Some days I am confused as to who I am…
At school, I am seen as a bit of a technology expert. I have integrated technology more quickly and more readily than some of my colleagues. I have explored a variety of web 2.0 tools with my students and discovered great ways to use them to enhance the learning experience. I had a class wiki before most others knew what a wiki was. I have my own blog. I have enthusiastically encouraged my colleagues to join me on the journey. I have supported Linda, our ICT teacher, in sessions for teachers to learn and experiment with new tools.
But then I see what educators are doing across the globe and I feel quite inadequate. I thought I would gather teachers interested in Skype connections, then discovered others are already doing this far better than I could. There are teachers in my PLN on Twitter who use terms I don’t even understand. There are learners using tools I have never heard of, in ways I hadn’t thought of. There are inspirational collaborations taking place and new, exciting kinds of learning happening every day.
So who am I?
I know something .. but not everything.
I have made some headway… but realise there’s a long way to go.
There’s a lot I can do … but there’s much I don’t know how to do yet.
There are people I can help… but I need others to help me.
I’m eager to investigate new technology and to learn from those who know more than I do. I’m happy to encourage and assist others. I’m willimg to integrate, collaborate and create. I’m prepared to take a step back and hand over control to my students.
It’s an ongoing process. When I created the slideshare below, I didn’t realise that you don’t really reach the other side… or if you do, you can’t relax there for long…
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What Ed Said 
I feel very much in the same boat. Of course, nobody can know it all, and I really don’t think I would want to know it all, but what I find most important in the ICT journey is the attitude. The attitude of wanting to learn, wanting to try new things, and wanting to share what you learn with others.
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I agree! Thanks for commenting. If our students display those attitudes, we’re thrilled. Wish all teachers would 🙂
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🙂 So wish for that too! I guess we’ll get there at some point.
It’s teachers that are indeed ” eager to investigate new technology and to learn from those who know more than they do. That are happy to encourage and assist others”, that make the difference. So, thank you for being a member of such a wonderful group of educadtors that are willing to bring about change.
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Are you sure you didn’t get inside my head as I was sleeping and take all my thoughts out?
I feel exactly the same. I am on this technology merry-go-round that doesn’t seem to have an end. When I think I have mastered a skill, a new one pops up to smile flauntingly at me. The only saving grace is, that as much as it challenges me, it inspires my students and captures their imagination. I shall be eternally grateful that I can still see the magic in new tools and refuse to be daunted by them.
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Thanks Mags! Several people (here and on Twitter) have indicated that they feel the same way as I do 🙂
Alexandra, I appreciate what you said. I really don’t think of myself in that way though 🙂 (but as you read… I’m not sure how to think of myself!!)
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I think each and everyone of us has this identity crisis. And THAT is why we need each other. That is the beauty of our PLN, we can rely on one another for the strengths that we do not have. We can offer advice and information in the spaces that we shine. Then, we can take it into our communities (our schools) and share the wealth. I learn from you every day and so happy that you are so ready and willing to share!
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None of us can possibly know everything and if we did, we’d probably be ostracised as insufferable know it alls! I think that being aware that we are on a learning journey (sorry if that sounds corny!) and that we are lifelong learners. We also cannot possibly take on everything new and use it and do a good job and stay sane. We use our PLN to keep up with trends and news and select what might be useful for us in our current positions.
Only a month or so ago I felt like you, but technology can’t rule our lives. I am trying to take weekends off if possible for the first time in ages. It makes me feel more refreshed and ready to go again on Monday. I am learning how to effectively filter all of the information that comes my way and if I miss something, so be it.
So keep being great at what you are already doing and if something that comes along takes your fancy, inquire about it and maybe have a go at it, but don’t feel pressured by it.
My principal has a saying we don’t want ‘a margarine approach’. This means resources spread so thinly that you can barely see them. Invest in one area and make it amazing rather than lots of areas poorly.
Hope that rant makes sense! You are a wonderful teacher and lots of us are facing this same challenge. It is how we deal with it that will affect our students, our families and our health.
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I empathize well because I’ve had the same issue. Because I’m in Japan and at work (or sleeping) during edchat, I miss three out of four sessions, and I feel guilty. I have a thousand things that I want to do and the list increases daily. I have to constantly remind myself that balance in my life is more important that trying every technology tool. How boring life would be if we weren’t constantly challenged to be a better version of ourselves. So let’s consider our PLN as a celebration of each uphill step, knowing that we’re constantly moving onward.
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