In my Mind…
Jennifer Wagner from Technospud has done it again. She wrote in one of her posts ” The Hatchery is Open“, that she could have taken word for word from my thoughts:
1. I am NOT going to conquer the school with Technology!
2. If someone asks for help, I will answer their immediate question and not show them 20 more opportunities. (Honest, I do do this!)
3. I am going to be there to support and listen — but not ambush them, in any way.
4. I am going to watch and take notes and wander around the school and see samples of what people are already doing — and go from there.
5. And for 3 weeks — I will NOT give unsolicited advice but just constant encouragement.
I am currently working together with the TechTeam at my school to develop a professional development plan in technology for the school year. We are trying to put a frame work together how to best move from “encourage” faculty, staff and administration to “mandate” a basic technology literacy among our school community. Blog posts from Kim Cofino and her Elementary School Framework Wiki are extremely helpful in putting a vision together. BUT there is a big difference in planning, imagining and predicting the excitement that the teachers surely must feel when we introduce them to the greatest thing since sliced bread…and… the technophobia, resistance, time and priority issues, etc. There is a great discussion about Teachers and Everyday Use of Technology on the Classroom 2.0 Ning Network.
Just yesterday, I was reminded that enthusiasm and passion for technology in the classroom might not be enough.
- In my mind everybody will have the same understanding, that being a teacher is the same as being a life long learner.
- In my mind every faculty member is a professional.
- In my mind when your school is going in the direction of infusing technology into instruction and giving you all the tools and support you might need, every teacher will look into that direction.
- In my mind, a teacher will comply with deadlines, be responsible in performing their duties and not blame someone else, if they were the ones who dropped the ball.
Every time I am surprised, frustrated and even hurt, when I realize that this is not always the case. i will need to find a way to not take it personal…
Any advise on that?
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May 10th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Sometimes I think EduBloggers (myself most definitely included) have their heads in the clouds just a little too much. We spend so much time thinking about what we COULD be doing in schools that we forget to bring reality into the conversation. Most teachers don’t have or read blogs, have never edited a wiki, and have no idea that the word delicious is supposed to have two periods in it to be spelled correctly.
Personally, I don’t find that discouraging, it’s simply reality. Nothing wrong with that. We just can’t go from step A to drinking the Kool-Aid in one giant leap, because most people don’t work that way.
Great post to start the day with!
May 10th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I had a really hard time with this at the beginning of this school year. I think I may have commented here about some (let’s just call them) “discouraging” e-mails and comments I received from colleagues earlier in the year. At first I did take it personally, but I realized that it’s not me, it’s just fear - fear of the unknown, fear of loosing control, fear of looking stupid.
For many of these resisters, I embody that fear - they look at me and see change, and they resist. Just reflecting on that has helped me feel better about the situation.
I’ve been shifting my energy to focus on the teachers that come to me with ideas. There is more than enough work to be done just with the staff that are “very interested”, “somewhat interested” and “starting to become interested”, that I don’t have to worry about pressuring the “not interested” group.
In the end, it will be the “starting to become interested” group that paves the way for the resisters. The whole “if she can do it, maybe I can do it” mentality. Looking at the early adopters and promoting their work is great, but it doesn’t help the people that are shell-shocked in the back of the room. I think it just takes time…
May 11th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Like Steve puts it, sometimes edubloggers have their heads in the clouds. Well put! I like to say that I am bias when it comes to technology. I love it! But being a professional, I understand that other educators have to coach, work with extracurricular activities not related to sports, and also have families. I have been there and done that, but I’m still bias. Just the other day I was in a technology meeting and we feel like teachers are going to have to get with it! Meaning that they are going to have to embrace technology and become proficient at least at some level. Figuring out the level of proficiency required is going to be the tough part. I don’t expect teachers to feel the same way about technology or use technology as much as I do. I do however believe that they should be using Web 2.0 technologies to expand the teaching and learning process.
We are going to have a technology fair next year and try and get some more teachers on board. At my school, I use technology and I use technology. Okay, there are a few others, but I don’t think that computer classes really count. After all, technology is their content. I want to see general education teachers using more Web 2.0 technologies. That’s just me! Don’t our students deserve it?
I love what the following…
“In my mind everybody will have the same understanding, that being a teacher is the same as being a life long learner. TECHNOLOGY INCLUDED
In my mind every faculty member is a professional. A PIPE DREAM
In my mind when your school is going in the direction of infusing technology into instruction and giving you all the tools and support you might need, every teacher will look into that direction. OH HOW I PRAY
In my mind, a teacher will comply with deadlines, be responsible in performing their duties and not blame someone else, if they were the ones who dropped the ball. ONCE AGAIN, A PIPE DREAM
Interesting points!
Thanks
William Bishop (Bill) aka lostjohns