I had a singular experience yesterday. Actually, it was the freezing sensation of an ice pick of terror plunging into my spine. I arrived at the tech-rich elementary school in rural eastern North Carolina around 8:00, after getting up early and working through some technical issues with Class Blogmeister.
The tech facilitator sat down with me and my schedule of the day, pointing out that I would work with kindergarden teachers in learning to use digital video cameras at 8:20, and then first grade teachers at 9:00. Then at 9:30, I would work with a group of 1st graders, and at 9:50 a group of 2nd graders, and at 10:15 another group of 2nd graders, and then…
“Wait a minute!” I said both with my voice and what I’m sure was a threatening gesture with my hands. “Second graders? Not teachers?”
“Yes, students!” He replied with all of the ease and nonchalance I could possibly have handled, at this pure moment between a world of certainty and a potential experience so wrought with horror that I dare not venture further with my mind.
“..and their teachers!” I demanded.
“Nope, just the students. Don’t worry, we’ll be around.”
I actually felt the ground shutter under my feet. “Seven year olds.”
“Mostly”, the tech facilitator said, obviously beginning to enjoy this exchange.
“I don’t like seven year olds. They’re small. I could step on them. They wrap themselves around your knees, and they carry germs.”
“You’ll do fine,” he said as he got up and walked away.
I worked through the Kindergarten teachers, which mostly went fine, except for the two who came in 15 minutes late. Then the first grade teachers. Same experience.
Then a teachers assistant walked in with a group of second graders, sat them in their seats, and then quickly walked out and closed the door behind her. …and there they were, tiny human beings. Germs buzzing around their faces.
I handed the cameras out and found myself at a loss at how to start. They began to ably turn the machines over and over examining and trying the various buttons and switches, opening the LCD display, and I realized that I’d better get started before they figured it out for themselves.
I walked them through turning the cameras on, finding that in some cases I had to have their thumb follow my thumb through the process. After practicing that, I helped them to use the display, asked them to describe why it might be better to use the LCD display than the view finder. Showed them the affect of zooming, and asked them to figure out how to make their cameras zoom. Then I showed them how to start recording, and walked them out in to the media center where a group of teachers from thirty miles to the north were getting ready for a tour of this technology-rich school. The students walked in videoing the teachers as they received their introductory presentation from the principal.
When we got back into the computer lab, we were out of time, so I decided to take each of their cameras, and set them up into VCR mode so that they could watch their videos. One little boy walked over beside of me while I was setting up his camera, laid his head on my shoulder and watched. At that moment, I realized why elementary teachers do what they do. Before that moment, I didn’t know, could not fathom. But I understand now.
Elementary school teachers sit there, by their children, with small heads on their shoulders looking into a future where anything is possible. At seven, anything is possible. This child can do anything with his life, go anywhere, accomplish any goal. And to see the world along side that child is a singular experience.
Technology is a tool. It’s a lens through which we can show that world of infinite possibilities to our children — through which they can examine, explore, and affect their world. If we continue to look at technology as a machine and education as a process that we can plug our children into in order to improve reading and math test scores, then whose shoulder are they going to rest their heads on? Whose hand are they going to hold as the walk into their future?
2¢ Worth.
*sniffle* I miss being in an elementary school. Thanks for sharing your story and reminding me that I need to keep getting out of my office – not even when, but especially, when things are crazy – so I can remember what this is all about.
I see you GET IT! When an elementary teacher realizes the treasure of a child that he/she teaches, guides, loves, and cares about, we are able to overlook the burdens of the day to day job that so many complain about. Using technology as a way to excite and teach our children is so much fun too:-) I would love to have you experience a day in my 5th grade classroom so you could be “WOW’ed” by what my students are able to do with technology and their learning. I can barely keep up with their dreams and desires…the fire has been lit! Can’t wait for another day to do this all over again.
This SO tugged at my heart strings! I love my work now and love helping teachers to change their practices with technology, but oh how I miss my little ones. I can still work with a new piece of hardware or watch an IMAX movie and pinpoint the moment when I would have heard a unison of “WOW! Cool! Awesome!” I miss their energy and enthusiasm. Thanks for this, David.
Elizabeth
Dave,
As you know I am an elementary technology teacher. Yes they are cute, funny, and make me laugh on a daily basis. To this day the thing that still gets me is how fast they learn, whether it is technology or not, but especially technology.
Two days ago a computer that a 1st grade student was using had the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ (Which they all know by name) “Mr. U! I got the Blue Death Screen again!” So I walked over to the computer told the student there was nothing we could do except turn it off and restart. So I shut the computer down, told the student to count to 10 and then turn the computer back on. He did and was working on logging in again when another computer Blue Screened. That student raised her hand and said “Mr. U! Something happened!” The boy who I had just helped runs over to her and says “Yeah, there’s nothing we can do about that.” Pushes the power button and promptly tells the girl “Now count to 10 and push this button again, you’re going to have to wait awhile though cause it needs to wake up.” The little girl just kind of looked at the boy with a puzzled look on her face; I of course am watching this trying not to laugh.
Here is the amazing part, the boy, seeing that the girl doesn’t understand, repeats what he just said (I think) in Korean. The girl nods her head counts to 10 on her fingers and turns the machine back on. The boy went back to his seat and started the log in process (which takes awhile when you have to spell the word primary and you don’t know where all the keys are).
I have to admit that I’ve always been an upper elementary teacher and this is my first year of teaching the little ones. (Kindergarten and 1st grade) It has been an eye opener just watching them learn, think, and experiment with computers. They are the future of this world and I only hope that they will continue to watch, learn, and help others as they grow.
I’m glad you had a good experience Dave. Now just imagine spending 6 hours a day with them. I’m still not ready for that…I’ll take my 45 minutes!
David:
I laughed out loud reading of your experience, was touched by the ending – and enjoyed the posting very much. I am lucky enough to have the best of both worlds – I get to work with the little kids AND with technology. I am constantly amazed at how intuitive young children are with the unknowns of technology – and downright fearless! When they’re looking for my help and I say, “What do you think?” – I am so often met with a gleam in the eye and a correct response. Astounding!
chris
David,
Loved your story. Congratulations on making it through your day – and finding that human piece that is the real reason we teachers of the little ones do it. But goodness, just drop the kids off at the lab and leave? This does not sound like a technology rich school to me.
Great story David, told with passion and eloquent prose. Yes, elementary schools can be powerful places to be. My own experiences with high school students helped motivate me to eventually teach at the elementary level, where students appear to be a bit more “moldable.” But I know students at all levels have similar needs and desires. Once puberty enters the scene, things get more confusing, but those desires to express, learn, relate, and engage remain. Thanks for sharing your tale! 🙂
Yeah … its the stuff that makes it all worthwhile isn’t it!
Kids pick things up so quickly at this age … show them the undo button and they are off … One of the neatest things I have seen recently was a group of teachers each bringing a kid from their class to an ICT PD session. Teachers and kids, learning together, beside each other, the skills to take back and share with their ‘peers’ in the classroom. Powerful stuff.
Greg