Oh to be technologically savvy

While reading the International Reading Association (IRA) Position Statement, I was struck by the line stating that students have the right to teachers that are able to use Information and Communication Technologies skillfully.  I think the wording is important: it is the student’s RIGHT that I know what I am doing and give them instruction and access to the most innovative technology.  That rather changes my perspective on everything.  I was never one to rush out and purchase the latest and greatest new thing.  It took my family years to finally get around to getting a DVD player.  So staying on top of technology just isn’t usually on my radar.  But if I don’t do my job keeping up with the latest technology, I am actually doing my students a great disservice.  This makes learning new technology less about me and my duties, and more about the students and what they deserve.  I like looking at it that way; it increases my own personal motivation to stay on top of the latest technology

Also important: the position statement emphasizes that merely making new technologies available in classrooms will not suffice.  The students need to be taught to effectively use the technology.  And there is no way that they will be able to do this is I, as the teacher do not have full confidence in what I am doing! 

Quote for Today:
 
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing
there is a field. I will meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.

           -Rumi