I had a conversation with a teacher today that really helped me realize that ENGAGING teachers are people, not necessarily a new program or a technology.
He asked me help him be part of an example of foreshadowing during a formal observation. He set the kids up, hoping that "no one" would come in to this class, turned on some music, and left clues for them. That enabled him to SHOW them what foreshadowing was and to LIVE through it when I showed up for an observation. He used technology to help make his point, but it was his interaction with the students and what would catch their attention that intrigued me. The look on one girls face when I walked in was priceless.
I also saw the other end of engagement. Watching a PowerPoint or a document camera used as a $2,000 overhead projector is not what engages students (at least not past the 3rd time when the novelty wears off). When students just listen and do nothing else, they are NOT engaged.
The key difference is what STUDENTS are doing. jaycross wondered on his Twitter why schools were ineffective. Ineffective schools are full of students that aren't doing much...So what are we going to do about it?
Seth-you are SO right! Good teaching is more than just using gadgets. The toughest part of our jobs is making sure we have the BEST people in the classrooms who can inspire our students.
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