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125 years without a Hockey Mask


VINTAGE HOCKEY GOALIE MASK NHL 8X10 PHOTO


1959 marked the first time a goal tender wore a mask in a professional hockey gamed.  Jacques Plante started a trend that now features glossy air-brushed, graphite, high-impact resistant head gear for all hockey players and tenders.

It was revolutionary.  Crude.  A game-changer.  It took 125 years and an unknown number of gashes, accidents, tramautic-brain injuries and career ending blows to the goalie's dome.  Why?

Listen, I'm not really here to write about why it took so long for goalies to protect their brain buckets.  I'm here to draw an analogy about why it takes us so long to innovate, reform and solve issues in education.  So I offer some examples of education's equivalent to the hockey mask.  Innovators.

1.  Three considerations for disruptive innovation in blended learning formats found at the Christensen Institute. They've been doing this for quite some time. Pay attention.

2.  Jeffrey Bradbury, @TeacherCast, is living by the axiom - surround yourself with the best people and guarantee success.  Not only is he hosting weekly podcasts with school leaders all across the United States, he implements LiveBinders and has organized a Professional Learning Network (PLN) via Google Groups.  Here's where it gets interesting.  I've personally watched this expand within my own network by 100 fold over a week's time.

3. Center Creek Institute. Interested in mapping the competencies necessary for teacher development, enhanced virtual learning, and increased levels of comfort? Let's chat.

There you have it hockey fans, teachers, leaders and do-gooders.

Onward!

Dr. J

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