Chalk this up as one of those days where you want to run and do anything that causes total mind rot as your lower jaw hangs open and you sit there, staring blankly ahead, and making weird noises with your mouth, “Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” To whit:
a) This morning, while at work, I was asked to do all the work/teaching by a teacher, and I responded with, “I’ll be happy to assist you and show you how it’s done.” She stomped out.
b) Another one said, “I want to be a TRT and have it easy.”
c) This semester is 1000% harder than any class I’ve taken so far (Instructional Technology Masters) and my brain is flat lining.
d) A year ago I was in London seeing Big Ben ringing at midnight. This year, I’m mumbling through Instructional Design wishing for a breakthrough with cognitive enthusiasm.
How does one convince your staff the importance of technology integration? How do you encourage, coach, inspire, without being a glorified computer lab teacher? Thanks to Langwitches, a great post was written on Edutwist.com. (”Where education meets technology and they become good friends”), Technology graveyards: Why schools need instructional technology integrators. Take, for example, this passage: But on their own, the best teachers can’t possibly do a thorough or excellent job teaching and keep up with technological advances. This is not meant as an insult to the abilities of teachers to handle the complexities or additional demands; rather, it is an affirmation of their professional commitment to their career. Teaching — for those of you who are blissfully unaware — is an overwhelmingly demanding lifestyle that requires at least 50-60 hours a week when schools are in session to do well. To expect teachers also to keep up with emerging technologies is asking for superhuman accomplishment and sacrifices to other aspects of the teaching arena.
Ah, the bliss of NECC 09: we’re not alone!
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*Instructional Technology Resource Teacher
By: Sharon Elin on July 9, 2009 at 12:29 am
Excellent post! I share your pain. Instructional Technologists (or ITRTs as they are usually called in Virginia) are underrated, misunderstood, and yet so sorely needed!
Thank you for linking to my blog post, in which I tried desperately to plead the case for ITRTs everywhere. I hope people read it who can make a difference in attitudes, such as administrators and school division leaders and policymakers.
Just hang in there, and know that you’re probably more appreciated than you realize. Sometimes it’s the whiners and complainers who are loudest, but I have no doubt that there are plenty of quiet fans in your district who are grateful for your expertise. I have found this to be true for me, and I need to remind myself of it constantly!