Build a Bridge & Get Over IT

I remember hearing once a quote from an editorial piece complaining about how rude and disrespectful today's youth are; how they dress so inappropriately; how they just don't respect authority. After listening to it, I then learned it was written in Plato's time over 1500 years ago.

Similarly, the speaker at the opening session of Denton ISD's TIA called us to think about a time when the ink pen was "new technology". Educators must have had reservations such as:

• "Students shall use them to doeth disruptive things such as poketh each other with them" (King's English added by me - eth)
  
• "How will they ever learn just how much ink to dip on to the quill if we let them use this new gadget"

Well ... you get the idea. However, it really set me to thinking about my own reservations on some technology uses. Don't get me wrong, I am all for it. I think of my self as being ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting new technology. It helps if you aren't afraid that you'll look a fool if it doesn't work.

Still, I face those reservations when I start something new. What if it doesn't work? How will the kids mis-use it? What would happen if they use it to cheat?

So, how do I overcome that? Well, in the words of at least one administrator, "Get over it." That is the simple truth. Technology brings us so many options today that weren't available even a few years ago, it is difficult to quantify. Daily - at least it seems - someone could tell me about a new tool, web site, or application that has possibilities for finding, dissecting, organizing, and reporting information. These are the tools that our students will be using in their personal and more importantly their professional lives a few years from now. As long as we (present company included) look only at the possible negatives, we will never walk in to it on faith.

Certainly, there will be problems along the way. The ways in which it could be turned for no good may be as long as the list of new things coming out each day. However, as educators, I think that we need to take the risks. As someone said today, "embrace the technology and address the problem". Don't suppress the technology out of blind fear.

You may be surprised to find out just how anxious the students are to actually embrace this new knowledge that you have for them and maybe even teach you something about it. If not, we may find that we are in the same place as the buggy whip makers in the age of automobiles.