Technology is cool, but teachers are cooler

These are the words printed on the back of my Tom Snyder Productions t-shirt. When I worked for this educational software company providing professional development for teachers, we ended all of our workshops with this quote. I think the sentiment expressed in these word is essential to keep in mind as I continue on my Classroom 2.0 journey.

It is easy to be critical of the teachers that are still living in a Web 1.0 or even a pre-Web world. And, while I do believe that bringing our students into the 21st century world of technology is critical, I can't forget that the teachers out there teaching are doing it with only the best intentions. I know what they say about good intentions, but the way to get these teachers to change is not to put them down. Instead, I need to validate all that they are doing and show them how much more they can do with technology.

I need to celebrate the great teachers who are doing amazing things with kids. There are a lot of them out there. They are asking students to think critically, and to be self directed learners. I believe the best way to make change is by focusing on the good, and believing in teachers, not adding to the negative current that runs so strongly through so many conversations about Education today.

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Comment by Connie Weber on May 13, 2007 at 6:47am: I agree with you wholeheartedly, Elizabeth! Well-stated. We can make such a difference by focusing on the positive. This is the way to go.

Comment by Deborah Bantam on May 20, 2007 at 8:50pm: Thanks for the invite, Elizabeth . . . I think you are so right about focusing on the positive. . . Change comes slowly as teachers feel more confident they will see the need- children sometimes force us to make changes. . . even before we thought we could! There are a lot of good things happening in education/technology. . . voices unheard.

Comment by Candace Elmore on May 21, 2007 at 8:47am: Thanks for the invite. I so agree. I find cool ideas, ways that can incorporate classroom lessons, and use technology to enhance it. I know which teacher in each grade level will be most receptive, so I suggest it to that teacher. When the others see how it works, they're more likely to try it. I've been here 7 years now, and the teachers trust/rely on me to bring them and their classes into Web 2.0 (even if they don't realize it.)

Comment by Bill Mead on September 26, 2007 at 4:54pm: I love Tom Snyder's stuff. I used to use the Great Solar System Rescue, the Great Ocean Rescue as well as a few of the Decision Decision titles with middle schoolers when I taught there in the 1990's. Great stuff! Always with a focus on learning, not on technology! The technology kept track of everthing though and it was a lot of fun.

Keep up the good work!