Thing 1. After watching the presentation on habits of lifelong learners, I definitely think the one most difficult for me is Having an End in Mind. I a very much a learn as you go person with technology. I seldom see the “big picture”, would not be a good administrator because I do not have a lot of vision, and often think other people’s visions require too much work or money or time.
I wish I wasn’t like that…but I am and I’m too old to change. But if you want someone who doesn’t mind working hard and if you tell me what end/outcome you want…I can usually do it.
The easiest habit would teaching or mentoring others. That’s because I do that already, right here at school and at home. I help teachers all the time with tech. They think I’m brilliant…but I’m not. I do understand how teachers think, so I can usually help them.
The habit I think that would be most important for me is the same one that’s the most difficult. I truly believe you have to have vision and goals. Without them, you hold yourself back and probably hold others back, too. Maybe I need to read some books on it. I am sure I need to deliberately work on it!
Thing 2. My initial reaction to web 2.0 and it’s role in the 21st century classroom is one of wishful thinking certainly thinking “outside the box”. I truly believe we are not currently meeting the educational needs of all students, and we definitely are not getting them ready for the technology that will/has infiltrated their lives. That may be because we have many teachers who are technology immigrants and we do not have a good powerful grip of the tech ourselves….so, how are we supposed to teach the kids?
Teachers are willing to learn, but usually it isn’t easy for them because they already have so much on their minds, and it appears to be just another bunch of tasks for them to have to do. Maybe the next generation or two (20 years or so) will be different. We have some of the hardware, we have the desire to use, but we don’t have the time or the training and we do have too much pressure already…so that’s the dilemma.
For myself, I use tech everyday and I encourage the students who come to the library. I particularly try to reach the girls because I think if they have to ability to use softwares such as Microsoft Office products, they can get employed and keep jobs more easily even if they don’t go to college. I try to work with teachers as best I can to help them feel more comfortable using tech in their classrooms, but it isn’t something they can do once or twice a year and remember how.
I think the use of tech needs to be used and modeled in classrooms, at faculty meetings and other activities in a school. We need administrators who, themselves, have learned to use it and encourage teachers, but they, too, have their plates full.
Maybe it would be a good idea to create an elementary/middle/high school in which all activities are electronic! How would you select students and faculty?? I think we need a trial run on that idea (vision???) If we had a school with all the stuff and faculty prepared to do it, we could surely get them ready!
