Ryan Bretag, the Director of Technology at neighboring Glenbrook North, presented with David Jakes this past weekend at EduCon. During their session, Ryan stated:
I’m one that believes teachers should be actively engaged in most of the things they bring into the classroom especially when it comes to various pieces of participatory media. For example, I tend to see blogging as critical for teachers to be actively engaged with if they are to expect their students to do it.
In his most recent blog post, Teacher’s First, he was reflecting about the comment from a virtual guest, as shared by Paul Norwood, that:
“Does a flight controller need to be a pilot to land planes or does a sports radio host need to play sports to discuss sports?”
I want to acknowledge that it was I who responded with the fact that I am not sure that we require air traffic controllers to have landed airplanes before they do their job. I also used as an example that we don’t ask circus ringmasters to have been shot from a cannon, fly on the trapeze, or be in the lion cage before doing their tasks.
In all cases, air traffic controller, ring master, and teacher, one needs to have the wisdom to manage and guide others while managing the chaos that sometimes occurs in each of these different arenas.
Some of the teachers who do some of the most interesting work integrating technology into the learning (teaching) environments do not have a full understanding of how the technology and all of the items “behind the curtain” work. What they do have is a great understanding of the experiences that they want their students to have, thought out essential questions, and realization that these new tools, while they may not completely understand them, provide a level of student learning and engagement that they were unable to achieve using more traditional means.
That said, to have an awareness of the power of the tool, they do not need to blog. They have to know what a blog is, and they have to understand the power of the connections that can happen as a result. It does not matter whether they gain that through blogging themselves, through reading and commenting on blogs, or trusting respected colleagues, mentor, or guides.
The important thing is that they simply choose the route which is best for themselves, have confidence in their ability to mentor and manage learners along the journey.
Did I read somewhere that multi-Olympic-medal swimmer Mark Smitz’s coach couldn’t swim himself.
Tried to find a link to that fact but no luck!
There is a lot here that I can agree with as stated in my most recent post. However, I feel there are some questions I still struggle with that I’ll share here:
1. “The important thing is that they simply choose the route which is best for themselves.” Is they meaning teachers? I think we’ve spent enough time in that realm of thinking. I wish we looked at what was best for the learning community. Isn’t it time to think beyond ourselves?
2. I don’t think a teacher needs to know the technical side. I’m not a technical person — I’m a instructional technology coordinator. However, I do explore tools from a C, I, and A perspective and dive into research to understand more fully how it all comes together. However, there is the old discussion about being book smart vs. street smarts. In other words, no matter how deeply we explore an issue through studies, action is key to the puzzle as well.
3. If a teacher lists all the reasons they want students to blog, how can they themselves not be blogging or at least reading and interacting with blogs? Honestly, it seems sort of hypocritical. The time excuse doesn’t work either, IMHO, unless that excuse is acceptable when students use it.
4. Can teachers fully, deeply realize this if they are involved merely on a surface level (attended a conference session, read an article, etc.): a) “realization that these new tools, while they may not completely understand them, provide a level of student learning and engagement that they were unable to achieve using more traditional means.”
b) “They have to know what a blog is, and they have to understand the power of the connections that can happen as a result”
Interesting thoughts and worthwhile discussion…
Ryan – First off, I appreciate all of the thought you are championing in this debate. Secondly, I am extremely interested in modeling the virtual communities that you are creating at GBN. Within that model, it is my understanding that teachers and students are active participants, equals in the discourse. I agree that this is the aim which we should strive for, teenagers and adults, actively learning and sharing with each other in an interchange of ideas. Much like the conversation we are having here. But, as we know, not every adult, nor every student for that matter, is comfortable sharing via blogging. I know that I struggle to make sure that I am coherent and that my ideas are fully formed. We may have to provide pathways for those teachers who may be more passive in their use of the communities the opportunity to progress at a pace which is comfortable and appropriate to them. Judge them at their own pace and with their own set of goals. Thank you for stretching my thinking and forging my thoughts. I am a better person because of it.
I am a struggling writing. I fear putting my ideas out into the world. I fear commenting on other’s posts because I worry that I won’t sound like I know what I am talking about. When my kids blog for the first time, I can coach them though all of the fears and insecurity that come with starting a blog. Someone who just intros blogging in a procedural sort of manner just simply can’t be empathetic to the plight of beginning bloggers.
Does a teacher need to blog? No, but it does help. I think you can extend that question to many other things in school. Having experienced anything gives you wisdom to guide your kids through a similar experience. Whether it is a teacher who struggled with math in school and now has a better understanding of how to teach math, or a teacher who has lost a parent and now can help a student in a similar situation.
When viewed from a mechanical point, many things in the class can be taught without the teacher experiencing it or having any passion for it…but from a deep meaningful point, I think walking in the same shoes as the student can only help.
As a pre-service elementary education student I thank both Ryan and Vinny for sharing your thoughts about teachers and blogging. This post is a great example of how blogs can be used by teaching professionals to discuss and analyze teaching practices. I will be sharing this discussion with some of my classmates.
Do either of you have any suggestions for new teachers just learning to blog?