Every time I hear lurk it reminds me of Lurch from the Addam's Family TV show (some of you are too young to remember anything but the more recent movie version). This tall, menacing, deep-voiced butler was always there - but hardly ever contributing (except for some fine harpsichord playing).
There are now many teachers who are members of this blog site, yet most are playing the Lurch role! You always have permission to lurk, but we need to interact too! So, I'm going to get things rolling with a question, and I hope you will decide to contribute a thought, idea or resource to keep the conversation going. All you have to do is click the "comment" link at the bottom-right area below this post. Here we go....
What would you identify as one of your strongest "professional learning moments"? This may have happened in-school, or out-of-school. Please take a moment and write a short comment to share your story.
One moment that comes to mind for me was reading the metaphor of the digital immigrant and digital native set forth by author Marc Prensky. It helped me realize how wide the gap between school and life has become for our students, and heightened my sense of urgency to bridge this gap.
1 comment:
I read and had a very strong reaction to the article. I have no doubt that my students would engage more meanifully if I integrated technology into all of my lessons. I think about it every single day. One issue for me is convenience. We have one Smartboard in our tech lab and another is now in the fifth grade pod area, being utilized by fifth grade teachers. I can reserve the latter, but it takes time and effort. I'd need to move the Smartboard to my pod or classroom, recalibrate it, etc. I am always balancing time on task with taking the time to retrieve the technology I need. Our tech lab is open and its Smartboard is also available during certain periods when our tech teacher is not teaching an actual class. However, the available times often don't jive with when I need it or could use it. To me convenience is everything. I would like to at least have a Smartboard in my pod. it could be set up and ready to go. I met some Catholic school teachers at a Smartboard workshop this summer (held at the MCIU)who were being forced to use a Smartboard. Their whiteboards/blackboards were removed from their classrooms and they had no other option. Sometimes I think this is what it might take. I am balancing/attending to so many other things, that technology needs to be readily accessible if I am to seriously consider using it. Maybe I feel this way b/c I am a first year teacher. I don't know. I've waited a while to respond to this blog, and I hope my honesty is appreciated. I welcome ideas, challenges to my thinking if anyone has the time and feels so inclined. Thanks!
Marji Burke
4th grade
Oak Ridge
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