Hot, Cool, and Very Controversial

A HOT topic where I am is integrating technology! HOT in many ways...including COOL and controversial. I just read a forum asking how to get teachers to join us in our exciting endeavors of integrating. I began a reply and ....so much of the past week's frustration came out and in the end I thought I resolved myself to live and let live. More on that in a minute. I cut and pasted my reply here because I was a bit embarassed of how I veered off the intended course of offering solutions.

Sometimes as mentors we have the luxury of sharing technology with those who are interested. We choose a core group of open minded or like minded educators. We train them and spend time creating lessons that beautifully integrate the best we can find with the core curriculum. We have a great time sharing and we are all happy that many more students are going to have more ways to learn. We watch it flow and spread from the enthusiasm and support of others who share our belief in the importance and fun of integrating technology. What is wrong? The spreading has limits and does not seem fast enough.

Other times we have the task (whether forced or self induced) to require teachers to learn to integrate technology. Talk about controversial! Some of these teachers, who are otherwise pretty normal human beings, have interests and motivation that lie in other areas. We find the usual bell shaped curve in reactions – bright-eyed eagerness and downright refusal. Why are we surprised? It still catches me off guard. I still run the through the same reactions and emotions express by others here who are in charge of change.

Last week I dusted off a text from a class I took recently and saw all of these levels we see in educators when change is taking place. “Change” has been researched and documented well. Change takes a group willing to take charge of planning, encouraging, documenting, evaluating, cheering, insisting, grouping, altering, and staying on top of things for a long time. Longer than that. Longer and more consistently that we normally experience. Unlike the new bandwagon that educators tire of riding, technology is here to stay and will always be changing faster than any reading or math program ever thought of flashing by our schools.

Just like with students we all find creative ways to convince others to learn new technologies. Don’t tell anyone, but one of my best success stories happened by accident. I had been trying to organize groups to train during school hours so that teachers would not have to stay late to learn how to use our new website. I was working with one teacher and another one eavesdropped and sat down, then another and another and then one called some more and before I knew it the whole group was there - interested and involved- hmmmm. So keep it a secret? Act like only a select few get to know- I thought I was on to something big! Well it was short lived, but a good thing for the day.

After a grueling - and exciting - first few weeks of technology changes in school this year, I have come to believe that if we want to work in a place that has our same beliefs, passions and practices, we just need to create specialized schools....but that’s another hot topic.

After the above reflections on a roller coaster week of trying to get others to "see the light", I read this blog about technology illiterate teachers. Whoa Nellie! Okay- now I feel like I am NOT okay with live and let live.

Do I really want to go to a professional - say a doctor or a pharmacist who refuses to stay updated on the best and the safest for my family?

Do I want my children to be educated by those who proudly refuse to change with new technologies?

Can I sit by and say nothing to educators who physically and literally turn their backs on learning how to use internet resources safely and efficiently?

How can I effectively assist others who refuse to be helped? It is for the children, I do not want to give up yet.

Please go to this forum and add your success stories. It's nice to share.