Missional Thinking and Instrumental Thinking
Instrumental Thinking
Instrumental Thinking is the tendency to fashion a vision for a tool or an idea around that tool or idea itself. That is, this is a tool-centric way of thinking. For example, here is something a person with instrumental thinking would say: “The focus of our technology plan is on adding interactive whiteboards to the classroom. We’re also interested in student response systems and thinking through Twitter use and applications.” Some consider instrumental thinking to be both prevalent and problematic. Sometimes, it can be one of the biggest enemies of vision.
Missional Thinking
Missional thinking, on the other hand, is generally thought of as based on a larger vision, strategy, or goal. For example, a missional thinker would say something like this: “Our technology plan is about increasing student engagement in learning. We know that the research is unambiguous in its view that meaningful student learning is realized only when students are active, invested, and engaged. We need technologies that help our teachers engage students who live in worlds dominated by computer mediated experiences. As such, we are exploring interactive whiteboards, student response systems, and social media like Twitter for classroom projects.”
The best articulation of the division between instrumental and missional thinking is found in the work of Professor Stanley Katz. Katz spent much of his career as a professor at Princeton (after studying at Harvard), and worked mostly in history and law. He is not a computer contrarian per se, though he can be critical of technological thinking. He published a piece in one of the Edu-cause journals (which exist to promote information technology in higher education) because he noticed a disturbing trend in higher education: it seemed that the conversations around technology at colleges and universities were about how to draw in technology for technology’s sake. This is what we term “instrumental thinking”: the focus is on the instrument and not the purpose the instrument must support.
Rohit: MSUrbanstem
Instrumental Thinking is the tendency to fashion a vision for a tool or an idea around that tool or idea itself. That is, this is a tool-centric way of thinking. For example, here is something a person with instrumental thinking would say: “The focus of our technology plan is on adding interactive whiteboards to the classroom. We’re also interested in student response systems and thinking through Twitter use and applications.” Some consider instrumental thinking to be both prevalent and problematic. Sometimes, it can be one of the biggest enemies of vision.
Missional Thinking
Missional thinking, on the other hand, is generally thought of as based on a larger vision, strategy, or goal. For example, a missional thinker would say something like this: “Our technology plan is about increasing student engagement in learning. We know that the research is unambiguous in its view that meaningful student learning is realized only when students are active, invested, and engaged. We need technologies that help our teachers engage students who live in worlds dominated by computer mediated experiences. As such, we are exploring interactive whiteboards, student response systems, and social media like Twitter for classroom projects.”
The best articulation of the division between instrumental and missional thinking is found in the work of Professor Stanley Katz. Katz spent much of his career as a professor at Princeton (after studying at Harvard), and worked mostly in history and law. He is not a computer contrarian per se, though he can be critical of technological thinking. He published a piece in one of the Edu-cause journals (which exist to promote information technology in higher education) because he noticed a disturbing trend in higher education: it seemed that the conversations around technology at colleges and universities were about how to draw in technology for technology’s sake. This is what we term “instrumental thinking”: the focus is on the instrument and not the purpose the instrument must support.
Rohit: MSUrbanstem
Brooks College Prep Mission Statement |
"To ensure each student learns at high level"
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My Mission |
My mission is always been to improve student learning. Both content and skills are important in order to be knowledgeable member of the society who can make sound decision. In my vision, missional thinking and instrumental thinking complement one another, however, missional thinking comes first followed by instrumental thinking, In my school, our mission statement: To ensure each student learns at high level. In achieving our mission, a restructuring plan of math and science department into STEM department transpired. As tempered radical: turning personal threats into opportunities, I seek to know more about STEM by setting a goal to be part of MSUrbanstem to know the current pedagogy in achieving STEM in the classroom. Integrating technology becomes a basic part of a classroom now including how lesson plans are written and posted on our network drive. Professional Learning Committee (PLC) meetings are collaborated online, the ways grade are evaluated and use masteryconnect in designing online assessment and grading in addition to CPS Impact Portal for students, teacher, and parents to view student's grades. These instruments or tools evolved as new software or programs, and hardwares become available and affordable for the district. Donorschoose helped a lot for us to achieve some of the instrumental goals but again, the tool is good as the user. The bigger picture, what the students should know and be able to do or apply in taking the class that will lead them into a humane and literate society that they will lead on or be in. So, a balance is needed. Can our young generation succeed in the future without knowing the tools they need in the future, with the assumption that digital culture or technology will be just a norm into any type of work place?
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