Comments on: Engaging Teachers

By: Fiona Andrew

Fiona Andrew — Thu, 25 May 2006 21:02:28 +0000

I am afraid I am one of those teacher. I left after two years. I am now in the role of supporting, advising and trying to inspire those still in the profession. Being in a company that is involved in changing the curriculum and issuing initiative on everything I am not that keen to go back into it. However the use of ICT in the classroom does inspire me to get back to working with kids which I sometimes have the opportunity to do in my current role so I guess I get the best of both worlds just now.

By: Engaging Teachers on aBlog

Engaging Teachers on aBlog — Wed, 24 May 2006 11:27:11 +0000

Teachers are the uninvited, but we want them to be engaged…. After a phase of initial enthusiasm and idealism, many teachers either leave the profession, or (worse) detach from it but remain. This physical and psychological exodus is a consequence of the profession itself and should be of surprise to no one. It takes very little time in teaching to realize that so far as the “experts” are concerned, being in the classroom is not only NOT a necessary requirement for knowing what should or CAN happen in a classroom, it’s practically a disadvantage. Teachers are characterized as “adopters” and “resisters”, but rarely are they characterized as visionaries, inventors, originators, experts in the field. The expectation is that teachers are actors, tools with which their betters enact theories or initiate change.

By: My 25% PD- Prensky Podcast at The Thinking Stick

My 25% PD- Prensky Podcast at The Thinking Stick — Tue, 23 May 2006 12:49:33 +0000

[...] I’m really starting to love this hour bus ride I have in the morning. Of course I’m not driving which makes all the difference, and I’m finally getting a system down for loading podcasts on my Palm T5. So yesterday I read Will’s post Engaging Teachers, and then went to Ewan’s site to get the link to the Marc Prensky podcast (There’s connectivism for ya!). So this morning I was excited to jump on the bus sit back and listen. Listen I did, but the sitting back part lasted about 2 minutes as I found myself quickly scrambling of a piece of paper to take notes on. [...]

By: My 25% PD- Prensky Podcast at The Thinking Stick

My 25% PD- Prensky Podcast at The Thinking Stick — Tue, 23 May 2006 12:49:11 +0000

By: Ewan McIntosh

Ewan McIntosh — Mon, 22 May 2006 20:04:18 +0000

Don’t worry, Bud. I know EXACTLY what you mean.

By: Bud Hunt

Bud Hunt — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:43:53 +0000

Of course us early-career folks are enraged. We’re frustrated by a system that doesn’t meet OUR needs (as teachers and learners) or the needs of our students.
And we’re seen as foolish or inexperienced when we suggest ways to meet those needs. I completely understand why so many teachers leave after a few years of banging their heads against a brick wall.
(Hmm . . .that sounded much less bitter in my head than it does in print.)

By: Ewan McIntosh

Ewan McIntosh — Sat, 20 May 2006 14:35:23 +0000

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that it cuts out. I hadn’t listened to the finished syndicated cast as I edited the whole thing several times I’m trying to export again right now and hopefully I’ll sort that out.

Ewan