The “Ain’t Misbehavin'” series returns soon. I just needed to get this off my chest.
Remember a few months ago I developed a wiki for one of the departments at my school? I updated the “Article of the Month” section over the weekend and sent the department an email yesterday to let them know (as well as call for contributors – total number (beside me) in the last 4 months: 0).
One of the teachers sent a nice email to tell me that the wiki was a very worthwhile project, but that she doesn’t even have time to look at it, let alone contribute information to it. Look, I know everyone’s got their own stuff going on, especially in the home stretch of the school year, but damn. At first it didn’t bother me, but like a grain of sand in my sock, it grew slightly more irritating the more I thought about it.
My first thought (vented in a Tweet earlier today): I teach a full courseload, continually develop new projects for my students, parent a 3-year-old and a newborn, do a grad school internship, attend graduate classes, and I found time to WRITE the damn thing – you can’t even look at it?
My second thought: You don’t have time to visit a website, but you have time to write me an email telling me you don’t have time to visit a website?
Is this what it’s like being a technology coordinator?
“Is this what it’s like being a technology coordinator?”
Yes.
Unfortunately, yes. However, there are ones who will get excited about an application and carry their enthusiasm forward. You may want to listen to what they’re talking/complaining about and send them one resource when you notice a fit. One resource can be less intimidating than many.
Don’t lose the faith.
Laura is absolutely right. That matches my experience.
I started to make short “Technology Tip” screencasts for the staff at my school. I made two, with each one being less than 2 minutes long.
The most recent one I sent to my school’s email conference where everyone at my school can view it. Since the email is sent within my school district’s email system I can view the history of how many people downloaded the attachment (and I assume watch the screencast). Number of views . . . 3 (out of over 100 staff members). It was frustrating not only because I took time to make it but also because I was encouraged to do this by the district’s ed tech department as part of the technology professional development I’m suppose to provide to my school.
I ended up putting that screencast on TeacherTube where it’s been viewed over 300 times. At least some people cared even if they weren’t at my school.
This is about the same feeling I have when I gotta sit through an entire PD about technology when I can figure it out my-damn-self. That feeling of “wtf”.
Okay, it’s off your chest. Now, deep breath. Look at your children.
Better now?
Work w/ the living!
Isn’t it funny that people can always make time for what is important to them. Life is all about making choices. It amazes me when people say they don’t have time to do something that could benefit them. I think people should be honest and say they just choose not to do something because it is just as insulting as a fake excuse but at least they would get points for honesty.
Ditto what Pat said – I’ve learned this year as curriculum specialist/technology integrator that people make time for that which they value. I’ve lost track of the times I’ve overheard people talking about some shopping excursion they did when I was offered PD on something relevant but was told they were “too busy”. And then to top off my ire, when they complete surveys about what they feel they need PD on, topics include subjects I’ve already presented on but they went shopping during!!!! The best advice so far I’ve learned is “Q-tip” ….quit taking it personally. That’s really hard to do, but until teachers come to value what we have to offer then this is what we’re going to get more often than not.
Thanks, everybody. It’s really not a big deal; it just bugged me a bit, and I thought folks here would be able to relate. Everything’s cool now; I’m wrapping up my internship and the wiki can go back to being a cobweb-collecting billboard on the Information Superhighway. Probably looks impressive enough on my resume, though! I’d actually be happy to do it again for a Special Ed dept. (or group of parents) who’d actually use it.
…and if they think THAT’S a waste of time, wait’ll they get a load of my April 28 PD class on Twitter (I kid you not)!
This year I’ve been in a professional development program focusing on “Cognitive Coaching” to develop skills to be a better instructional coach/professional development facilitator. During the first PD session of the year in this CC program, our coach told us:
“The phrase ‘I don’t have time for that…’ is a marker of a teacher who 1) does not know standards of effective teaching and 2) has stopped learning as a professional.”
Just something to think about. I feel your pain. As the Literacy/Instructional Coach on my campus I have struggled all year to get my teachers to use the wiki that I set up for sharing information on effective instructional practices. If one person on my campus (besides myself) finds it helpful then I consider it a success. I also keep in mind , as you stated above, that at least I have it as part of my professional portfolio! 🙂
I haven’t anything more constructive to say, other than…I feel your pain! And this post really made me chuckle! So if nothing else, you made me laugh!
Seriously, I would echo what someone else said, its about value to the person you are trying to engage with. How you give ‘value’ to an activity like your wiki is something else.
I totally understand your feeling. I have tried to network a group of teachers and got the same response. I have shared my excitement for tech, and the many things I have learned and it is sometimes met with eye rolls. It can be very frustrating!
I’ve learned to get a real charge out of helping one person, with one task at a time. If one person tells me that a tip I’ve shared, a skills I’ve taught, or an idea that I’ve come up with helps them in their classroom….that’ll have to carry me through until the next time. It’s really hard when you know so much and can see the potential big picture, but take your victories in small increments. That’s what I have to keep telling myself.