Their was an interesting article in Time I read recently.  It stated that many schools are beginning to think that paying teachers merit pay will make them better teachers.  Schools are going to reward good teachers and in my opinion punish the teachers that are not living up to their standards.  In the article it asked how does one measure merit?  Is it by the amount of students that pass a standardized test?  Is this a fair measure of the teacher and their ability or do schools need to go deeper?  I believe that we need to go deeper.  I know it sounds good to say we are all life learners and we all must continue our education, but how many of us actually do it?  I think it would be interesting to find out in schools the percentage of teachers that have gone back for classes or a second masters.  Possibly these are the teachers that should receive the merit pay, the ones continuing their education to make themselves better.

If schools want to measure teachers is it then not the responsibility of the school to help the teachers that do not fall within their acceptable level of achievement?  Instead of looking to get rid of a teacher would it not benefit a school to keep the teacher and invest in them much as we are expected to invest in our students.  I believe that schools need to recognize that they have a wealth of experience, caring, and dedicated teachers right under their roofs. 

Professional Development Question

An interesting comment was made today and I would like to get some feedback on what some technology professional development experts think.   Does professional development need to be done in an organized meeting with a presenter and participants or can it take on other forms?  In order for something to be considered  ”real” professional development are there certain criteria that need to be met?  Can two teachers having a conversation on the best way to present something to a class be considered PD or does one person need to be an “expert” on it? 

A comparison

I used to be one of those people who said “teachers have it easy, they get all those vacations and the summers off”.  Then I became one and I wonder when is it going to be easy?  Being a career changer I can see such differences in the corporate world and the world of education.  In the corporate world not having the most up to date technology would be detrimental to a business.  In the corporate world you attended meeting after meeting if you were expected to perform a new task in your daily routine.  In the corporate world when you walked out the door you left your work at your desk to continue the next day.

            Being in the education field it is not uncommon to have sub standard technology and expected to make the best out of it.  In education you are given a professional development day, half day, or lunch period to learn something new and then use it to drive your instruction.  In education when I leave work only half of my day is over.  I grade papers, make parent phone calls, and search the internet for useful sites to use in my classroom the next day.  I am constantly trying to better myself and learn more.  Teaching may not be easy but I must say it is challenging, and exhilarating.  To watch a student have their Ah-ha moment and realize that in a small way I was a part of that leaves me speechless.  That can not be compared to any day in the corporate world. 

           

A single step

As I sit at my computer I am thinking what would I like my post to be about this week.  I could talk about a host of things however all intelligent thoughts are somewhat non existent.  To gain inspiration I looked at week three PowerPoint presentation.  I am now more confused then ever.  There are so many site that I want to explore, however, I do not know where to start.  With limited time on my hands, like everyone else where do I begin my own self discovery?   I can only assume that this is how someone with limited technology knowledge must feel when they are faced with administration telling them that they must use technology in their classroom.  They must feel overwhelmed not knowing where and how to take the first step.  I guess I can relate to this feeling because in many of my decisions I have also felt this way with my career, school, and technology too.  It is safer, and of course easier to just continue with what is known and not venture out of ones comfort zone.   As the Chinese proverb says a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.   I too must begin my journey and begin stepping.

Another Passing Thought

I have to say with all the talk of Smart boards in the classroom I am getting quite jealous. In my school we have one which is shared by all grade levels as well as with technology classes that are taught where the Smart board is housed.  However, now with all this talk of the Smart board it has gotten my wheels turning.  I really really want one and now I just have to find out a way I can get one for my classroom.  I am thinking either a grant or possibly a donation by parents, PTA, or other organization.  Once again I am going into unknown territory but I am sure I will survive. (And get a Smart board)

Just a passing thought

I was having a conversation with some co-workers today regarding why some teachers are so reluctant to using technology in their classrooms.  I told them I believed that many teachers are reluctant to use technology because they themselves are afraid of technology.  Many veteran teachers are hesitant because for many of them they have never had a need for technology in their lives, let alone in the classroom.  I asked one veteran teacher why she is so afraid of computers, she is self-admitted technologically challenged, and she stated that she has yet to have a need to use technology.  It has been her experience that any technology she has needed was either done for her or she made due without.  On a bright note she did say that she would be willing to learn computers if given the opportunity and time.   Of course, this opens up a whole new dilemma of where teachers find the time to learn and practice something as important and ever changing as technology.

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