How 2 Train Heroes?

Amazing article on Leadership as Service from the Harvard Business Review by General John Michael, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Afghanistan. As educators we are all leaders. Leadership must first, always. and only be about dedicated service to our students and society. The military is sometimes criticized for outdated ideas. Yet West Point's Flipped Classroom  Thayer Method of teaching and General Michael's 4 Points on Leadership demonstrate the Leadership as Service philosophy of the United States armed forces. 1. Listen to other people's ideas, no matter how different they may be from your own. 2. Embrace and promote a spirit of selfless service. Don't ask anyone to do something that they have not seen you doing yourself already. 3. Ask Great Questions. Seek new knowledge and ideas from everyone, especially those people on the "factory floor" everyday. 4. Don't fall prey to your own publicity. Instead of the hype, focus on humble and grateful

How can we begin to create effective change through simply asking appropriate questions? Check out: Learning as an individual or organization requires everyone to question appropriately. Begin by asking Why? May need to repeat this question numerous times as you move deeper to the truth. What if? Propose new solutions to problems. And finally How? Determine what steps are necessary to begin to make growth possible. 

Just finished this terrific read by experts in the psychology of learning and memory. The book includes accurate discussions on the neuroanatomical basis of learning and memory, as well as the latest in educational and cognitive theory.  Take Home Points for the Educator:  1. Create a Growth Mentality. Praise the effort, not the accomplishment.  2. Always encourage Questioning and Curiosity.  3. Truly understanding and applying material, as well as frequent low stakes quizzing and regular testing, creates long term learning. Cramming and memorizing lead to rapid forgetting.  4. Model and facilitate Trial and Failure. We learn so much more from our mistakes then we ever will from our successes. Simulation works.  5. Deliberate Practice, with constant and conscientious mentoring and refinement.  6. In sports or medicine interleave learning through cross training - constantly changing, revisiting and re-examining important topics. 

 Wonderful "call to create collaboration" for every coach and leader.  Kare Anderson: Be an opportunity maker

Outstanding article on the Thayer Method  utilized to train many of the great leaders of the United States. Many obvious parallels to today's  Flipped Classroom approach to engaging students that is also transforming medical training.