Save the Dinosaurs?

 Dinos

The lone female of her species trod slowly down stone lined corridors. Following at a short distance was a male of the species. Both hung their heavy heads and peered around at the changes that were quickly taking place. The scenery that had once filled their world had all but disappeared. Gone were books, papers, desks, worksheets, pencils, and many technologies that at the time seemed like they were here to stay. They heard other species talking freely, and functioning in the changing environment with the newly evolving young. They witnessed adults and young of different species sitting beside each other learning with one another in ways that once was unheard of. These younger adults create and curate learning in ways that are totally foreign to them. The aging dinosaurs know they are in danger of becoming extinct. Will they just migrate into the tar pits of the past, and be forgotten until a social anthropologist uncovers them? Will they adapt and change slowly to become more highly evolved within their own species?

We have all heard the stories of the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Theories abound of whether it was a cataclysmic meteor strike, or some other phenomenon that is incomprehensible in the modern age of astronomical stability. The dinosaurs that I am speaking of are not only objects like those pictured above, but also the beings that used them comfortably for years. Does the same fate await those that have slowly watched their world change, and have not adapted to the changes?

Adaptation?

You do not need to be very forward thinking or prophetic to see the changes around us as educators. Students of all ages are bringing with them their native digital understanding and adaptability. The young no longer carry heavy book bags with bulky textbooks, stacks of paper, multiple notebooks, packs of markers, glue sticks, and other objects that used to help them survive in the stone halls of our schools. How much longer will we be tied to the buildings themselves? Teachers communicate with other educators and students all around the globe. They create, curate, and share lessons with teachers they have never met. Lessons are developed electronically and supported with technology or hands-on projects where students have choices. Educators Tweet, Pin, Vox, G+, Link, Blog, IG, Facebook, Flip, and more as they find applications for the ever-changing digital world. Today’s teachers self-evaluate using new scales such as SAMR and TPACK. We check our lessons using ISTE standards and student learning goals and scales.

Three F’s

As with any event of change or challenge we have three choices. We can Fight, Freeze, or Fly! I would like to add a fourth- Function. There are many educators that are fighting against the new technologies. They tell themselves that the old ways are the best ways. We have many that have frozen in their tracks telling themselves they cannot change, and then we have some that have packed up their file boxes and fled from the classroom. All teachers must be learning leaders! We as educational leaders need to learn to function in an ever changing world. Those of us that do not adapt will find ourselves unable to connect with the digital natives that we now lead.