Wanted: An Opportunity

I have been presented with an opportunity--a professional opportunity that encapsulates every aspect of what I am passionate about as a teacher and a learner.    I desperately want this opportunity--I want it because it will enable me to grow as a person.  I want it because it will allow me to be a better contributor to the greater good, and on a smaller scale, a better contributor to my family and to my son.
I even want it for all the reasons that I don't want the job I have now-- because I am so tired of being the person who has to be accountable for not only my job, but for the doing the jobs of others when they fail to do their own.   I want to have the opportunity to create learning, create challenges for myself instead of trying to force learning on others and be challenged at every attempt to help learners be accountable for themselves and for their learning.
This opportunity is still a long-shot.  There are others who are undoubtedly more qualified, more skilled.   But I know that whatever I might lack in those areas, I make up for in passion, dedication and an overwhelming willingness to learn and improve.   And so I hope for this opportunity.  And will keep hoping and trying until that opportunity is a reality. 

Brave New Teacher

In truth, I am not necessarily a brave person.  Snakes? Mice? Spiders?  Creepy crawlies freak me out.  Give me good ‘ole Mac and Cheese over exotic foods any day.  My idea of roughing it is staying at Motel 6 instead of a 5 star resort (though admittedly, as a low paid teacher, my stays in a 5 star resort number, ummm…..1.) Point is, I like to go with what I know and what is comfortable.
The describer “new” for me is a bit deceiving too.  I’ve been teaching for 13 years now, all 13 in special education.   The profession is not new to me.   Hey, even using digital tools and tech integration is not new to me.  Bit by bit, a little here and a little there, I’ve been doing this for years too.  I harbor not-so-secret desires to be a technology teacher.  I’ve got a SMART board, I use Web 2.0 and I can tell you what ISTE, PLNs, tweeps and backchannels are.  I consider myself to be reasonably tech savvy–indeed, I have been known to have two computers and my iPad all in use simultaneously.  My co-workers call me “gadget-girl”, my husband calls me a “geek”, and I’m actually OK with that.
So why “Brave New Teacher”?  Because this year, I want to do something different.  I want to be more reflective about my practices–thinking more about the “whys”of education technology and not just the “hows”.  Thinking about when it is the best tool for the job.   I want to challenge myself to understand more about 21st century learning and real, meaningful, authentic use of digital tools.   And I want the students I work with to think more about this too.
Two excellent presenters at the Reform Symposium 2010, Mary Beth Hertz and George Couros,  brought up great points about teaching and learning. With the help of some great leaders in Ed Tech, the support of an awesome  PLN and a little bit of bravery, it  only good to try new things–it is critical to our development as teachers and as learners. It is OK for the new  things that we try in our classroom to go horribly, horribly wrong.  Because sometimes they go right.   And in the process, hopefully we learn more about ourselves, our teaching, and our students.