What Challenges You?

A recent piece from a Texas newspaper suggests that e-textbooks are not widely used because there are too many obstacles.

http://www.statesman.com/life/e-textbooks-are-on-the-way-but-not-871780.html

Innovation, by definition, always challenges the status quo. Some of the most important changes have been downright disruptive. Most of these decisions are made at the state and district levels, though.

I am more interested in the barriers to technological change at the classroom level. There is room for technology-- I've been in lots of classrooms and have seen it employed beautifully, or witnessed a dire need for it. There are as many reasons for avoiding it as there are teachers.

Why would you avoid it? What are some of the obstacles that might prevent you from implementing the latest, greatest?

Be Goal Oriented

What are your goals for this course? I ask because, as a teacher I know exactly what I'd like you to learn. That's a very myopic view, though, since I can't conceive of anything that I can't conceive.

Which brings use to our first lesson (assuming you are reading this during Week 1). Don't ever forget that, as a teacher, you know more about what you want to teach than your students. That's not to say that you are smarter than your students, only that you know what's in the lesson before they do.

It's a very powerful thing. Students generally come eager and open. Teachers often don't. We want to jam a very specific body of content into our lessons, and we can get downright unruly if we don't accomplish it.

I'll try to be different. I'll try to be flexible. In order to facilitate my differential flexibility, please tell me what you expect. What does the course title mean to you? What would make you feel like this class was well worth your time and several thousands of dollars in student debt?

Your goals will help me make this the best class I possibly can.