Taking the Next Step (yep, it’s a baby one!)
Here I go blogging again. My weekly blog. I have finally come to the realization, or rather have faced the truth, that once a week blogging is not going to extend my professionalism to the extent that I am wanting. I know this is probably not how one is supposed to go about growing professionally, but I am going to set a goal of blogging not once, but twice this week. I realize that I should blog when I moved in some fashion – whether profound or mundane. However, I also realize that I am not “there” yet. Not that I won’t get there – I just have to take one baby step at a time. It is difficult when I am surrounded by colleagues who ask about my course and provide comments such as, “Who has time for that blogging stuff?” or, “It must be nice to have so much extra time to spend on your computer.” or, “I am so glad that I am retiring soon and won’t have to worry about educational technology.” Yikes! These comments were made to me during our pre-determined PLC meeting which I was told I was a member of! Didn’t Richard Schwier mention something about, “you can’t force a trend.” Smug? Perhaps.I was intrigued by Schwier’s session with our grad class on Tuesday. So many issues he spoke of are so relevant to the many challenges that teachers face today. I know the luddites in my school community and administration. We cannot ignore that fear must be fiercely present for some to act so irrationally. Fear of the next year’s teacher facilitating greater academic success with the students, even being more preferred by parents could be total devastation for some. Students that understand more than the teacher also causes angst for many. Instead of nurturing and encouraging such students, some may get intimidated and defensive. We want our students to feel empowered all the while without losing the “power” as a teacher or administrator. An impossible feat? Absolutely when you think of the social implications of social learning. This is a huge philosophical shift. Working together to create, what would be impossible solely. Not a light task at hand. Yet, this fear restricts students, teachers and administrators. How do we educate the educated?
Alec Couros replied:
Great post Angela, and I do hope you stick with your goal of at least two per week. I like the quote “you can’t force a trend” as you cannot force a community. But, I believe we do have an obligation to be well educated, and educational technology can be a vehicle to help us in this pursuit.
How do we educate the educated? Maybe the assumption that we are educated at all is the roadblock. For me, after several degrees, I still have the desire to learn. In fact it grows and grows everyday. I convince myself that there is so much more I need to learn for my own personal benefit and for the benefit of my students and my own children. The motivation must come from within, but I know that it can be infectious. Students that see their teacher engaged in learning new things may also achieve this important attribute.
All the best, and I hope to hear more thoughts soon.
February 4, 2008 at 6:06 am. Permalink.
injenuity replied:
1. Help them learn metacognition.
2. Help them learn to evaluate the information they consume.
February 4, 2008 at 9:43 pm. Permalink.
Shaun Loeppky replied:
I visited a teacher that facilitates a grade 7 blog and found myself pining for the days of teaching in a regular classrrom. I guess that is how you motivate others…concrete examples. I am still a little concerned about the time involved; I guess at the beginning we would feel like first year teachers (overwhelmed and a little frightened) with these new approaches. I would like to hear more from the practical “experts” and their time commitments, like Darren had presented.
February 4, 2008 at 11:03 pm. Permalink.
lgatzke replied:
@Shaun – I agree with Alec about being a life-long learner and teachers and students need models of this. That is what I like about being back in the school environment. Time is an issue, but I get to try these things with kids and think about the practical…”how will this work in the classroom”?
I had an interesting conversation with my fifteen year old son yesterday about retirement. I joked that maybe I would retire. My younger son asked what I would do. My older remarked that he thought it would be pretty hard for me to retire because I spend so much time on school. He said, “mom you’d just have to go to school”.
In my last job, I hopped around from school to school and felt I had a little impact. However, now I have a little more time to work with my colleagues and students…not enough yet but more.
I’ve never felt overwhelmed with new ideas and approaches. I find them exciting. I get bored with textbooks and worksheets….and so do our students. I think my biggest frustration is having to try to fit new technology or instructional strategies into an old curriculum and old evaluation system.
February 5, 2008 at 4:07 am. Permalink.
angiebalkwill replied:
@ Laurie and Shaun – I appreciate your constructive comments. It is nice to know that I am not alone in this journey. Laurie I totally agree with the frustration of dealing with old curriculum and assessment and evaluation. I guess it is like Shaun says how we have to motivat others by our enthusiasm.
February 5, 2008 at 4:24 am. Permalink.