“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” -Marilyn Monroe
Change. That word has played out in conversations around me and in my head for a few weeks now. Some changes are happening in our group of Instructional Technology Facilitators that have had me thinking about change and what it really means to hold the position of ITF. We have two amazing people leaving us to pursue their dreams and follow their hearts to new positions. To both, I say, "You will be missed and God speed! I wish you success and happiness in your new paths."
The word change has played inside my head over and over leaving me wondering have I made the right decisions in my career for myself and my family? Have I followed my dreams and passions? Is it time to take a different path, perhaps that of an administrator or getting another degree?
As I talked to my best friend and confidant, my husband, the passion for what I do now came bubbling to the surface. It is really hard not to be so passionate about this job and doing what is right for students because I love curriculum and I love technology. My dream, my passion is for instructional technology to stop being an add-on, an entity unto itself, or an isolated event. I mean, really? We are twelve and half years into the 21st century and we are still isolating technology or clicking on web links for integration. Not only are our students proficient with digital tools, their parents are as well. Unlike me, they have grown up with technology surrounding them 24/7. So, the students expect to be able to use and create with technology and their parents expect them to be able to as well.
The curriculum expects it. Have you taken a few moments to really look at Common Core? Students "use technology and digital media strategically and capably. Students employ technology thoughtfully to enhance their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use. They tailor their searches online to
acquire useful information efficiently, and they integrate what they learn using technology with what they learn offline. They are familiar with the strengths and limitations of various technological tools and mediums and can select and use those best suited to their communication goals" You will find such language throughout.
Businesses and corporations (read employers) expect for our schools to reflect the world in which students will go on to pursue jobs. It is no longer about keyboarding or consuming media from the Internet. It is about creating, communicating, collaborating, and sharing with a global audience. What better place to start than within our classrooms and our schools across the nation, across the world? Are we going to meet these expectations by continuing to see technology as an add on or something cool to do?
As I talked about options with my hubby, he commented that I had plenty of opportunities to take the path of administrator and I was so adamant about not taking that path because I didn't want to lose sight of curriculum and instruction. Needless to say, he helped me to see that I still do not want to be an administrator because as you can probably see too, my passion lies elsewhere. So I will not be making that change.
But change is coming to our group. As we move forward to try to find people to fill the vacancies (not replace the folks), I am going to keep Marilyn Monroe's quote in my head. Maybe better things will fall together, and part of those better things will be that we stop thinking and talking about 21st century skills, technology, and instruction and actually integrate it as it should be.
