Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE using technology and do so more
than is required or even expected of me. It is not a matter of mandate for me,
but a matter of value to the student. You will have different camps that
immediately circle their wagons when the technology heathens come in to raid
their comfortable little journey across the plains of the school year. Let’s go
over the different camps that I tend to see the most.
NOTE: I hate people who label others and group individuals
based on stereotypical observations. That being said, here are some groups that
I have labeled based on stereotypical observations I have made over the years.
1.
Chalkboard Cowboys: This camp is still bitter
about toilets that flush and wish the world was still made in such a way to
force a kid to walk to school uphill, both ways, in a hurricane while milking
the family cow and writing FDR a letter in hopes of a personal “Fireside Chat”.
Don’t fall in to this trap. Technology is about as welcome as a fox in a hen
house in their circle! Bitterness and sourpuss attitudes do nothing but ruin
careers and good people in love with the reason we are teaching. Don’t argue
with them. Let them make their stand during the trainings and faculty meetings.
There is also no age requirement for this camp. I have seen them as young as a
23 year old first year teachers to a 70+ year old award winning teacher in the
last year before their retirement. Don’t worry. There are other camps to choose
from.
2.
Urban Cowboys: You know who you are. These are
the ones who wear the boots and the hat, but have never mended a fence or even
have seen a horse close enough to see the beauty in their patient stare. (For
the record: I am not a fan of horses.) This camp is a tricky one to spot. They broadcast
themselves with their stories of technology in the classroom, but only when
they are at the community coffee pot with at least one Administrator within ear
shot of their slightly louder than normal conversation with the new teacher who
is half asleep from grading papers until 3am the night before. These guys are
friends of the Chalkboard Cowboys, but usually don’t have the testicular
fortitude or tenure to be so outwardly negative against things. So, they play
the system a bit. Technology comes into their lessons when it counts: an
observation, a required cross-curricular project with another teacher, or out
of plain desperation to show up another person in their department. Don’t fret.
There are more campfires burning just over the horizon.
3.
Town Crier Cowboys: Old Timers would attribute
this to the “Me Society” or some other group than their own that can easily be
blamed. The truth is that this camp is where all the teachers who love to email
THE ENTIRE #$@!% SCHOOL some website, app, or some other nonsense that works
only for one content area, or a single grade with only a handful of students
gaining benefit from it. But, Hey! Everyone now knows they are tech savvy and
maybe now their name will be mentioned next week in the faculty meeting! These
guys haven’t learned how to be “Urban” yet. They are just working way too hard.
Soon they will realize they do not need to put forth so much effort to act the
part. Don’t go here. Those who stand on tables and beat their chests to get
attention for doing what is expected of them is a short fuse to a huge problem.
Don’t worry, there is still hope.
4.
The Real Cowboys: They are the ones who work
hard every day, help those who need help, raise the herd, and go to sleep each
night staring into the campfire allowing the embers to comfort them to sleep.
There are more people like this in every school than is believed. It is easy to
over look the people who quietly do the job, take on the new tech challenges,
and figure out AND USE what works for their kids. It is difficult to spot these
in your building. The best way is to listen to your students. Ask them about
what projects they are doing in other classes, what they are excited about
working with, and who is doing them. The Real Cowboys are perfect poker players
and can carry a blank face when the “Urbans” and “Criers” are wasting good
oxygen and file space in your inbox. Once you find one of the Real Cowboys, go
talk to them, face to face, alone, and without any intent to draw attention to
what awesomeness they are doing. This camp is quiet. Not much talking, but a
lot of knowledge and opportunity.
Remember, that each camp has value to you. Appreciation for
anything only comes when we can truly see all sides of it. Listen…with
restraint…to the Chalkboard Cowboys; most of them have the experience that will
give you insight into the “latest and greatest fad” that overwhelms education
like relentless winds on the prairie. The “Criers” and “Urbans” will usually
use and promote the easiest stuff that will get them the desired result. They
will have good sources, just check your spam folder and pack some ear plugs.
One more thing. A school system will throw more tech ideas,
sites, programs, apps, and other nonsense than you can honestly handle. The
idea is NOT for you to use all of them, but to try them and find a couple that
work for you. It will be overwhelming at times. It will be annoying at times.
It will seem like they have lost their minds on the time it takes for us to
plan and teach, but they do know. You can be more effective by trying it and
reporting back what did and did not work instead of running to the Chalkboard
camp.
We are given the task of being educators in a world of
technology that is advancing faster than the laws that regulate it. We are
members to one of the oldest professions and must remember to be timeless in
our approach in being relevant.
To be life-long teachers we must also be life-long learners.
Have the "True Tech Grit" to make your classroom a place where your students can
help keep the camp fires burning bright for years to come.
