A while back I was at a workshop where I saw Steve Barkley present. Do you know him?

This is his website:

http://www.plsweb.com/

And this is a course a colleague here is taking:

http://www.plsweb.com/graduate_courses/full_course_listing/on-site/star/#

Reason I mention it … when I saw Steve used this technique with our group of about 150-200 people it was positively MIND BLOWING. It was so empowering! I was astounded. He role-played with a willing group of people playing the most recalcitrant users you can imagine and in EVERY case he was able to respond to their concerns with a series of questions that overcame their objections and focused them on the task at hand. It was absolutely surreal. Anyone who does tech integration needs to see this guy present. I am still trying to get his powerpoints.

We really need more of this kind of thinking – overcoming “I can’t” or “I don’t have time” is THE single greatest challenge we face because once we get a group of smart, hardworking people excited about a problem, we can accomplish ANYTHING!

See you on Wednesday at NJEA in Atlantic City!

-kj-

I have also come across teachers like this in the last few years as a Technology Literacy Teacher, Technology Trainer, and now an Instructional Technology Coordinator. In reading some of the comments and your responses I think most of us have some idea on how to work around or with those types of teachers. There are those occasions where no matter how many times we tell teachers that its necessary or mandate or required, etc there are going to be those teachers who will do their best to not comply. In some of those cases, some of the things that I have done is actually speak with them on a one to one basis (when time allows) or I will go and speak with their campus principal to see how they deal with this person and try to work at it from that angle.

For those teachers who come in stating “I CANT learn technology so why try?”…I ask them what they would say if one of their students came up to them and said “I cant learn math so why try?” I remind them that we are like our students and go on and state things that they would (or should) tell their students like, practice makes perfect, you wont know if you can do it until you try it, etc.

I have also gone so far as reminding some of the teachers who come in with an “attitude” that if they had the ability to earn a 4 year degree then learning technology should be no different. Sometimes, I say that nicely, other times it comes off a little more sarcastic, anything to get the fire started is what I think.

I also agree with what Wendy posted in that we should concentrate on those teachers who are excited or who have become excited about technology and work with them to fully integrate that technology into their classroom and hopefully that begins to rub off on their colleagues.

Of course I also believe that every campus and district is different and we as trainers and leaders need to find ways that work best with those campuses and teachers.

Good Luck!

@Bud – Small teacher leadership teams work great. They can work with each other and then turnkey to their colleagues. Those “small victories” are priceless – they are one of the pieces of my job that I cherish – but the effect that this attitude from this teacher can take on students is too much to bare. I just wish I had the solution. I just know that there is none as we can only affect change on so many that are willing to move forward with what’s best for our students.

Thank you both for your comments.