edutwist.com - teaching and technology

Education needs a twist. Or maybe it needs a kick in the pants. When naming this site edutwist, I considered all the various definitions of the word “twist,” applying them to the rising push to infuse more interactive technology into the classroom vs. the opposing, resistant pull away from it by many traditional educators. Just as the word takes on several almost opposite meanings, so do educators’ reactions to the edtech movement. (Definitions are from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary and thesaurus site).

Twist. transitive verb 1 a: to unite by winding <twisting strands together> b: to make by twisting strands together <twist thread from yarn> c: to mingle by interlacing 2: twine, coil

This sounds positive, collaborative, and strengthening. It’s like Aesop’s fable about the bundled sticks - twisting individual strands together yields a more powerful bond. This is my personal bias. I’m a geek and proud of it!

But there are always dissenters and nay-sayers. On the opposing side, wringing their hands with worry, there are plenty of people who think of educational technology in the same way as this definition of twist:

Twist. 3 a: to wring or wrench so as to dislocate or distort; especially : sprain <twisted my ankle> b: to alter the meaning of : distort, pervert <twisted the facts> c: contort <twisted his face into a grin> d: to pull off, turn, or break by torsion <twist the nut off the bolt> e: to cause to move with a turning motion <twisted her chair to face the fire> f: to form into a spiral shape g: to cause to take on moral, mental, or emotional deformity <celebrity has twisted their sense of decorum> h: to make (one’s way) in a winding or devious manner to a destination or objective

Hmmmm. Twisting sure seems to foretell danger and chaos! The fear is understandable. There are always negatives.

But don’t all challenges involve a risk? Accepting the risk and moving forward through a challenge, head on, can lead to monumental, life-changing progress. There are those of us who believe that risk and challenges are necessary for growth, especially in education.

I agree wholeheartedly that stepping into the unknown requires diligent study, caution, and respectful timing. Risky behavior is dangerous if it has undefined goals, weak boundaries, no recovery plan, no escape route in case of problems.

But in the arena of educational technology, the trails are being blazed daily and the trail network is fully forged - and still forming. There are hundreds of blogs and wikis with tutorials by educators who pioneered the use of technology successfully in classroom worldwide. We don’t need to brandish a machete and go crashing into the wilderness, because the paths are being smoothed out in front of us and we can ask for the maps!

So I ask for my drinks with a twist, and I ask for education to add technology. A small tweak will do at first, until we start feeling safer, but something’s gotta give! Education needs a twist!

 

This blog expresses the personal opinions of the author and is not affiliated
with nor representative of any company, employer, or other entity.
Posted on July 19th, 2008 by Sharon Elin
Filed under: Uncategorized