Making magic with or without technology

From CyberCamp, this quote really resonated with me: Budtheteacher writes, "Sarah, in her presentation today, said that the tools are still just the bells and whistles, the “magic” being performed by little elves somewhere. What I see in the CyberCamp presentations is that good teachers will be good no matter what the tool — a piece of chalk or thousands of dollars worth of technology tools. But, when you hook up a great teacher with engaging tools — that’s when magic happens. The tools become transparent."

I think that many folks get frustrated by technology, not realizing that it is the teaching that will carry the lesson, not technology. The lesson objectives, the focus on student learning, needs to be the primary focus; technology becomes the map that the students use on their drive towards learning. I have seen the "magic" in my classroom and know that it is the discovery that makes teaching and learning so wonderful.

I have felt at times, working with colleagues, watching colleagues, etc., we saw the "magic" of teaching, but so often in our offices, teachers get caught up in the I-can't-do-that without making a lesson, an idea their own. The technology becomes an excuse for not making their classroom more student-centered. I don't have computers in my class; I don't have time to bother with technology; I don't know how to do it and it would take too long to figure it out...etc., etc. The teachers in our school that are making a difference with students, connect with kids and listen. They observe the world and try to bring a piece of it into the classroom.

(Ahhh...it feels good to blog again. It's been so long.)