our students access the skill sets they need to be competitive on the global stage?
In my thirty-five year career, I have observed many theories come and go – OBE, ability alike grouping, cooperative learning, drill and kill, critical and creative thinking, core curriculum, open schools, standardized testing, no testing and on and on.
Unfortunately, the pendulum swings to the extremes.
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| Question: Why does it never come to rest in the place of BALANCE?
Answer: People generally view their own worldview as truth.
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| What is the purpose of American Public Schools? The American Heritage Dictionary states “School: The process of being educated formally by a planned series of courses over a number of years – a culture reproducing itself”.
Culture – we all use the word but what does it mean? Until a few years ago it meant two or three related things easy to grasp and keep apart. Now it is a piece of all-purpose jargon that covers a complicated matrix of ideas. Exactly what does the word “Culture” word mean in a country of so many subcultures?
The word culture comes from the word agriculture, tilling the field, planting the seed. One generation plants the “culture seeds” for the next generation – they pass on the religion, politics, art, morals, and manners. As a country of immigrants, we have a particularly difficult challenge. Which/Whose “seeds” will we plant?
Using the Paradigm Deconstruction models developed by Dr. Bridges and published with Allyn and Bacon, Barbara’s retreat focuses on thought provoking and thought provoking, non-threatening and fun activities designed for the purpose of building community and identifying rules of engagement when discussing high conflict issues and changes. Using the Paradigm models as a launching point, participants work towards identifying their paradigm/worldview and understanding their worldview is just ONE view representing the particular journey THEY have taken. The participants, generally, leave with a respect, an understanding, and practical strategies to encourage collaboration.
Workshop fees: $300 for a half day; $500.00 for a full day.
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2002
Bridges, B., (2002) Praxis 2 Study Guide, supplement with all Slavin Educational Psychology books, Allyn and Bacon , NY, NY.
Paradigm Deconstruction Charts
(Copyrighted, please do not use without permission)
bbridges@bemidjistate.edu
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