Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

Today is an optional staff development day in my husband’s school district. He is as busy as ever making sure 120 presenters have their needs met including making sure there are students for the session that calls for it. Yes–students. Marc Prensky is in the building, and I’ve just sat through 2 sessions–a keynote titled “Engage Me or Enrage Me: Educating Today’s Digital Learners” and then a panel discussion with students titled “Interview with the Digital Natives.”

Brutally Honest

The kids were fabulous! All I could think was once they had their nerve up, they were more than willing to tell it like it is! When asked about the amount of time students spent using technology in school, across the board students said very little. When asked to speak about a memorable project or assignment, the students visibly struggled. And when they were describing it, you could almost read “guilt” on their faces for not being able to share something really dynamic. Only one could share about a memorable project that allowed him creativity and to reallly think outside the box, and his was in a “technology” course–>he worked with a business to design a website that would allow them to showcase and advertise their product. Authentic–real world. The school has had an influx of interactive boards and technology, but across the panel the kids said their teachers did not seem to know how to use it effectively, and gave examples of it being an expensive screen for the projector or a super-sized worksheet. I loved it when a student described how the teacher would scan writing, and then the teacher and/or kids used their board to edit. I was embarrassed, as I have done exactly that activity myself before. My question is how is this any different from former complaints by teachers of the “one computer in the classroom?”

What’s Next?

I go back after lunch to hear Prensky again, and the title of that session is “Turning on the Lights: Why Schools Must Compete, and How to Do It.” My guess it is going to be about taking the learning global. I was fairly familiar already with his keynote, so hopefully he will give me something new to take away. I’m carrying my laptop to the next one, even though I won’t have connectivity. I will be able to take notes, and maybe post them here in my blog to share. Pictures to share later this afternoon! (I don’t have the cord for the camera with me.)

After Lunch take away–>Get on YouTube

Well I went after lunch to his session, and he was as relaxed as ever, and encouraging folks to just voice concerns and ask questions. It was interesting to hear the fear in their voices–a fear I do not have. One teacher brought up his comment form this morning that kids should be allowed to use calculators, and that long division and multiplication tables were time wasters in the class (my phrasing, not his.) I loved his example of how the clock became a standard piece of classroom teaching–how formerly we learned to tell the time by the sun. What did I leave with? Gaming, while very relevant to kids, has yet to be made into a concept ready for school. (Oh no, I don’t know if I’m ready for gaming to become “schooly.”) He says those in the field who are doing great things should post their great things to YouTube. He strongly suggests teachers while gathering resources for units of study check YouTube to see what is there. He says we as teachers can bring down the walls of our classrooms by using social networking tools geared towards educators. OK, so nothing really new here. But it pleased me that the educators there were very much in-tune with his message and recognize that he is like a fountain slaking their thirst to be better educators, and they want learning to be relevant to our 21st century learners.

Image Attribution:

Image: ‘Thirst for Knowledge‘
www.flickr.com/photos/7809479@N08/1632564574

Image: ‘Prensky-HiRes‘
www.marcprensky.com/speaking/default.asp

Next week right here in little ol’ South Carolina, I will be privy to two expert voices!! Welcome to true southern charm and manners Marc Prensky and Ewan McIntosh!

Welcome Marc!

Coming to Rock Hill (my official hometown) Marc Prensky is giving a keynote at a local conference for this school district. My husband is part of the planning committee, and yesterday he informed me that the coordinator of the conference (which I am not officially attending or participating in) said I was welcome to come hear Prensky. I guess this coordinator knows how excited I would be–meaning, I suppose, he recognizes that I’m a forward thinker too, and clamor after forward thinkers, either virtually through blogs, ustreams, and other networking or in person, like conferences. Whatever the reason, I am so excited to know I can attend for at least Prensky’s part of this conference. I won’t be able to ustream so don’t ask. The school district does not allow outside computers connectivity (wonder how they will deal with Prensky’s?) I’m still very excited. Will it look bad if I steal a front row seat for a conference that I am neither a paying or contributing member of? The uber-geek in me will be in full swing for sure. The ultra nerd in me also wants to talk to him AND get maybe I’ll even ask for an autograph. Confession–I’m an edtech groupie!

Welcome Ewan!

Ewan McIntosh will be keynoting the first day of the Greenville County School District’s Upstate Technology Conference. This one is absolutely FREE! I have a preso there at 8:00 am, and then at 9:15, Ewan does his keynote! I am so excited! Ewan was very instrumental last summer in making sure many virtual participants could participate in back-channels at NECC and the Building Learning Communities conferences. It made me realize there is a whole different way to enjoy conferences and get professional development, right from the conference I am at AND from my own living room if I am not present. I just emailed the UTC coordinators to inquire about Ustream possibilitis, and I will let you know what they say.

On a sad note, I will not get to enjoy David Jakes as keynote speaker for day 2 of the UTC. Isn’t it cool though that he will also be in SC? And he does indeed have a history in SC as part of the CSRA and the Department of Wildlife, though I’ve heard him talk about that time in his life, and though he is complimentary of his job, well, I’ll just say he doesn’t seem to like SC as a home (but of course that is my take after some “virtual” conversations.) Maybe next week when he is here, someone can get an official and 100% accurate opinion from him directly. Thursday I’ll be in Columbia, SC working with a group from across our entire state to hash out concerns relevant to school library media specialists. Perhaps more details to come later. Then Friday, we fly out to San Antonio for NECC.

Yes this is going to be a VERY exciting week coming up!

Attribution:

Today I did a session at our annual principal’s conference on social networking. Since the vast majority of tools like MySpace, Facebook, and even professional networks like Classroom 2.0 are blocked, I took the stance that we as educators must educate ourselves and our parents, especially in light of how issues stemming directly from student online interaction seems to find its way into our classrooms, guidance offices, right up to the administrators desks. I’ve presented at the conference several years, but usually in the morning. I was taken aback by the “ghost-town” feeling I had for my 2PM afternoon session. I had roughly fifteen participants. One lady assured me that my topic was popular and relevant, but after lunch folks attending this conference seem to find to “other” things to do. Factor in that it is the next to last day, and well, the lure of the beach was calling too. But honestly, when I attend conferences, I go to 90% of the offerings, and many times you can find me near the front row if I can get to a session early enough. Does this make me an uber-geek? Even in my session today, only one participant sat near the front. This was a new experience for me.

Don’t Preach to the Choir

My attendees seemed generally complimentary, and even one of the conference directors greeted me warmly by name when I arrived. But today I was a wee bit disappointed. Our SC State Department of Education library liaison (Martha Alewine) encourages us to get out and speak at different conferences besides our own. She suggests if we are to gain respect in the field, we must stop “preaching to the choir” (presenting to ourselves at our own conference) and branch out and spread our message about information literacy, ICT, and standards-based collaboratively taught engaged learning by presenting at other conferences. What better way to market what you as the teacher librarian have to offer the school and its curriculum? We must help the teacher population see that we can address standards and impact student achievement.

Spread our Message, Support our Colleagues

I generally try to present at our state edtech conference (SCEdTech), the middle school conference (if I remember to do the proposal), and this one. There are not very many “techy” sessions at this conference, as my friend Dennis Richards has noted before, and from his post here, this goes all the way up to the national level. I really like SCASA’s SLI, as I strongly feel administrators are the ones who MOST misunderstand what should be happening in a library, particularly a 21st Century Library. They are also in a position to “from the top down” help us become more of a collaborating and contributing partner for student learning. In years past, I’ve had wonderful reception and positive feedback from my sessions. My session today was later than I’d ever had before, 2PM. I never expected such a low turnout. It was quite frankly a little disheartening.

I Solemnly Promise…

I promise to all future presenters who draw an afternoon or late presentation I will strive to attend if I’m at the conference. Been there, done that. I know what if feels like now to present to an empty room. I’d have liked to have been out on the beach today too. I especially thank the ones who came.

Attribution:

I hate when presenters ask the Twitter Networks to simply say hello to their audiences.  I do like it when I’m asked to say hello and tell where I’m from, though, as this shows how far and wide reaching your network is. And I like it even better when folks ask for an opinion or idea along with this warm greeting, which is what  did today for a workshop I did today in Columbia, SC.  (I asked for folks to tell why networks are powerful.) I had recently been far removed from Twitter for assorted reasons, and so was a wee bit scared no one would comply.  Network, you absolutely amaze me.  And my participants were super impressed too.  It was funny to be able to read through the greetings and be able to tell the group an anecdotal comment about how each and every one has expanded my knowledge and expertise in some way. Thanks for coming thorugh for me today.

I read this quote today and thought about making a motivational poster to display in the library. It seems to go hand-in-hand with what we in the library world are all about. This one shows reading or researching print resources. I may make a matching one that shows a library patron using online/digital resources too. KEWL!

Attribution:

Image: ‘Reading‘
www.flickr.com/photos/29498428@N00/223492835

Okay so Wordle has been the rage in the bloggosphere of late, and many are making tag clouds for their Delicious Accounts. I can’t because I hate to admit this, but my delicious account is a mess, one that I seriously need to take the time and clean up. Why? I have tags that only have meaning to me. My tags would not mean anything to anyone else. Like what? Well like dates for when I need something–it is a tag. See what I men? Meaningless to anyone but me.

So I was missing out on the Wordle fun! This morning I took time to check out Wordle, and wow the possibilities. I discovered that Wordle will make a cloud out of any writing. I made a cloud (above) of my June archive in my blog. My hot topics are school, blog, learning library, media, teachers, & students. I’m pleased to see I focus more on “learning,” but disappointed that the word “teacher” and “student” still seem to be prominent words in m vernacular. I had a goal not too long ago to try and replace those two words synonymously with “learner.” Well at least I can see the effort is there.

I can definitely see the possibilities of this in the classroom, particularly a classroom where writing is emphasized. It will help writers see what words are used in abundance (or overused). I can just imagine the word “like” hugely displayed in most middle-schooler’s writing. I can also imagine a lot of txt-talk there as well. I am looking forward to sharing this with the learners who lead in the classroom at my school.

June 18, 2008 I am scheduled to give a half day a.m. workshop on Web 2.0 tools and I’ve been given some freedom and flexibility on what I do and how I do it.  I am planning to show a few short videos, get a Twitter hello w/ advice, and Skype in a few folks.  I have personally contacted a few already, but have decided to use my blog (and Twitter) to solicit more volunteers.  I just want some people to allow a skype (w/video or not–the choice is yours) to talk to my audience about how you personally use any 2.0 tools for professional development or projects with students.

I am not talking an hour commitment or anything like that, just a short, sweet “hello” and “here’s an idea or example I’d like to share.” Actually I’ll limit volunteers to no more than 10 or 20 minutes at the most.

Please contact me if you are willing. I am on the east coast, so eastern time rules. I’ll help with the time conversion if you need it. This would be so AWESOME, and what better way to talk about and/or showcase 2.0 tools than to utilize them in my session?

Did I mention my target audience is teacher-librarians–AKA school library media specialists?  These are your potential head collaborators at your schools, and I want to equip them with some knock-your-socks-off project based learning ideas they can take back to their schools.

Okay, if you can’t be available to help out, perhaps you can make a video or podcast hello with a tip, example, or advice?  I would be MOST appreciative! Use the comments here or the contact form on the blog to join me for this endeavor.

Attribution:

I haven’t written in a while. I’ve been really busy, and I’m on the final checkout sheet that teachers must have initialed before they can leave, so I sit here ready to go, and just waiting for the ones who still need a signature by the library/technology statements. Earlier this week a school library student ( a current practicing teacher working on a grad degree in library science) contacted me asking if i would be her interview for a paper she was writing in one of her grad classes. The topic? Blogging and 2.0. We tried a couple of times to arrange a skype interview, but my crazy schedule kept getting in the way, so finally she asked if i would just respond in an email. After doing my best to complete it, I decided to post some of it here (removing specific school references that I did not feel at liberty to publicly post.)

I say it is an “End of School Year Reflection, Sortof” because it is more like a summary of my knowledge at finger-depth’s level in the world of blogging and 2.0. While I seek to be a role model and exhibit best-practice, this makes me realize I have such a long way to go and grow. But that’s the nature of 2.0–ever evolving and changing daily, isn’t it?

So this may be long and tedious to read, but I will post anyway. So much for my promise to post shorter entries from back in January.

The Interview: Questions and My Answers

Question 1: How do use your school media center blog? What are its purposes?

I have used my school media center blog as a forum for discussions. I thought (or intended) to use it for book discussions) but never did really push it in that direction. I may even scrap the whole school blog next year, and go with a wiki for different projects or discussions so I can invite students to add. Right now the school media center blog has too much “ownership” by me and not the students.

Question 2: Describe the responses to your blog by Administration? Teachers? Students? Parents? Other community members?

Ho Hum. When I push it, kids will use it to respond to discussions. But if I don’t remind or point blank ask students to use it, it basically goes unnoticed. One of my teachers reads and comments on my blog. I have made him a 2.0 convert and junkie. It seems to have made him more interested in lesson plans and collaborating or brainstorming for ideas, and his students seem to get very excited about his class.

Question 3: What inspired you to first create your both your school blog and professional blog?

My inspiration began several years ago (maybe 2004) when Alan November was a keynote speaker at 2 different conferences that I attended (and both were basically state level conference.) But he awakened a part of me that no other educator on a speaker circuit had ever done before. He introduced me to Skype then too, which I used for a while, but gave up. It was too new then. I got back into skype in 2006 and actually intro’d it to my Mom. Now my Mom says, “Do not call me, Skype me.” Lately though I’ve had very little time to use it. But the point here is that Alan November introduced me to global learning and global tools. I began to seek out other educators who blogged, as it was becoming a buzz word in the educational technology world. In 2005, I decided to attend NECC in Philly. I literally had my eyes opened. Now my district then was way into the Schlecty material (engaged learning, Working on the Work.) The educational technology mantra then seemed to morph into relevant and meaningful learning with 21st century tools embedded–NOT teaching and then trying to find a way to integrate technology. So suddenly I was gaining a richer understanding of meaningful work for students. Here (NECC) is where I learned names of some of the top movers and shakers in educ’l tech and library, like Alan November, David Warlick, Will Richardson, David Jakes, Gary Stager, Kathy Schrock, Joyce Valenza, & Doug Johnson.) At least those were my “first” bloggers that I followed. I wasn’t brave enough then to write one, but i devoured these bloggers’ written word. Since then I’ve attended many conferences, specifically NECC annually, and these conferences help me network with other forward minded educators that inspire me to explore and do more.

Question 4: What advice would you give to others, whether classroom teachers or media specialists, who want to start blogging?

I would say find a group of bloggers who resonate within, and read them. Once you have begun reading more than a handful, learn to use a reader (like google reader or Bloglines) for management (as these free programs will tell you when there is new content, and you won’t waste time visiting blogs that do not have anything new.) Learn about the bloggers you read. Learn who they read. Once you have done that, decide if you want to be a blogger. One doesn’t have to jump in to be a part of it. Being a reader/commenter can be just as rewarding. If one decides to develop a blog, seriously reflect on who the intended audience is as well as the purpose for the blog. Research the blogging platforms well. Ask what other bloggers use and why. (I currently use Edublogs, primarily b/c it is not blocked as much as other blogging platforms. I also find the interface easy to use. Many beginners use Google’s Blogger, but I seriously detest it. I find it somewhat unprofessional in the look and feel, though they have made some improvements and changes.) If one creates it, don’t get discouraged if there are no comments for a while. That will come. To cultivate a readership is a difficult thing to do, but it can be done. Simple things like adding your blog to a signature file can help. The best way to draw readers is to comment on other blogs, and leave the URL for your blog in the place calling for a URL. Often times bloggers will visit the links that commenters leave, including your own blog. If your comment resonates with them, they may add you to their reader. Also other visitors to that blog may read your comment and decide they want to “follow” you as well. Eventually you will have cultivated a readership. So don’t get discouraged or feel like you are writing to yourself. Reflective writing is very rewarding in itself.

Question 5: Have you encountered any issues concerning privacy, access, etc. that you would consider noteworthy? If so, please describe them. What are your thoughts on blogging and copyright issues?

I have not faced any issues of privacy or access. But being in a public school that uses filtering, it is constantly on my radar. I try to cite all photos used in my blog, and I also strive to use pictures that have a creative commons license. As an LMS, I feel I should model citing when I use material (especially pictures) that are not mine.

Question 6: I also saw that you have a professional blog called TechnoTuesday that offers lots of useful information and technology tips for both classroom teachers and media specialists. Can you tell us a little about that blog and how it differs from your school media blog?

This is my primary blog, the one I spend more time on. It allows me connections to other educators, both teachers and LMS’s. Networking through the tools gives me a wider perspective on issues. I like to consider this a vital part of my professional learning network (PLN).

Question 7: Have you involved any students/teachers in blogging? If so, how, and what were some of the results?

Being in the library has not really afforded me an opportunity to do that. It may be that I just have not pushed it either. But I have tried to get other educators on board, and I can say I have successfully gotten other LMS’s to do some, and I have 2 teachers here who have created blogs. Only one uses it regularly, and he loves it. He uses it for parent information as well as student info. He is at http://mrgranito.edublogs.org. I am very proud of his accomplishment as a new blogger, and yes, we collaborated a good bit on his creation, and even got a few kids to do it. They are in his class, and they have their blog in his blogroll.

I was asked back in March to do the “teacher” career for career day here at school. I wanted the kids to hear a fresh voice instead of me, so I arranged for several educators from all around to speak using Skype to my 3 groups. I had a 5^th grade teacher, Lisa Parisi, from Long Island, New York. I had a 6^th grade teacher, Chrissy Hellyer, from New Zealand. I had commitments from Dean Shareski and Alec Couros, both educators from Canada, one a k12 level educational technologist, and the other a college level professor. I had Doug Johnson, media coordinator from Mankato, MN. All were to skype in at certain times. Too bad after my first two, we lost our school’s internet connection. It was very memorable though.

Question 8: I noted from your professional blog that you have been involved in several professional development activities with blogging and using other
Web 2.0 applications. Can you tell us a little about those? Were you facilitating the workshops? What are some highlights you would mention to
listeners?

For the last few years I have been presenting at local and state conferences, and recently I have begun to present on the 2.0 topics. I have done several presentations on the value of reading blogs and using a reader at the library conference, a couple of teacher conferences, our state technology conference, and our annual administrator’s conference (3 yrs in a row for them.) I have also begun visiting schools and districts to do workshops (half-day) on podcasting or just global 2.0 in the schools. I wrote in my blog a good while back about a parent workshop i did at school. This garnered me an invitation to come to Charleston, SC to do this same preso at school for their parents. I said I would come if they would modify it some, and include a panel of experts that included an admin, teacher, guidance, social worker, SRO, lawyer, college entrance officer, and students. Yes Students. I suggested they allow me to do my spill, and then turn it over to a panel discussion that included me and the others they could get, and it was beyond belief how well it went, AND how wonderful the discussion was. OH, and they paid me. How awesome is that? This one is the one that stands out the most, but I do love spreading the message to parents, students, and teachers. It seems the toughest sell is teachers. Go figure. The administrators who have heard me have been highly complimentary, and they are the reason I get invited to do workshops around the state. I say I am cultivating my next job in 6 years when I can retire–>Consultant. But who knows, in six years I may not be as up on the tools. I can’t back up a lot of what I’ve learned with real world classroom experience–yet. And my interest and focus could change too. So who knows?

9. Are you aware of other media specialists in your district who blog? If so, what is the level of collaboration among them in developing this tool?

No other school level LMS’s in this district blog, but I do have a folder in my reader of SC LMS’s that blog. I am sad to report its very small in number but the ones who are blogging, either through their library or personally are very progressive. Our district media coordinator has set up two blogs for summer reading, but it is in its earliest stages–very knew to many in the district. (The rest of my answer here has been cut for personal reasons.)

10. What do you consider the biggest advantages to blogging in the school media center?

I’m not sure I see any advantages yet for students. They see blogging as “schooly” if I can use that word. But I think educators who use it in the classroom have caused that, which is another reason I have not totally pushed the media center blog. I don’t want it it be like school-work. But it does allow students to read and see that they have different perspectives, and it does give them a forum to express their opinions.

11. Can you provide any insight as to the future of blogging in school libraries and classrooms and what the implications are for students and
their achievement?

Blogging per se I fear will be molded into something schooly, and lose steam. Like most new things, schools adopt them and then “beat them to fit, paint them to match.” It will lose its authenticity then. I don’t want to say blogging will not work, but I do want to say that the use of them will have to be authentic and engaging for student learning, and not just something else students and/or teachers have to do. I can only think of a few examples where educators use it as a vehicle for learning, and they have a “walled-garden” type set up, either with private blogs, moodles, nings, or class blogmeister. I don’t necessarily agree with the walled-garden concept. If educators can create social network atmosphere similar to face book or myspace, they will probably have more success. Students want to see the tools they use out of school in school. Having a blog will not necessarily meet that need, especially if it is not provided with exciting, interesting school lessons. I hope that makes sense.

12. What are you thoughts on/experiences with using some of the other Web 2.0 applications (podcasting, social networking, etc…) either separately or in conjunction with blogging?

I love the tools and use them myself quite frequently for my own learning. I have used Twitter for quick help or a place to vent. I am on some of the nings (Classroom 2.0, TeacherLibrarian, etc.) as well. These allow me to network with other educators who use 21st century tools. I can get many ideas for real classroom application as well. Ustream is really beginning to play a big roll in my use of 2.0 tools as well, and I’ve heard that much of NECC and November’s BLC Conference will be Ustreamed so virtual attendees can participate. I follow many podcasts, and have gotten teachers to explore podcasting as a vehicle for demonstrating concept mastery. We are also playing a lot with video editing, though we are not publicizing it through the 2.0 tools yet.

I still feel very much like a beginner at a lot of this stuff, and don’t really use it as much as others. This summer at NECC in San Antonio I will be sitting on a panel discussion with Joyce Valenza and others to discuss using 2.0 in school library. I can only hope I have the expertise they have.

Image Attribution:
Steffon. “Skype Phone” re-ality’s Photostream. 8 September 2005. 7 June 2008. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/re-ality/41676755/>.

My final response started like this:

(T said)….considering what is blasting into their ears from their ipods, and what they see on television, and the content of some of the most popular video games, i’d recommend putting them in quiet rooms to read and discuss good books!

Perhaps instead of opening the door to all their toys and tools with no restriction, we develop policies that embrace them and teach students about using them responsibly, sensibly, and with limits. Why not teach them to be analytical about the tools they are so mesmerized by, and help them make well thought out, educated, wise choices about the said tools? Gosh, this just may sound a bit like, um, media literacy?

(T said)…teenagers have been bored in school since there have been teenagers in school, and while i support most of prensky’s principles and his recommended practices, i become wary, dubious and skeptical when consultants, educational game designers, and microsoft vp’s suggest that we aren’t doing enough to make education fun and entertaining…

I do believe Prensky said as much, that boredom has been long withstanding in many classrooms throughout the 20th and now 21st century. No surprise. But some are missing the point here. This is not about grabbing their attention with their preferred tools as much as it is about “engaging” students. Very few students who are engaged become bored, cause discipline problems, and best of all, they WANT to learn. Kids are bored because school is focusing on concepts covered on the test, and making it more of a priority than making sure their kids are engaged.

(Heather Loy said) They aren’t used to the “sit and get” methods and/or WON’T get them simply because they will tune us out as we are boring.

Bingo! I myself as a veteran “student” having many years of experience in the classroom learning can vouch for the fact that it is so difficult to have a “sit and get” style class today. And in this day and age of 90 minute blocks, OMG, I pity our students who must endure 90 minutes of this. I’ve been through k-12, college, and 2 post college degrees, and I can promise you the ONLY ones that bring back memories I care to remember are the ones where I did not “sit and get” the whole time. As an adult who LOVES attending conferences, I find that I cannot even stand to sit in one hour sessions that are the sit and get variety. For that reason, I have begun carrying my laptop everywhere, and pray I’ll have wireless, so I can self-stimulate if it gets too boring. I’ve developed the attitude—Engage me or enrage me. There is no in between.

(L said)…LOL “T”…I’ll give you the Microsoft research point…kinda like Renaissance Learning research finding conclusive evidence that AR works.

I think all corporations can find research to support their theories and/or products. It is why we have all bought into such programs as Renaissance Learning, CCC, SuccessMaker, Read 180, and so many more sure fire cure-alls to what ills education.

(P said)…I am currently serving on an EOC Tech Think Committee and I guess the individuals on that group must be as uninformed as well since we all concur on the use of technology in the classroom to engage students.

So glad to hear a state department of education contact saying this!! Also pleased as punch there is representation that understands our roles in the library.

Thank you ALL for this healthy debate. Some may feel it is not part of the library media program, but I beg to differ. We are poised to be a catalyst for true technology integration and modeling engagement in our libraries. We should be doing just that. No educators, especially those in the library, are off the hook. Engage them or enrage them.

Image Attribution:

Image: ‘Wii’
www.flickr.com/photos/48104302@N00/310446979

Image: ‘My name is Hans, and I am a Machead.’
www.flickr.com/photos/91499027@N00/6576953

Image: ‘resting’
www.flickr.com/photos/75016602@N00/199276257

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