Yes, we live in a stressful world and in stressful times. But so much stress is self-imposed by comparing ourselves to others. As an introvert, I have my share of insecurities, but somehow I think my introversion has helped me develop an inner confidence not to worry that I won't be able to measure up to other teachers' extroverted ways because I know I never will. So I've always adapted and changed things to make them fit my ways and I've created my own style. I think that might help people in today's technology world where there are people stressed out about not using technology the "right" way and feeling insecure that others are using it "better" than they are. Or feeling that they "should" be doing certain things. We need to develop our own style! If we just do things the way others do them, it's boring and it's inauthentic. Our personalities get lost and we lose our enthusiasm and the students will feel that. We need to find things that we are enthusiastic about and that will translate to our students. We've heard it a million times--The technology is a tool. If we don't have need for the tool or it doesn't help us with our task, it's useless. We need the feeling of "Isn't this so cool?" to go along with what the tool can do! Don't pick an activity or a project, just to do it. Pick an activity or a project that makes YOU say, "This is so cool!" Not because your colleague says, "This is so cool!" If your colleague says, "This is so cool," then it's the perfect activity for your colleague, not you. Be excited for him/her! If we give our students the opportunity to do a project and they know a technology tool that we don't know, let them use it. Tell them how cool that is. Don't be worried that you don't know it. Show enthusiasm that you are learning from them. Who cares that you don't know it? People who are really into technology are never afraid to say they don't know about sites or tools. You can never know about everything that's out there. People who love technology are excited to hear about a site or tool they've never heard about before; they don't feel inadequate or insecure because they've never heard of it.
I'm not a blogger. I'm too thin-skinned for it. LOL But I wanted to get this out there for some of my good friends in the teaching world who are such great teachers and way too stressed about technology and who have lost some of the joy of teaching by comparing themselves to others. Please find the joy again and find YOUR strengths and your enthusiasm and focus on that and your students will benefit from your wonderful personalities and strengths and you will be so much happier and you will naturally find the technology that suits you!
P.S. Technology/Pinterest! has helped me think of and create some of my cutest and most fun no-tech games and activities for class!
