Teachers 50+ still teaching, still LEARNING, still passionate

A few days ago I was read an article (can't remember the source -sorry) that mentioned the difficulty of getting the teachers in his school who were aged 50+ who were afraid of tech, not willing to learn tech or who had not interest. My immediate emotions were 1) anger and 2) sadness. The overwhelming question was Why? The group are part of the largest generation that was ever born. This generation lived through the 1960's and believed they could change the world. This generation produced some of the greatest music of all time. Why - as an educator are they willing to just accept the status quo? I am not talking about political issues but why are they personally making this choice?

I fall into this demographic. In fact I am in the 60+ group (yikes - how did that happen?) so these teachers are my contemporaries. Why?

Five years ago I discovered all things Web 2.0 and and i fell in love. My classroom became my lab so to speak. Then I went on to get my Masters degree in Integrated Technology online.this led directly to my new position beginning in August in Guatemala.

I want my PLN to be full of people like Julie Lindsay @julielindsay, Betsey Sargent and Anne Mirtschin @murcha. I want it to be full of my contemporaries that I share a life history with. People who can answer with authority where they were when Kennedy was assassinated. I want it full of people with life experience, passionate about tech ology but even more passionate about learning and applying it to the classrooms. I want people who are willing to be uncomfortable and uncertain for a while as they learn.

Are they out there? Are you out there?

I am not at ISTE this year as my school does not get out u til June 29th but I am already excited about San Antonio. I am following everything I can online through this Nong, Twitter, Facebook etc.

Thanks for listening. Hope to hear from you.

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Permalink Reply by John Ross on June 25, 2012 at 7:06am

As someone about to join that demographic, Heather, I have to say it's not about age as much as it is about willingness to try new things. And sometimes that's influenced by the school you're in. I work with a lot of teachers at their schools and teach an online class in educational technology for teachers, and I hear some of my teachers mention the age thing, but often we have other veterans in class who don't fit that mold and help set the record straight. I also have newbies that show a good bit of resistance to change, as well.

I encourage all of my teachers to embrace the idea of "tinkering" so well described by John Seely Brown in last year's PBS documentary about Digital Media. I had to teach myself it was o.k. to tinker, because I wasn't brought up that way. Maybe that has more to do with it than age. I'm more willing to try new things with technology--now, and it sounds like you are, too. Enjoy your new position!

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Permalink Reply by Terry Jacka & Janelle Maurer on June 25, 2012 at 8:18am

We are 50+ educators - our passion about the power of technology in the classroom has brought us all the way from Australia to present at ISTE for the first time!very exciting!