The Myth of Average

Here are my three main takeaways from The Myth of Average by Todd Rose.

1. Students are like fighter pilots. I was struck by the story of the fighter pilots and how, by designing for the 'average pilot', they ended up designing for no pilot. I couldn't help but imagine the taller fighter pilots squeezing into the cockpits with their legs bunched up and the shorter pilots craning forward to reach controls -- such a silly image! Not at all the position you would want soldiers to be in when they are fighting for your country. Instead of forcing every pilot to constantly adjust to a 'bad-fit' cockpit, the army put the onus back on their suppliers to provide planes which adjusted to the pilots. This is a wonderful example for classrooms today. Good teachers get to know their students well, seeing their interests, strengths, and challenges across many dimensions (even if you only consider those we evaluate on a report card). As a result, we know our students are 'jagged'. In Rose's speech, he describes students this way-- with varying ability in all areas, none of which are average. So, if we know that students are 'jagged', rather than expecting them to adjust to a 'bad-fit' education aimed at a non-existent average student, we should push for an 'adjustable seat' education. Students should be able to make their education fit them, not be forced to fit an imagined average.

2. The technology is all ready here. As Todd Rose said, most of our schools and classrooms are all ready full of technology. Several iPads and Chromebooks are permanent fixtures in each classroom in my school, as well as carts shared between classrooms. I am excited to learn more about how to harness the flexibility of assistive technology available to make education accessible and appropriately challenging for all students. The technology is already here -- we just need to learn how to access it and use it to empower. I am confident that this course will be eye-opening for me to see the 'adjustable seats' that are already at my fingertips that I just don't know about yet. Ultimately, it will benefit my students, no matter what their strengths or weaknesses. Rose put a real emphasis on how adjustable seats are beneficial to everyone because everyone has areas they are just waiting to shine in if they can get access. Billy (a student with below-average reading skills) was a perfect example of that, as well as how many students need more challenge to really show their best. I'm ready to learn how I can support that.

3. Ban the average. I love the idea of putting responsibility on the design. It's so easy to blame someone for where education fails -- whether it's the government, council, school, teacher, parent, and (sadly, sometimes) even the student themselves. Rather than blame someone, let's look forward and design products, curricula, schools and classrooms that are adjustable enough to enable and challenge every student. When we demand that the technology, blueprints, and plans are 'designed to the edges', everyone wins.

I am really looking forward to exploring assistive technology and can't wait to find out how the seats I already have are more adjustable than I know.