I can do it! No, I cant. Wait… can I?
Veronica Dearly. (2020). Real Life Rollercoaster [GIF]. Giphy.com
However, I’ve experienced:
- Excitement: Learning about the capabilities of AI, Wes Fryer’s Practical Applications of Digital/Media Instruction, Literacy & Citizenship Ribble’s 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship, Rene Hobbs Media Literacy
- Fear: Learning about the capabilities of AI, Social Polarization, Mis/Disinformation
- Hope: Chris Kennedy and opportunities to lead for positive systemic change
- Disappointment: Reflecting on current state of education in the province, workload and own perceived inadequacies
- Fascination: Exploring Digital Identity/Dualism, McLuhan’s Discussion on societal and existential changes
- Overwhelmed: Legal Obligation vs. Moral Responsibility & pressure to constantly be “embedding” important knowledge into old curriculum in over-capacity classrooms, Systemic disempowerment
I am a person that likes to develop an educational philosophy and know where I stand. As Dean would mention last class, this is a pretty natural human tendency: to attempt to see the world in black and white. Due to my own constantly changing ideas and feelings, I was having a really hard time placing myself and setting goals for implementation as an instructional leader.
The closing conversation on Tuesday with Dr. Bonnie Stewart helped me to frame things a bit differently however. Dean and Bonnie talked about leaning into — and even loving — the messiness and complexity of new technologies and their impact on society. So I decided that I like this idea, and I will love it, sit in the chaos and just try my best as a mother, teacher and principal.
I want to close with two quotes from Dustin’s presentation this week that resounded with me from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
“Nature knows no pause in progress and development and attaches her curse on all inaction.”
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
How are you feeling about what we have learned in this course so far. Do you have any burning questions, a renewed focus/philosophy, or are you sitting in the chaos with me?
Tenor.com (2018). This Is Fine [GIF]. Giphy.com
I am always the one who sits on the fence. I have tried to assert my opinion and viewpoint more but find that information comes and goes at a lightning pace. This fast pace makes me slow down even more when making technology decisions.
As a classroom teacher, I was always searching for more tech tools to infuse in my class to help struggling students and engage those who are bored or not challenged. I found that I would get overwhelmed by all the options or I would find something I like and then it became freemium – Kahoot, I am looking at you.
Every day, I am thankful that I am not a school administrator because more and more is being added to the plates of school leaders. It was great to hear Chris Kennedy mention physical literacy from a district/division-level leader.
My first impression was that this course would be an easy, relatable one, but the deeper I got into it, the more complex it got. Embracing the complexities does seem like literally the only way to handle all of the uncertainties with the evolving tech. It’s all about taking small steps even when things feel really uncertain. Overall, it really has been a great learning experience.
The rollercoaster of emotions and feelings I’ve had throughout this course thus far have been a little unexpected. To be honest, being my first course I truly did not know what to expect, but when reading the description of the course at the beginning, I thought it would be relatable, similar to what Haneefat mentioned. Without spending time on these topics, I thought it was a more easy, understandable topic – digital citizenship, and I am realizing just how complex it truly is. Your outline of feelings echoes my feelings as well. I too find myself often being a black or white, pick one or the other type person, but am slowly opening up to the idea that I do not have to… and it kind of makes my head spin, but in a good way!
I can relate to most of your feelings you mentioned above! I have a feeling of overwhelm at the vast amount of resources I am not using that could make my life so much easier, but I don’t know where to start. I’m thankful for the push into trying out Chat GPT and amazed at how often I reach for it when I am trying to say something, create goals, understand a students behavior, target sensory system information, make hockey tournament draws and rules, among many other things! This course has made me have a much more open mind towards technology in schools, which has also increased my frustration in the lack of technology in our schools for our students to access. My goal is to be a leader on our staff and find ways that they can use technology to make their lives easier, or add things into their teaching to enhance students’ learning without adding more stress/pressure to their day.
Just so you know, I feel much like all of you. It’s part of the reason I continue to be in this work. It’s hard, messy and complicated. I don’t fight. As you probably saw in this week’s session, I enjoy being challenged. Thanks for embracing this too.