Are teachers ready for what is coming?

I thought everyone was as jubilant about technology in the classroom as me. I guess not.

Today, I was discussing, (actually complaining) about the negative comments I keep hearing from fellow teachers about Facebook and other social networks. It seems hard to get through to "doubters" that this "Internet thing" is not a fad, but a reality. Hello! Technology is a part of our students lives. I know this is a fact, because of all of the cell phones I am confiscating from my students on a daily basis.

Why can't some people see technology as an excellent way to connect with kids and excite them, instead of just another in service I have to attend or top story that will appear on Channel 5 News. '"Look what Teachers are doing on Facebook." Tune in during the 5 o'clock news!

I get bubbly when I think about how technology can help me reach that LD kid in the back of my room who seems uninspired by anything I say or try to do. Of course, the stories that were being shared during the meeting were about some teacher who allowed her students to join her facebook account and then "happened" to place "questionable" photos of herself on the net for the kids to see. It is always odd ducks like that that ruin it for the rest of us. It is like when you are pregnant and all you hear is the horror stories that every woman that sees you has to tell you. I didn't give up though, I had to throw in my comment about how once comic books were banned, because it was thought that they could "invoke violence in the innocent minds of children".

Why does everything new or different have to go through some sort of testing period before it will be embraced or even tried by some educators/administrators? Not me honey, I am going in head first. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to get on top of all of the blogs; RSS; Tweets; facebooks out there. I do need to sleep at some point! Not to mention "how am I suppose to integrate all of these new things I am learning into my daily lesson plans?"

The technology options that are available to me today are truly electrifying, but also somewhat overwhelming. I am just going to close my eyes and open that door that leads into the unknown and hope I find a tunnel of light or at least a patient TECH person from my building to put up with all of my questions and emails. Isn't teaching grand!