Less dizzy, more confounded.

I am over the dizzying speed of web tool introduction, and have settled into overload mode. After a couple of days off my seat and out on the golf course I am now ready to enter the realm of "Why do I have to use all of these tools and abandon my current teaching methodology?"

After all I like sugar. Oh, honey is great in tea but it makes my oatmeal clump up. Sweet and Low artificial sweetener is besides artificial, bitter, I like bitter beer, and bitters in my whisky, but not in my lemonade. High fructose corn syrup, well I've read the research and avoid it every time possible.

I was once informed that, Thomas Edison professed that his motion picture machine would revolutionize education and allow for the removal of teachers in the classroom. I now stream documentaries free over the internet into my classroom. Writing with paper and pen replaced chalk and slate, replaced by the pencil and now being replaced by laptop computers with word processors.

I get that we need to "advance" and change with the times. I understand the population and generations shift and in order to reach the mainstream, we as educators must adjust and "advance" as well (even if we believe in our hearts that we are always at least one step behind the latest advancement).

I am fighting over developing an evaluation system to select which tools to learn and utilize first, along with a rationale as to why. After all, in order to get my administration to ride my train, they want the data that supports it. They have no idea how well the tool works and will spend money on consultants, but will not trust an experienced educator.

These ramblings were brought to you by a tired, slightly confused and eager old man.