Some of us have been talking about how it is harder and harder to sleep at night. After all, if we wake in the middle of the night, we can hook up with teachers from Australia, discussing blogs or wikis. The other day at breakfast, I listened to teachers from China and Korea talking about 21st learning skills (I was late to school). 24-7, people are twittering, blogging, thinking, challenging, discussing. What if we miss something?
Well, you know, if it’s valuable, it will re-surface. My goal is to focus on each week, one day at a time. We’ve got some amazing learning going on at my school, and I want to be sure I am present in the moment, not trying to ram every new tool coming our way down teachers’ throats.
So, the measured breathing continues. I attended a Celtic service at
the historic Episcopal church in town this evening. Meditation, guitar
hymns, and candles contributed to a time of quiet reflection and
prayer. I needed that.
This week promises to be interesting with a presentation to two of our upper school classes entitled, "Where are your footsteps leading?" and then one for the parents to bring them up to speed about what we are doing with technology.
Of course, I don’t want to focus on the technology but on how we are trying to re-frame our teaching, using the technology tools available. Twenty minutes is not enough, but it’s a start.
As much as I want to prepare our students for this uncertain future, I want–more than that–to make sure they develop a love of learning and a passion for life. To be curious. To care. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
"Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living." John Dewey.
I really dig your viewpoint on where our focus should be. Regardless of tool choice our students and teachers need to be exposed to skills that will serve their need in the future.
to be curious, indeed, is not too much to ask.