Deming philosophy in educ LO8720

Carol Sager (sagerent@world.std.com)
Mon, 29 Jul 1996 11:43:57 -0400

Replying to LO8693 --

While the vocabulary differs, Deming's ideas are not foreign to educators.
Dewey, an educational philosopher, based his theories on his "scientific
method" which Deming calls PDSA and credits to Shewhart; and there are
many other philosophical similarities. As part of the group working to
bridge the gap or create the Critical Linkages across traditional
boundaries, I find that education and other organizations have similar
issues...Job security, grades/performance reviews, but chief among them is
"The Not Invented Here Syndrome." To bridge this gap, we work through what
people are doing, what they know, and gap analysis or what they want to
accomplish- rather than start with the idea of a "whole new approach."

Data collection and analysis and data-driven decision making are the areas
where education needs help as this is not part of the culture. However,
as a Quality examiner, I find that many organizations need help here as
well.

Grades are the end of the line inspection.The product of schools is
learning (not students). The measure is how much learning took place. The
focus has to be on the delivery of instruction process. If students fail
to learn what are considered essential skills, the problem is with the
process, not the student. If remdiation (re-work) occurs, the question is
"What changes are needed in the educational process for this student." The
big problem here is that stakeholders- including students - have bought
into grades as a reward, motivator, signifyer of importance of the subject
taught, etc. As Jim notes, there are a growing number of schools trying to
move beyond this in a variety of ways.

For more information on this thread, on school sites and other links that
are trying to bridge the gap. Please visit

http://www.erinet.com/patterwc/CLIIN/
Critical Linkages II Newsletter -- See also Back Issues. WE update
articles weekly and will be pleased to feature an article of your choice.

Carol Sager, Sager Educational Enterprises
Critical Linkages II Newsletter
21 Wallis Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
V(617)469-9644;Fx(617)469-9639;sagerent@world.std.com

-- Jim Clauson wrote:
[Quote of entire previous msg deleted by your host...]

--

Carol Sager <sagerent@world.std.com>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>