What’s your Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell’s widely acclaimed bestseller The Tipping Point, is an entertaining and enlightening book about change.  Examining the events or ideas that lead to that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire, Gladwell’s insights explain the mysteries behind the resurgence in popularity for Hush Puppies shoes and why Blue’s Clues was so insanely popular.  Little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or “tipping point” is reached, changing the world.[1]

Bantering the ideas in the book with a friend, it occurred to me that we are likely living through the events that could be leading to a Tipping Point in Education.  The ideas for change are rolling through in such waves that it is inevitable we are on the brink of a shift.

Earning college credits by exam is really not a new idea though.  The College Board first began offering CLEP exams in 1967!

While some Tipping Points happen without our intervention, others that we wish would happen sometimes require intentional actions on our part to start the tide rolling.

Since this is the season for lists, I encourage you to print off the following list and be intentional: Choose one a week (or set your own schedule) to implement and be part of the Tipping Point that will lead your students to earning college credits during their high school years.  Little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or “tipping point” is reached, changing the world.

1. Facilitate a study group (facilitate includes providing a schedule and motivation, not being the expert)
2. Join the discussion on the ClepForHomeschool Yahoo Group
3. Take a practice exam
4. Know where your closest testing location is
   
5. Save $20/week for exam and in 5 weeks, you will have the funds
   If you have other plan-of-action-ideas to share — ideas that you have implemented in your family — please feel free to POST A COMMENT below.
6. Sign up for SAT Question of the Day (offered by the College Board, same folks that offer CLEP exams)
7. Choose a subject to direct your CLEP intentions. Match those that are easier with your area of interest
8. Purchase an REA CLEP study guide – read two chapters a week
9. Put a goal date on the calendar that you will test by – make a plan working backwards from your target date back to today
10. Find a study buddy for your student
11. Ask one or two other parents to partner with you

[1] The Tipping Point

Category: Vision