Feeling Overwhelmed? Join The Club...

Last night during #NTChat on Twitter, my good friend Mary Beth (@mbteach) was a guest moderator. The topic centered around helping new teachers figure out the best applications and programs to use. At one point there was some conversation about how overwhelming it can be with all these tools and ideas. Not to mention all the other issues first year teachers deal with when it comes to technology.

The short conversation there got me thinking. What would it be like now to be a first year teacher...

Now let's be honest here for a moment. I have only been out of the classroom for 3 years. I was a classroom teacher for 5 years. So that gives me a total of 8 years in education. In just the time I have put in things are radically different from when I started, oh so many years ago. Getting some computers in my classroom was a big deal. In many places kids were going to the media center or a lab to use them. Now many kids are starting school with their own school issued laptop. Document cameras were large, bulky, digital overheads that I had only ever seen in one room on my college campus. Now they are becoming more and more standard. Web 2. what? Nope, that was just starting and really didn't come on strong until the last couple years.

For a moment, I want you to think. How many Web 2.0 tools, online applications, or sites can you think of? Could you name 10? 20? 50? More? There are lots. Many I use everyday and can't think what my life would be like without them. Heck, when Twitter goes down or the network at school goes down I feel like part of me is missing. (Ok, not really. Well, maybe a little.)

I could not imagine walking out off my college campus and into the classroom with everything available today. But isn't it a double-edge sword? Yes, there are tons and tons of tools, apps and devices that we can use to help students engage and boost achievement and connect in the classroom. But at the same time it can be too many. And it can be easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything in the first year.

Part of the problem is those of us that deliver professional development (myself included). We get excited. I live and eat and breathe technology. Normally there is a web connected device (be it computer, phone or iPad) that is no farther than 3 feet from me. I read about, think about, wonder and ponder about, technology. So when I discover something new or interesting I wanted to share it with my teachers. Or I wanted to give workshops on a broad range of topics, covering 3-5 tools in the hopes that one would stick and they would use it. The reality is, many times, none of them would get used because it was just overwhelming. It was too much.

Now put yourself in the shoes of the first year teacher. Not only are you sitting in a workshop hearing about these 5 tools you have to use and your kids have to use, you are thinking about your lesson plans, administrator walkthroughs and more. Many times these teachers want to use the technology but just feel like it is too much.

So those of us to deliver professional development and who plan for PD have to be mindful of our audience. Sometimes less is more...

And just a few pieces of advice for new teachers:

You will feel overwhelmed at some point. Join the club. I feel like that regularly. (I think that is more a personality flaw and my own problems with time management...) It will happen and will happen a lot. And it is ok to feel that way. Take a step back and evaluate what you are doing, often. Is there a better way, a different way? Can something be put off for a while or at least wait until a better time? Taking the time to reflect is crucial.

And

Tools, tools, tools. Pick 1 or 2. (And this is advice for beyond the first year too.) You are going to hear about the latest and the greatest tools. And they are going to be changing and changing fast. Focus on 1 or 2 and use them, extensively, until their use is seamless, either in your classroom or for your own professional development. Then when you feel comfortable, add something. But always remember, tools are just that. It is what we are creating or using the tool for that is much more important.

I dunno. I am not a first year teacher. Maybe you are or will soon be one or know one. What do you think? Add to the conversation below.

What Is A Great Teacher?

What makes a good teacher? Is there a distinction between a good teacher and a great teacher? What skills do teachers in the classroom, right now, need to posses?

Last night on #edchat, participants tried to determine what skills, traits, or characteristics were necessary for "21st Century Educators."

Here is what people were saying:

• Enthusiasm, dedication, compassion, ability to think on your feet. Tech is not a requirement, but helps students learn through a modality they are familiar with. As much as I hate to admit it, the best teachers I know aren't the ones that work 8-2. They stay late, work at home, come in on weekends occasionally. That shows dedication and passion. -A Teacher
• Willingness to Collaborate and not be all-knowing islands of knowledge; the sea of knowledge is too great for any person to truly be an expert all by themselves. Model being a life long learner by being willing to 'not know everything', admit the limits of your knowledge, and embrace the knowledge their charges bring to the learning environment. -A Systems Administrator
• Education is necessary to equip children to life. If we bear in mind the world of today, in which collaboration and team-play are important, the number one skill is interpersonal communication, or simply people skills. Children look up to their teachers, and, as role models, we need to show them the power of working together to achieve great things. It doesn't matter whether you're not good at A or B, education is empowering. Education brings down walls and eliminates differences. We can only show learners this by reaching out to them. Learning to communicate effectively and responding to their fears, anxieties and concerns in the best possible way. -A Teacher, Director of Studies
• Necessary skills- flexible in the moment, rigid to stay on task, wide enough to cover all personal, social, and academic aspects of a single student, narrow enough to care for that student, Able to learn with students, unable to leave the students alone to learn, give every student the possibility to learn, withhold the ability to give up on an unmotivated student. I believe all these are important because we are the models for students. Skills that should be considered and valued - Caring, sharing, collaboration with other teachers, ability to let others in and be transparent. All teachers need to be openminded and willing to take risks. It does take time and effort to adjust to change, but it is worth it. -A Teacher
  

You can read more of what was said here, and the archive here.

Before I go into what I think the skills should be, I first want to address this title of "21st Century Educator." Look...its basically 2010 people.We are 10 years into the 21st Century. The terms "21st Century Students," and "21st Century Educators" are so far outdated. Students are already "21st Century." So this is not, and should not be a conversation about "21st Century Teachers." It should be, and will be a conversation about what Great, Effective, Teachers do and are. Can we all agree to stop using the term 21st Century, please?

Collaboration...
If I ever become an administrator, in the position to hire teachers or other school faculty my first question to a potential new hire will be for them to demonstrate to me how they collaborate. I want to know how they work with others. Do they have a PLN that they have created? Do they even know what a PLN is? Who will they turn to when they have a question about teaching or subject-matter? Going even further, how will they foster collaboration in their classroom. When I walk by will I see drones in the seats or kids, excitedly learning, talking, working together?

If you wanna move from being a good teacher to a great teacher, its all about collaboration. We need teachers who look beyond themselves and want to work with others, who want to reach out to others. But we also want teachers who are willing to create an environment in their classroom where kids can work together, problem solve, put their heads together, collaborate.

Reflection...
After my question about collaboration I would ask about reflection. Demonstrate to me how you reflect. When do you take time to look inward, at yourself, your teaching and your classroom? What about looking at your kids and how they are progressing? How do you know they are on the right track? And, how do you teach kids to reflect? What opportunities do you give kids to look at their own work and learning?

I want a teacher who is willing to take a risk and it not work out. I want a teacher who fails to sit down and look at why they failed, what failed and what can be done better. Moreover, I want a teacher who feels success to reflect on what worked and why it was successful. (In both situations, after reflection, I want them to collaborate, to talk about failures and success.)

Authentic Learning....
The classroom is made up of 4 walls. But does that mean learning has to stay within those 4 walls? We get so bogged down with curriculum and testing that we often forget there is a whole world out there that we need to expose our kids to. Its easy to sit at our little desks and get out our Time For Kids and read about Holidays Around the World. But really how fun is that? You could take it one step further and have your kids research about different cultures and even do a holiday party, dressing up and serving traditional dishes. Yeah, thats kinda cool. But are you really exposing your kids to the world or simply assigning a task to be completed? What if you used Skype to connect with 5 classrooms from around the world to ask, virtually, face to face, other kids, what they do for the holidays? Is that not more meaningful? I can read about what kids in all corners of the Earth do, or what their culture is like or whatever, but, if I am a teacher, do I not provide a more authentic learning experience if my kids can ask kids in another part of the world a question? If I am hiring I want a teacher who thinks of ways to take the restrictions that are put in place by strict curricula and testing requirements, and provide authentic, connected learning experiences for their kids. Not ones who complain day in and day out about testing and curriculum. Be innovative, be creative.

Are those the only requirements of Great Teachers. No. But for me those are the most important. Do you agree? Or are there others that are more important than these? I welcome your comments.

You Want Me To Use This In My Classroom? What's The Point?

There is one in every school. There is one in every district. There is that one teacher, no matter what you do, no matter how much time you take, how slow you go, how much one-on-one time you spend with them, there is that one teacher who is not going to integrate technology into their classroom. They dig in their heals. They bury their heads in the sand. They shut the doors to their classroom, leaving technology (and perhaps ultimately quality learning) out in the cold.

As is the case every Tuesday evening, educators, parents and students from around the globe came together on Twitter for #edchat. The topic: How do we encourage those teachers who don't see or refuse to see the value in technology integration? It was, as always, a fascinating discussion. Here is just a snapshot of some of the thoughts of the participants:

• Motivation comes from success. Use the same strategies as with students - meet them where they are. Change is always painful but change WILL come. For those who refuse to integrate - it depends. Is it mandatory by the school or district? If so, refusal becomes grounds for dismissal. Why do we hesitate to dismiss employees who demonstrate poor performance or insubordination? In corporate America, these people would be looking for a job. Why do we not hold the same standard for educators but accept sub-par employee performance? I think the main reason teachers are apprehensive is that they wonder if they learn it now, will budget cuts cause them to lose it later? Valid concern. Another is the implementation dip - change is a process. Everyone is in a different place on the continuum. -An Administrator
• I think that many teachers are apprehensive because technology is ever-changing. It can be very intimidating for those who don't keep up with the current trends, such as twitter, delicious, and blogging. I think that for many teachers, however, if given more technological support and resources, they might be more prone to check things out. I know that I was not personally an advocate for technology before learning about what is out there on the web, but after taking my Technology for the Elementary Teachers course I feel a lot better about bringing technology into my future classroom. -A Pre-Service Teacher
• We need to get administrators on board with the amount of support, time, and training it takes for continuous technology integration. Teachers need to have an in house person to go to to fix what doesn't work. They need to be given time during the school day to work on lesson plans, collaborate with others and integrate technology. Training needs to be scaffolded, accessible and continuous. We can't expect teachers to learn everything in the summer. PD needs to be throughout the school year. We need to take away the excuses so that there is no good reason to NOT integrate technology. -An Instructional Technologist
• Apprehensive because they've seen so many changes. They don't know what will stick and what won't. They don't see what people are doing with technology these days. I motivate teachers best when I'm able to have conversations with them, find out what they're doing and give them a few suggestions. -A Media Specialist
• I believe the best way to try to motivate your peers is by showing them that you have been using, effectively, a tool to save you time and, at the same time, foster learner autonomy. I don't really think that refusing to integrate is a problem as long as the teacher is capable of responding to his or her learners' needs. After all, what matters is that we, educators, empower our learners with knowledge and show them that they are the ones who have to make it happen. This can be done through many different ways.
• If I had to name the main reasons for teachers being apprehensive, I'd say it's because they might not be willing to make changes in something that's always worked for them, and they might be afraid of realizing they can't cope with the new technology properly. Finally, I guess we should never stop thinking about our context. The Internet has brought us closer together, but let's not forget to act locally without forgetting the particularities of each place. -A District Administrator
• I don't know that we can motivate teachers who have made up their minds not to learn and stretch. I think the motivation needs to largely come from within. I think that we can introduce our peers to new concepts and ideas but it will be up to them to take hold or pursue them. I think if you refuse to integrate you are doing a disservice to your students. It should not be tolerated by administrators, fellow teachers, students, or parents. Teachers that I know are apprehensive because they don't want to learn one more thing. I hear that a lot. Everything is too much to expect from them. Legitimate reasons for being apprehensive are: not enough support, equipment that doesn't work consistently, or lack of training. -A Teacher

You can read more of the comments here and the archive here.

Here are some of my thoughts...

I deal with this every day so I am sort of an expert on the matter.

Every job in education is hard, there is no doubt about that. And most of us in education feel like we are dumped on over and over and over again, especially teachers. I started my career as a classroom teacher, I know what that feeling is like. However, it's not about me. It's not about my administrators or the big wigs at the state or national level. All that should matter to me (and to every educator out there) is the kids.

I think many teachers have lost focus and think the job is about them and their satisfaction. How they feel is all that matter. And not that the feelings of educators are not important, but come on! It's not about you. It's about the kids.

Backing off my soap box...

Like I said I deal with teachers who flat out refuse to integrate. I hear time and time again, "What's the point? What I have done for years has worked, my students have passed the test. Why change now?"

It's not about you...

Three themes repeated themselves over and over. Time, training and image.

Time is easy to address. Everyone's time is valuable. Everyone feels like they don't have enough time. Nto enough time to sit in a workshop and learn. Not enough time to learn how to use a new tool. Not enough time to take the kids to the computer lab because there is too much curriculum to cover.

It's not about you...

Authentic trainings are important. Those of use who spend vast amounts of time training teachers need to realize that in addition to teaching the tool and showing examples of how it can be used in the classroom, teachers want to hear from other teachers how it works for them. I can tell teachers all day what worked for me. But until they hear it from a peer what I say is meaningless. Oh, and Administrators, you need to provide your teachers and other staff the ability to learn. Meaning you need to forget about time and curriculum every once in a while and think about what your kids need.

It's not about you...

And if someone says one more time that their teachers are scared to look dumb in front of the kids I am gonna loose it! We teach our kids to use mistakes as learning lessons. Making mistakes is human. And I have written about this before, it happens to the best of us. At some point we are going to look like a failure in front of a group of learners. But the best of us use these moments as learning moments. Expect to fail.

A great suggestion was focusing on one tool for an extended period of time, maybe even a year long training. This allows for slow, easy integration. Time is taken to learn the tool. Ideas are suggested on how it can be used in the classroom. Successes and failures are shared. If there is time introduce a new tool. The point is that it's easy to get overwhelmed. And that is when teachers shut down and back away. Slow down and take it one tool at a time.

So how do you motivate the unmotivatible? You can't and you don't. Those that are never going to integrate can't be changed. Efforts need to spent with those that are willing and want to learn and are eager to try. Then you might start to change minds.

So what do you think? What are some reasons you think teachers refuse to use technology in the classroom? Are they right to think they way they do? Should teachers who refuse be punished (as was suggested)? What other thoughts do you have. I look forward to your comments.

photo credit: artescienza via photopin cc