Just completed a year long Powerful Learning Project- where the focus was on web 2.0 tools and on building & growing PLNs. This is great for those of us who have been riding the Tech waves and staying up with the trends (more or less) in technology.

I am still concerned and frustrated with the slow progress getting more teachers to realize the value of tech integration. I read an article http://alturl.com/jcbk about changes that may be on the horizon as result of the current financial upheaval. We may not be able to see it yet, but perhaps this will force change in the marketplace for the 21st century- just as the earlier historic events caused major shifts in the workplace.

As educators we need to serve as models for our students how to handle the unknown and unforeseen and how to really be life-long learners. If each day we continue to show up in class perfectly prepared to follow our charted course material unwilling and unable to deal with "monkey wrenches" such as those that can happen with integrating technology, then we are not (in my opinion) modeling good problem solving or life-long learning.

For those teachers who still say, integrating technology takes too much time out of valuable classroom learning- I say they are being disingenuous with their students. They expect their students to learn and master whatever subject matter these teachers are teaching. Yet they are unwilling to master new skills necessary to prepare students for their future. They proclaim that the tech is not worth the class time "lost" when the tech fails, overlooking the most basic teachable moment in modeling for your students how you think on your feet and deal with situations other than ones you planned.

I just get so upset with educators who make snap decisions not to make use of these available tools- without really investigating and knowing the real potential. It is time that we as educators show our students how to deal with the unexpected and that all things are not in our (or their) control. It needs to be okay to live the process(however messy that might be) and not negate its value even if the outcome is less than perfect.

After all, isn't that really what life is about?!?