The Suck

Defeating Parkinson’s Law in the Modern classroom

#caedchat 5/18/2014

As we move from: !

Worksheets Lecture

Direct instruction (that dominates an entire class period)

We need: !

Better skills for managing projects

!

More tools to measure mastery as class

time becomes more fuzzy and self directed

The old flow was linear….

The new flow is more complex….

Example:

The Science Fair

Comedian Brian Reagan:!!

“This is me on Monday morning: Oh no, no! I had nine months to do

my Science project and I have nothing.” !

Why is this such a cliché?!!

!!

The amount of time which one has to perform a task is the amount of time it will take to complete the task.

If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute to do.

Corollary to Parkinson’s Law

Effects in Grading

Only allow projects to be done early for extra credit. !

Make them respect the regular assignments - and, when they finish early, they can reflect.

Don’t allow EXTRA CREDIT Assignments

Make them do quality work all quarter long - take away end of the quarter buffer!!

Do quick assignments

Make kids finish in class

Parkinson’ Law states: Taking it home to finish is not

a good plan

Suck free assignment- clear and open ended.

Origins of “The suck”

But when did military types start talking about embracing the suck? Capt. Benjamin Tupper, who contibuted to Slate's military blog The Sandbox,

remembers first hearing "embrace the suck" in 2001, soon after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. "The spirits

of the American infantrymen were undeterred," Tupper wrote in his book Greetings from Afghanistan.

"Their Zen-like approach was to 'embrace the suck,' a strategy of treating the hardships as

friends, not enemies, and driving on."

http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2013/12/13/embrace_the_suck_nancy_pelosi_used_a_slang_military_phrase_when_urging_house.html

Origins of “The suck”

Also noted in the book Black Hawk Down

Since I LOVE history, I chose this term.

Don’t change deadlines

When kids know the deadline can change…..

Max points of 70% for late work

How can they fix the grade?

Do the rest of the major assignments EARLY!

Require things to be done in class

Done or ZERO

No make up

How can they fix the grade?

Do the rest of the major assignments EARLY!

Teach kids about The Suck

Give them a name for the process

Allow them to articulate the struggle

They will respond positively

The Suck

Defeating Parkinson’s Law in the Modern classroom

#caedchat 5/18/2014