Thoughts By Jen

I started thinking of this early this morning when I did a quick review of twitter and read some blog posts today……

I read one post that had 14 Amazon affliate links hidden in the conversation and just raised the hair on my neck a bit.  I read a post where someone is making a mountain out of a molehill for no other reason than to stir the pot.  I read another post that touched my heart and I just wanted to reach out to the person and say “hang in there”.  I read some twitter babble that made me again question “why is this so important?”

I started to question WHY……
Why do I have this space on the internet that I call my own.  Why do I find it important to share what I feel and still wander through templates looking for that just “perfect” theme?  What brings me back to the need to share with you??

I think……

I blog because I have thoughts that in the past would have just slid away over time but now have a place to come to either grow or diminish….and are now not just memories but out there for myself and others to read.  I blog because I want teachers to know that I understand that change is hard — it is inevitable — but it is hard and I struggle with it as well.   I blog because there is still the “Sally Fieldisque mentality in me” that when people comment, a tiny part of me says “You like me”.   I blog because I was silent for too long and now have a venue to scream and share and laugh and lament and cry and praise.  I blog because I feel it is expected of me to have a presence available to people I speak with and interact with through projects.  I blog because I wonder if somewhere my post could make a tiny difference in someone’s life.  And I blog 2 times a month because T&L had asked me too.

And I wonder, why do you blog??

Do you blog for extra revenue?  Do you blog to stir the pot and get people thinking?  Do you blog to touch someone’s heart?  Do you blog because no one listens?  Do you blog because deep down you need to know someone “likes” you?

Why do you blog?

I would love to hear?

Thanks
Jen

Every morning, I drive the same way to work.

I turn LEFT onto Jackson.  I turn RIGHT onto Monroe.  There is one 4 way stop.  There is one stop light.  I have driven the same way now for 2 years.  With few exceptions, nothing has changed….I could almost do it with my eyes closed — but for safety reasons, I won’t.

So, this morning, I go to turn left and there is a jeep in front of me, so I wait til it turns left…..slowly.  And then I slowly — we are talking 15 miles an hour here –  follow this jeep til we get to the stop sign.  And now there are 5 more cars behind me as well.

We get to the stop sign, the jeep turns RIGHT on Nutmeg.  I go through the stop sign and resume my regular speed.

So why the slow speed of the jeep?  We had fog this morning….heavy fog.

And this fog….I am assuming the fog…..slowed the car down in front of me to a snail’s pace…a cautious pace, a “come on move mutterings from Jen” pace.

Now I know with fog, you do need to drive carefully, but this morning was just ridiculous….and as always, it caused my thoughts to turn toward the classroom.

I think there are too many teachers that are treating the new opportunities (of Tech) like heavy fog and instead of trusting that the road is the same and that the route to the final destination has not wavered, they are slowing down to an unbelievable cautious pace.

The thought of anything new entering into their classroom inhibits them to try anything new.  The thought of an outside source having any kind of effect on their classroom puts them into “danger, Will Robinson, danger” mode.

And then you put the “I know where I am going and my headlights are on so MOVE ALREADY” Tech Coordinator riding on their rear does not help probably in any way.

So how do we build up their confidence that they will trust the fact that they know where they are going even when they can’t see the way?

How do we build up their confidence to realize that blogging can be creative writing, the kidspiration can help with math skills, the comic life can be a unique way to showcase a science project, that spelling city can reinforce spelling, that ….. (I could go on and on)

I think it is okay that they slow down, turn on their lights, and progress carefully at first.  But then also to trust that they know where the final ending point is and this fog, this inability to see clearly, will lift in just a bit and they will continue on as normal, with the fog behind them, and new opportunities clearly ahead!

The car in front of me frustrated me tremendously but also made me realize that most of the teachers I work with daily and speak with often must feel like they are driving in a fog right now….and I am thinking of ways to allow them to proceed with a bit of caution but also trust themselves to DRIVE.

Just morning thoughts.
Jen

What would happen on your campus if you were to leave?

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Educon 2.2 conference (http://www.educon22.org/)  in Philadelphia (100% virtually from the comfort of my own home!)

As I listened to several of the speakers share about what was happening on “their” campus, I started to wonder how they were rippling out to their campus so that if they were to leave, the message of “opportunities and options”, of “21st century learning”, of “collaboration, creativity, and conversations” would not cease on their campus?

I ask you – as I ask myself…………

Are you building up people who can easily step into your place if you were to move on?  Are you sharing the microphone with other voices so that yours is not the only one of power, conviction, and vision?  Are you stepping aside and letting others lead and allow you to become someone who follows?

At my old position, one of my Jr. High Students from 1996 has stepped into my shoes and is now the computer lab teacher.  I wished I could say that I had a part of that….but in total honesty, I did not.  I was her computer teacher…and perhaps planted a seed that did germinate happily into this position.  But I was working so hard on keeping my job, promoting my voice, and I did not want to share….that I really kept myself and opportunities in a box that only I had the key to.  (true – yes….and ashamed – yes)

At my current position, I have given the reins to Cheri (the current computer teacher).  I am doing my best to step aside and have her set the stride forward on our campus.  She has more education than I do and her master’s is in curriculum development…and it just makes sense for her to lead.  Her vision of tech connections in the classroom far exceeds mine.  Plus, who knows where I will be next year – so I know whatever happens….our school won’t slide back to where they were in 2007 before I arrived on campus.

So – who are you working with?  Who are you nudging into taking your place?  Who are you sharing the microphone with at conferences so that your voice is NOT the final authority on tech topics?  Who have you perhaps NOT noticed that needs to be noticed that won’t fill your shoes – but will be confident to set the stride ahead in their own shoes?

And please share with us HOW you are doing this?  How are you stepping aside to let others lead, let others be heard, and let others be seen??

(this post can also be read at:  http://www.techlearning.com/section/Blogs)