educating for the journey

True interactivity is not about clicking on icons or downloading files, it’s about encouraging communication.
Edwin Schlossberg, 2002

As i read Jeff Utecht’s Thinking Stick this morning i began reflecting on the enhancements that technology have brought to my life. Of course, like any modern citizen they are countless. As Jeff is a fellow teacher working overseas my memories immediately jumped to Bahrain (my first international placement). Then, i thought i would only be doing this for a year or two; then, i had Sunday phone calls to communicate with family in Canada; then, i trusted the years i had spent building friendships would be enough for them to go without talking for 12 months; then (thankfully) was different then now. The calls almost bankrupted my parents (who insisted they do the calling). Yes the weekly check-ups do still exist, but in a different manner and at a different cost (skype - that allows them to watch their grandson grow). It is also accompanied by short chats, blog entries and emails. Furthermore, as my career as an international educator developed the geography that has separated me from many dear friends has also grown exponentially (this is clearly demonstrated on the ClustrMap that accompanies my personal blog).
Using the communication tools that i had when i first ventured into international teaching; could i have maintained the friendships that i have around the globe today? I certainly wouldn’t get up-to-date reports on Elly’s pregnancy, or know when Steve’s having a rough day, i got to know immediately when Gavin took his first step and instantaneously when Deportivo Quito gets another win even Jeff U’s travel updates are available to me within minutes of their posting.

If you have ever seen The 1970’s Office from SkyOne you may have already reflected on what modern life would be without these tools, that have so quickly become essentials to our daily lives. This train of thought sent my thinking deeper and i got to wondering: where would i be without technology? i really love my life, so i left that thought and went on blogging.

In other news: wind was absolutely perfect and waves were big in Cabarete yesterday.

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.

                                           - Albert Einstein

The first rotation that my Principles of Technology I students do is Adobe Photoshop. Judging based on previous course evaluations it is one of their favorites. Their final assignment is taken from the back pages of Wired. They are to create their own Artifact from the Future. I try and back off; letting their imagination run with the concept and am rewarded with lots of great material, of course i also get flying cars and the norms but some of the stuff is really good. Chasing a link i received by email this morning i was introduced to Geekologie. I will definitely have the students do some reflective writing prompted with some of these ideas. I really couldn’t resist imbedding this little diddy:

In other news: GaDeV (gracias a dios es viernes)
Have a great weekend, my mother-in-law is in town and i am stoked to be going kitesurfing (see personal blog)

The principal goal of education is to create people who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.
– Piaget.

If you came here looking for the band, i am sorry you will have to keep looking (but please don’t stop believing).

For months now i have been combing through cyberspace trying to read and stay up-to-date (a task that is increasingly impossible) with what is happening with school 2.0. I have read countless blogs and have been trying to get off of the sidelines and into the game; today i am tiptoeing onto the field. There are great creative and original blogs around and like many of those already in existence, the journey’s motivation is to inspire teachers of all technological abilities to leave their comfort zones for the benefits of their students.

Everytime i open my refrigerator a magnet that was a gift from my mother reminds me that life is a journey not a destination. With each day that passes i see further truth in this statement; continually striving to live my life aware of where i am now, not only where i am going. Modern teachers are preparing students for a world that will be unrecognizable from the one we currently live in. Thus preparing a ninth grader to suceed in two thousand and seven is precious energy wasted. We need to provide our students with the ability to obtain, filter and synthesize information in order to give them the ability to succeed in their world.

This week i have been fooling around with NetVibes, since a co-worker here turned me on to it. Not really that orginal (Google Personalized Homepage) but as a tool it is pretty cool nonetheless; Netvibes saves me an increible amount of time by allowing me to organize the feeds, that i check regularly so i can stay on top of them as they are updated. I really love the option of tabs and as its usage continues to explode i guess i am not the only one. How could i forget? it also reminds me not to forget the milk.