Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks? – Just Add Treats!

The last four weeks of exploration have been down done familiar roads, but as with every journey, there’s always something new to see or learn. I’m pretty comfortable with learning new technology and trying it out, but frankly, that’s had also been in large part thanks to working on the teacher – librarian diploma. Now that I am at the end of it, what, beyond my own curiosity, will keeping me moving forward and learning? I fall into the rut of doing the sane old thing because it is easy and it had worked. Every teacher faces this dilemma at some point – teaching just is busy! However, the world of technology doesn’t stop because I’m busy, and I fear that losing my mental flexibility and my practice of learning that I will find it very difficult to adapt in the not so distant future… much like I know that I really should haul out my yoga mat more than twice a year. I think that one of the best ways to avoid mental atrophy is to consider two important aspects from the last four weeks: help my colleagues with their development, and see what is going on in the world.

Last year I tried having after school sessions on how to build inquiry units. I was quite disappointed when only one person expressed interest. Now, the two of us did come up with a really neat inquiry unit, so it really was a positive venture, but in reflecting on that experience and in thinking about how to help promote / lead / facilitate professional development amongst my staff I realize that I was missing something very important: was that even what anyone was interested in learning?

Often I’ve found that assumptions made by administration, or well meaning pro-d organizers chaf because I already have those skills, or the skills I want developed are beyond that level. Not helpful to do the same. After considering this a while, I think I’ve come up with a few ideas that will be helpful.

• survey the staff – I get 10 minutes at every staff meeting for our Tech Ten, so why not make a quick online survey available to find out what people are actually interested in
• make the info available on our SLLC website – this is what I’m thinking of for my digital artifact. I can make short videos of the tech, or post articles or websites that will be helpful; this also allows me to post some of the great articles I’ve read over the last couple of years about inquiry, literacy, etc. in a place where people who are interested or curious will read them, and not just let it pile up on the desk or recycle it. This also means that if someone isn’t interested now, but is later, they will know where to come back to.
• keep snooping – I always advocate snooping and finding out what teachers are up to so that I can support them in their classrooms. Sometimes it leads to great team teaching!

The second aspect is to broaden my perspective. Too easily we focus on our class or our school. I had know idea that libraries without boarders even existed, and I bet that no one else at my school does either. Wouldn’t it be cool if we learned more about this and found ways to contribute as a staff? We always want our students to do this, but we don’t always do the same thing just amongst the staff. I think that it is really important to see what is going on, and working, outside of your area because it helps breathe new life, interest, or discussion into your current practice. Our school is focussing on the OECD principles, but sometimes it’s just really helpful to see how other schools, countries, or organizations are tackling similar goals.