God Laughs at Those Who Make Plans

The late Sir Ken Robinson had a great story. Briefly, the teacher asked a grade one student, "What are they drawing?" "God, the student replied." "But no one knows what God looks like." The kid replied, "they will when I'm finished."

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 • 5:54 AM

The story continues…

Do you believe in coincidence and inspiration? I do — it happens to me all the time. In fact, it happened again yesterday, and just like that, it brought an old idea back to life: inviting teacher training programs to play the WAY Game.

So I asked ChatGPT to help identify the top teacher education programs in Canada and — as I like to call them — the Ununited States of America. We aim to help our American friends unite again… and we believe it begins in schools.

No, it won’t happen overnight. There’s no silver bullet. However, change can trickle up, and teachers are critical in healing division. Our most important job isn’t to hand out facts — it’s to help students think clearly, care deeply, and make better decisions.

The New Basics: Learning How to Learn (with AI)

I believe learning how to learn — especially with the help of AI — is now one of the New Basics in education. We need to prepare students for a world of rapid change, and that means:

• Solving real problems

• Building practical skills

• Collaborating with others

• Making learning matter

When you make it fun, when students see real results and get to share the experience with friends, you’ve already won half the battle.

With the help of AI, we’re building a future where games, technology, and entrepreneurship fuel learning — and that’s what SWAY Canada is all about.

“If You Don’t Succeed…”

You’ve heard the quote — “Try, try again.”I love quotes. In fact, I think schools should teach a whole course built around the wisdom of the ages, summarized in quotes. But I digress—bloody squirrels. ADD may slow the process down, but sometimes that’s when better ideas show up.

Gatekeepers and Good People

A few months ago, I contacted the top five teacher education programs in Canada and the U.S., Crickets.

I get it, deans have gatekeepers, and anything that smells like “sales” doesn’t get through. I believe, “The baby was thrown out with the bathwater.” If something isn’t in-house, they don’t trust it. I’ve come to accept that.

But if they won’t listen to me, maybe they’ll listen to their own. After all, I’m “just a teacher” — and by “just” I mean justice. That’s what teachers bring to the world. Why did we become teachers if we didn’t sign up to try to solve the world's problems? [Besides summers off.]

Even in the summer, we’re still thinking about students.

Larry and Gary: Two Doors to the Future

Just yesterday, I ran into Larry T at the gym—a former principal who is now inspiring teachers at St. Mary’s in Calgary. He helped me transition from junior high to elementary after “The Teflon Man” hit the wall. (That’s a story for another day.)

Larry is a model citizen: father, grandfather, teacher, leader, and all-around good human. Why not invite him to captain the first WAY Game team from his teacher training program?

Then, as fate would have it, I remembered my recent trip to Hawaii with my neighbours. Their daughter was doing her student teaching that term with Gary S, another administrator I once worked with. Gary led both of Calgary’s school districts before retiring, and now, when he is not playing hockey or golfing, he’s mentoring future teachers at Mount Royal University.

Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m taking it as a sign. Why not ask Gary to lead a WAY Team, too? People make the difference. That’s what I’ve learned. Larry and Gary are good people. I’ve worked with both of them. I trust them.

Many of the friends I taught alongside went on to become administrators. I stayed in the classroom. I had a mission. I still do. I remember saying years ago, “I want to do something significant in the world of education.” That hasn’t changed.

So I say this to you — whether you’re a teacher, parent, or just someone who cares:

Start small. Start with people you know. Start locally.

I’m emailing Larry and Gary, inviting them and their students to play the WAY Game. They’ll need to form teams — and of course, they’ll need someone to play against. I offer virtual office hours for players and am available for in-house help upon request.

Maybe that’s you. If not, please "Pass the Play."

So that is one avenue, and the other is to stick to the original plan and keep the focus on content creation. I'd like to avoid going to schools, for the time commitment alone would be too great.

Indecision is a part of creating...