I wrote a blog post of the misconceptions of lifelong learners, and, as usual, it really got me thinking (and if we are being honest, feeling sorry for myself).
I consider myself a lifelong learner. I am naturally curious, and I don’t need to wait to be told what that button does. As soon as you aren’t looking, I’m gonna press it. And I do not think we get a bad rap, but I do think we are sometimes taken for granted.
On a Friday at 3:30pm, I was asked to do a training on a new technology tool that was purchased for the district. The training would be the following Monday. I said, sure! And spent the weekend learning how to use the tool (without a class, students or data).
I don’t think the author of the request even thought that I might not know how to use it. But there’s no one to give me training, no one to whom I can turn to ask for instructions. Well, except Google.
It happened again today. A group of teachers came to me, “We need this.”
I answered, “Oh, I don’t know how to do that.” They didn’t respond. They didn’t move. They just stood there, waiting. So I logged in, took a look around, and figured it out.
It’s like they couldn’t accept the fact I didn’t know how to do something. I mean, I am totally flattered. But sometimes I get frustrated. Maybe I feel taken for granted. Maybe I just want someone to realize how hard I work. Maybe I just need someone to tell me I’m pretty.
I think what I need is for others to understand that there is no magic wand; I was not gifted at birth with the knowledge of all things technology. I wasn’t even trained in technology. I am a person. I get overwhelmed. I don’t know. But I figure it out. Sometimes it takes me a while, sometimes I get distracted, but I figure it out in the end.
So be patient, be empathetic and be curious. Also, Google it. Because honestly, that’s what I am going to do when you aren’t looking.
Edit: You know what I really hate? When I finally teach myself to do something and then the next time I go to do it I can’t remember and I wander around the database, looking for clues, trying hard to pull memories that will not come...
