It’s been said that the first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there’s a problem. One of the biggest problems I hear from school districts all over the country is that they don’t have enough time to properly administer, score, interpret, and catalog assessment results that are required by the IDEA law. Teachers don’t have time to administer these assessments and still give their children the attention and instruction they need to be successful in life after school.
Do You Want to Be Reactive or Proactive?
So what do we do about this problem? There are 2 potential solutions – one reactive, and one proactive. You can take the band-aid approach, and keep putting out fires as they spring up. But this approach ends up being both inefficient and aggravating because you don’t feel like you are ever “getting ahead.” The other approach would be to think big picture, get to the root of the problem, and eradicate it. This approach requires a fundamental shift in thinking, taking responsibility and choosing to be the solution by making a conscious choice to influence tomorrow by what is done today.
Keep Moving Forward
You may remember from your high school science class a principle known as the second law of thermodynamics, which states that a system left to itself will always tend towards disorder. Another way to sum up this principle is to say that an isolated system’s ability to do work decreases over time. It does not matter what you do – if you’re doing the same thing as yesterday, you are becoming less efficient. With the ever-changing technology landscape, this principle is even more magnified.
The Right Tools for the Job
Technology has truly enabled us to “redeem our time.” Having the right tools for the job allows us to get the job done more quickly, more efficiently, and in the long run more cost-effectively. For example, as writing and word processing have evolved from pen and paper to typewriter to personal computer, the potential number of words per minute production has increased. Not to offend my typewriting friends out there, but technology has made our lives easier by allowing us to do more with less – less time, less energy, less money – and grants to us more of these precious resources to do what’s truly important to us.
Think Big Picture with Conover Online
Conover Online is one such leap in technology that can make a world of difference in the effectiveness of your transition program. It will not only allow you to more efficiently administer federally mandated transition assessments, but our revolutionary management system will do the heavy lifting for you in terms of data collection. As a student-driven program, it’s easy to administer and the results are collected, scored, and reported automatically.
It’s time to stop thinking band-aid, and start thinking big picture. Forward-thinking school districts all over the country are embracing this next-generation transition assessment and curriculum system to address their transition needs. Set yourself up for success. Contact us today to find out how we can help YOUR district break out of the downward spiral of inefficiency and really make a difference in your students’ lives.
