"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it"
-Charles Swindoll
-Charles Swindoll
See, being the Board is all about choosing to take control of every situation in life. It's about avoiding blame and accusation, and resigning to the fact that things happen in our own universe and we always have some sort of control over the outcome and how if actually affects us, versus how it perceptually affects us.
I have to admit that while I was reading about "Being the Board", I thought back to this week's discussion board posting about the things standing in the way of being in my dream job. My post was riddled with blame on school districts and legislators for not understanding the importance of educational technology and "old school" people who think things should stay the way they are. But sadly, in all of my ranting, there was no place where I acknowledge the finger pointing back at me.
How do I contribute to the ignorance about educational technology? Do I write my representatives and school board members to inform them? Do I run for public office myself? Do I conduct in-services and trainings to provide seasoned teachers with the support they need to adequately integrate technology? No, no, and no. I don't do any of those things, so at the end of the day, I am allowing myself to be a product of the things that happen around me, as opposed to choosing to take control of the things that happen in my playing space.
I am also going to adapt this chapter to be a mini-lesson in a character education series about taking responsibility. Unfortunately, this is a concept that many students are unfamiliar with and it's exclusion from our students' lives only leads to a greater level of apathy and overreaction. Being the Board is the zen way to approach life. I think we'll all be a lot happier once we take control.
Looking at things from a different angle can offer new solutions
I have to admit that while I was reading about "Being the Board", I thought back to this week's discussion board posting about the things standing in the way of being in my dream job. My post was riddled with blame on school districts and legislators for not understanding the importance of educational technology and "old school" people who think things should stay the way they are. But sadly, in all of my ranting, there was no place where I acknowledge the finger pointing back at me.
How do I contribute to the ignorance about educational technology? Do I write my representatives and school board members to inform them? Do I run for public office myself? Do I conduct in-services and trainings to provide seasoned teachers with the support they need to adequately integrate technology? No, no, and no. I don't do any of those things, so at the end of the day, I am allowing myself to be a product of the things that happen around me, as opposed to choosing to take control of the things that happen in my playing space.
I am also going to adapt this chapter to be a mini-lesson in a character education series about taking responsibility. Unfortunately, this is a concept that many students are unfamiliar with and it's exclusion from our students' lives only leads to a greater level of apathy and overreaction. Being the Board is the zen way to approach life. I think we'll all be a lot happier once we take control.
Looking at things from a different angle can offer new solutions
I felt myself cringe as I read parts of your post. I am that person; the one who complains about those who don't get why technology integration is so vital; the one who mocks those who think PowerPoints are a big deal; the one who screams at legislatures who don't see the importance of putting money into technology. You are dead on. How dare I complain when there are many things I could do to make a difference in my small world, other than gripe and complain!
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