I had many teachers in my beginning years of teaching offer me materials out of their filing cabinets. But I have to say, I’m not sure I would have been able to use the resources very well had they not also been willing to share their advice with me as well!. When I was hired (eeek 26 years ago) I found myself the “baby” in a school with over 70 teachers, the majority having taught for over 15 years. What was powerful for me, was the time my colleagues took to share explanation and provide me with access to real live demonstration. They engaged me. They challenged me. They exposed me to alternate ways of thinking. Perhaps most importantly, experienced teachers shared their failures with me, and modelled the importance of being a reflective practitioner regardless of the overall success or failure of the lesson or unit design. All of this can certainly be done as well, if not better, with the technology available today. Whether it be in text-based or video format, proximity to expertise becomes a non-issue online. But what about the “demonstration” part?
Looking back, I suppose that I had lofty plans for changing the face of mathematics education. There was no doubt that I had creative ideas about how I might address mathematical learning differently but I was terribly unskilled in the execution of my desires. Innovating effectively, while still learning to work with 32 students at once, does not happen overnight!
Ideas were certainly shared but the ability to see how ideas were put into action was crucial in me “getting” the concept and integrating the information into my practise. I would have to say that it was the real, live, just-in-time coaching that was more the key to my subsequent successes in the classroom. Now that the world is moving into structures of education that integrate online technology, (structures that I see great power in for sure) I am left wondering how I can share so that I demonstrate the process behind the final product. Just like this post, much of what is shared on the web is “produced.” The content has been edited, rehashed, and polished. Watching a “production” does not hold the same energy for me as when I am there in the thick of the experience. In a way, it is inauthentic. When responsible for leading others through learning, I think it is my duty to illuminate the messiness behind the finished product. Which brings me to my quandary. If I am to share with a community of people whose job it is to facilitate learning with children and youth, both online and f2f, what is “useful” to share? How much of the mess behind the finished product do I include? How do I keep track of what I create and how do I organize it so that it is current, relevant and not only easy to understand, but easy for others to find? How do I keep track of what I find so that I and others can find it again?
I attempted to learn IFTTT over the past few days, but I have a feeling Diigo is going to be my newest favourite app to organize not only what I find and share, but for what others share with me!