Are you an “enabler”?
May 10, 2008
Lisa’s blog post written as a response to my tag from a meme made me remember this. One time 
a teacher I worked with chastised me and told me I was an “enabler.” When I looked at her quizzically, she said, “You enable me to be computer illiterate.” I had come to her room to help her with some kind of problem she was having, and instead of showing her how to fix it herself, I just fixed it.
Am I?
She assured me she was teasing me, but as I left, I realized she was probably right. At that time I was in an elementary setting in the library, and I had a tight schedule of classes, but was on a quest to help teachers effectively use technology. Many made great strides, but I always tried to find a way to help when a need came. My thinking was that if they needed help using their technology, than I should rush to assist when needed else they might abandon it, and go back to the old way of teaching. I really thought I was doing a good thing, until that day.
Goal: Change that title–Enabler
Since then, I have changed jobs, and now work in a library in a middle school setting. I always try to help teachers now help themselves. I point them to tutorials, or make screenshot tutorials for them to help themselves. Just this week I had a teacher thank me profusely for the directions for a mailmerge so she could make letters telling kids how much more was owed for a field trip. She said it was so nice to be able to do this without any struggles, and she’d keep the directions for ever. I just smiled and told her in no time she’d abe able to do this w/out needing the trusty directions.
Another teacher couldn’t get his printer to work. I remarkably walked him through checking the print que, clearing out jobs, and finally getting his printer back into working order—all from the phone.
So far, so good
So I can say that I am keeping my promise, and instead of enabling teachers to be technology illiterate, empowering them to make the tools work for them–independently. W00T!!
So, is anyone else guilty of being an enabler?
Attribution:
Image: ‘Help‘
www.flickr.com/photos/82625518@N00/5228173
May 10th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Sometimes I think it depends on what I want the outcome to be. In order to get my husband to blog, I had to set up the blog for him rather than spend the time teaching him how to set it up. He wanted to do the blog posts but is easily frustrated and I knew if he spent the time trying to set up the blog, he would have lost interest in it. As he gets more comfortable with actual blogging, he is comfortable asking me how to do little things to enhance his blog. I am trying to decide now when I teach my summer course which one I want to put more focus on: the setting up and then blogging, or the blogging and then enhancing the blog.
May 11th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I will admit that I was an enabler…..
and the way I broke it —
I NEVER sit in their chair nor touch their mouse when I come to help anymore.
When I walk in, they always stand up — and I tell them to sit down and walk them through the fix.
Takes a bit more time, A LOT more patience….but in the long run, we both win.
Jen
May 11th, 2008 at 10:56 am
@Pat–at least you have your husband in the fray–mine just rolls his eyes and can’t figure out the lure, and my 17 yo son always asks if I’m talking about real friends or virtual one. They love teasing me. I’m proud to know you were able to get your husband to enjoy something that brings you pleasure as well.
@Jen–yes, that was more than a year ago, and then and there I decided to no longer be the “enabler.” While my friend meant no harm and was just teasing, I realized that indeed instead of helping people I was handicapping them. While it is rewarding to feel needed and a vital component in a program, it is much more rewarding to teach them to be independent.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Hi Cathy,
This topic has long bothered me as well. I’ve addressed it in two ways.
When asked to do something for a teacher on the computer is usually, “I will do FOR you this time, but next time I will teach it to you.” (If a thing happens rarely it is more time efficient to just do it for a person.)
I always encourage my techs and media specialist to wait 10 minutes before responding to any tech “emergency.” It is amazing how many times the teacher figures out the problem him/herself in that short amount of time.
“Enabler” should have a positive connotation if we are empowering others.
Good post!
Doug
May 11th, 2008 at 11:44 am
@Doug
Up until that day, I did think my enabling teachers to use their tools was a positive way to support them. I was proud of my ability to enable them. It was a powerful feeling that gave me a lot of elation. And my friend who called me an enabler meant no harm. She was paying me a compliment. So, yes, enabler is a complimentary word. But it did make me realize that I should change my ways a little, and transform from one who would do everything for them to one who would enable them to help themselves. I’m happy to report that I have done exactly that, but admittedly there are crisis moments where I have to spin my magic. It helps too that colleagues think I’m a miracle worker at times. Keeps my principal happy too, not to mention the ego booster it is for me.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Cathy, for me it all depends upon the situation and person. If I’m strapped for time, I usually just fix whatever is wrong. If I have time, I’ll make the teacher do the driving. I’ve always learned by doing and when it comes to training teachers (and students) I prefer to have them at the controls and walk them through it vs me lecturing them the whole time.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
You made me aware of how I am not helping the teacher when I do it. When I am really busy, I just want to be in and out, but I really need to take the time and make them touch the mouse and move it. I am doing the learner injustice. Thanks for helping me see the light.
Bill Gaskins