Thanks for my passion
Warning: this will probably be a bit of a rambling post. My thoughts are all over the place recently, and I just need to get them down.
Different strands of my life as a teacher have started to sync up in unexpected ways.
After kind of fiddling around with a bunch of ideas for months, I decided to basically go public with what I’m doing online these days. For a while now, I’ve basically been living two lives as a teacher: there’s me, here, online, and there’s me at school. I’ve been feeling the friction more and more these days as I increasingly find my evolving educational philosophy somewhat at odds with the way I’m expected to do my job. I’ve mentioned before that I have to spend 2/3 of my day teaching scripted reading and math programs, and when you pile on the other things I’m expected to do in the classroom and with paperwork, I’m finding that the way I’m teaching now and the way I think I want to teach don’t match up very well.
Regardless, a few weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and sent out an e-mail to the staff in my school offering to teach them what I know about connecting with other teachers online. I got a fair amount of interest as well as some questions about Act 48 hours. After jumping through hoops with my district, I’m now ready to offer 4 sessions on “Using the Internet to Communicate and Collaborate.” I’ll blog more what I plan on doing in those sessions in the next week or so. I’ll also post my slideshows, in case you’re interested in that sort of thing.
Last night, I chaperoned a dance at my middle school, where I co-supervise our Student Council.
After the dance, a bunch of the teachers who chaperoned went out to get some food and drinks. Needless to say, teaching dominated the conversation. We discussed possible new programs to get laptops for all teachers, teacher evaluation procedures, the cyclical nature of education initiatives, thoughts on becoming an administrator, and more.
I think I surprised the other teachers, and, to some degree, even myself, by my passion during these conversations. I’m not particularly known as a person to get verbally fired up very often. I’m generally more of a stew in your own juices kind of guy. This past week I also got a few comments noting my obvious excitement about the presentations I’m planning.
I’m seriously afraid that passion wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t started building my Personal Learning Network two years ago. I’ve been more excited and challenged with my thoughts and ideas online than I ever had before. As I think over the conversation I had last night, and the work I’ve done on my presentation, I realize how much my thinking has truly been influenced by my network.
When I get fired up about truly using technology to transform education, I find myself channeling conversations with Ira Socol and Karen Janowski. When my passion burns for disparities in educational opportunity, I go back in my mind to discussions I’ve had with Deven Black, Diana Laufenberg, and Mary Beth Hertz. When I talk to people about the power of connected learning, I think about the chances I’ve had to sit and talk with Kevin Jarrett. When I talk about the lack of opportunities for teacher advancement other than going into administration, I channel Bill Ferriter. When I try to make my presentations look more “delicious,” I harken back to David Bill‘s conversation at last year’s EduCon.
So, thank you to all of the above people and so many more who have truly had an impact on my development as a teacher. 2010 is going to be a huge year for me, and so much of that wouldn’t be possible with all of your contributions. I am more knowledgeable and more passionate today about my role as a teacher today than I would have thought possible two years ago, when I clearly felt that I was stagnating as a teacher. I may not have stood out much in your mind, but so many of you have made an indelible impression on me.
Thanks.
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
New blogpost: Thanks for my passion http://bit.ly/5reRFv @irasocol @karenjan @spedteacher @dlaufenberg @mbteach @kjarrett @plugusin @dcinc66
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Dan-
I’m excited for you that you are coming out of the closet, so to speak! (Isn’t it weird that it’s necessary – since it’s such a publicly accessible closet!) My district is far ahead of most in technology (we have a 1:1 laptop initiative in grades 4-8), and yet I feel the need to be cautious about advertising that there’s a different “me online.” I know at some point I will have to repair my split teaching personality, too. I see a year of great growth ahead for you and those around you.
I look forward to hearing about it,
Nancy
.-= Nancy Stewart´s last blog ..A Choice Class =-.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Dan,
I know the feeling of living two lives. I am starting to think that the disparity between the conversations I have had with you and with many of my PLN members (many of whom you mention in your blog)and the way I am forced to teach and the culture of my district and my school means I need to seek out a place where I can, well, be myself and feel like I am surrounded by people with my same teaching philosophies.
Kudos, Dan, for taking the initiative to share your experience with your colleagues. I’m sure they will find it one of the most rewarding things they have ever done.
.-= Mary Beth Hertz´s last blog ..Taxation without Representation or "Don’t pee on my leg and call it rain." =-.
January 23rd, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Dan – It isn’t so much coming out of the closet it is just you have continued to grow and learn from some of the best educators out there. We are currently allowed to hear from the best minds, such as the ones you noted and many more, whom in the past we would not have heard from/about or talked to. Our opportunities to learn and grow have expanded exponentially over the past few years, just by the number of people that we are exposed to through our use of technology.
If we are excited about teaching then there is a better chance that our students will become infected with that excitement. There is nothing worse than a teacher who is just going through the motions and our students know the difference.
Keep up your excitement and see if in your staff PD you can rub off on some of the others that attend. I hope you are pleasantly surprised
good luck
Harold
.-= Harold Shaw´s last blog ..MERIT PAY & SPECIAL EDUCATION =-.
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Dan, I can’t begin to thank you and most of the others you mentioned in this post for keeping and growing not only my passion for teaching but also my understanding of what it is I try to do, how to do it better, how to learn from my failures and celebrate my few successes.
It is anathema to me how I work in a building filled with creative, passionate teachers yet feel my closest professional associations are with some of the members of my PLN, including many I am yet to meet face to face.
I have long thought that if you, me and the other people you mention, plus a couple more we know, could form our own school where we could teach the way we believe to be best for children, we would all be a lot happier.
While that is quite unlikely to happen, as long as we continue to inspire, support, teach and learn from each other we will continue to stoke and hone our passion for what we do and our students will be better off for it.
.-= Deven Black´s last blog ..Life vs. The Curriculum =-.
January 24th, 2010 at 10:03 am
No need to thank me, Dan….
Your contributions to my own learning have been at least as valuable, if not more so.
This whole PLN thing is kind of symbiotic, don’t you think? People who both take value from their shared relationship?
And that’s beautiful. Co-learning is just plain fun—and digital tools have made it possible.
Hope to meet you in Philly next weekend. I’ll be there.
Rock on,
Bill
.-= Bill Ferriter´s last blog ..Exploring Good Wikis =-.