Life Long Learners

I originally posted this blog on the Technology Integration site...

Shouldn't we all strive to be life-long learners regardless of what our title or formal educational background is? Clearly, what and how are students are taught should be an ever evolving process. The world is constantly changing around us so then, shouldn't the educational system? Yes, it is important for our students to learn from the past but it should not be "in the past." I must say that I am somewhat disappointed when I hear that teachers are resistant to learn new ways to educate. Yes, it may be out of their comfort zone but after all, isn't that what they ask of their students? They should be challenging their students and they should be challenging themselves. I applaud teachers who do go out of their way to challenge their students, especially using all of the amazing technology that is out there. To paraphrase a board member, we will find a way to pay for the new technology as long as it is used - often and appropriately. To spend so much money on technology to discover that some staff rarely use it much less check their e-mail a couple of times a year is disheartening.

I have seen the same issue with support staff. There are so many amazing tools that we have access to that we don't use to their full potential. And I will admit that I have been guilty of not taking advantage of training nearly as much as I should. I always seemed to be too busy to take a half or full day of training. However, I am trying to change. I recently went out of my comfort zone to learn much more of 2 applications that I rarely used. I was amazed at how well they worked together and how, in the end, saved me so much more time. Then, I needed help on another document and I got introduced to SharePoint. Again, something that I didn't think applied to me and I didn't have time to learn. Well, was I wrong. I am excited to think of all the things I can do once I obtain a little more training. I can only hope that my enthusiasm may spur others to come out of their comfort zone and learn new ways of doing our everyday business.