Biting the bullet...

By bogdog Dan

Some rights reserved

Did it...yup, bit the bullet, plunged in, soared off, let go, jumped into the fire...

Finally decided that after many years of thinking, examining, discussing everything I have read, heard, or witnessed, that it was time to put up or shut up.

I started the semester without a course outline.

There, said it...

Wow, put that way, those words, I started the semester without a course outline, sound rather innocuous; really no big deal, just stared my ELA 30-1 grade twelve class with nothing concrete, ya, we make it up as we go along, no outline to hand in, sorry boss...why, yes, I'd love to look for another job...all fears of professional repercussions aside, I strongly believe that this road I am on is one I am meant to follow, and that the time has indeed come to stop talking and just do it.

This "being prepared to not be prepared"(see Scott Kemp) has been a fantastic experience for me so far! Each day for the last two weeks, I have responded to the needs of the students, and together we have identified what the focus of the next class should be.

I will endeavor to continue to record this experience, in the hopes that reflections in July will confirm that this notion, while crazy, was beneficial to all stakeholders.

Stephen

This time today...

Sitting here this morning avoiding the marking that needs to be done, thinking about the G'site I am building for next semester. Thinking about the feeling of excitement surrounding this old desk; to be learning a new novel, (how energizing that is!) how the next semester cannot start soon enough. Planning to completely reinvent the setup of the class room, both in terms of physical as well as the learning opportunities, to incorporate many of the fantastic ideas that have been shared, whether through face to face interaction or through the electronic medium.

As this collaborative project roars out of the planning stage, I find that the idea of teaching alone, in a room, just the learners and myself, very scary. Indeed, the idea that one should know all be all to all, simply is a concept that must be eradicated in this day and age.

Case in point, just now, as the G'site is under construction, a tweet comes across from @courosa, retweeting a request for assistance from @jenamhall, who happens to have the exact question that I am struggling with at this very moment...synchronicity? Or just the fact that the world is very welcome in my office and class room?




I wonder what stops other teachers from opening the doors to other learners, be they fellow educators or those with expertise, viewpoints or ideas to share? Having someone skype in to a classroom is so very easy, why is this not the norm, instead of the 'cool'? Are the answers the same as those given when asked 'why are you not blogging?'

Just wondering...

Stephen