A Digital Day

This weekend I facilitated a workshop for nine teachers in a couple small private K-8 schools near Banks. I was more anxious about this session than most because these were teachers of children, something I've never done, I didn't know them and I really wasn't certain what they expected.

As I waited for the arrival of the students, the teachers, I noticed a coffee table type book on display on the upper shelf. It was called One Digital Day, How the Microchip is Changing our World. It wasn't fill with iPads and cell phones and robots. It was filled with pictures that appeared very routine, pigs on a farms, old women in a line in southern Africa, children in playgrounds. The pigs were being examined with computer equipment, the women were identifying themselves with fingerprints for their monthly government checks and the children were supervised by video cameras. Hundreds of pages of pictures showing how microchips affect our lives every day everywhere.

There is a balance in everything we do, such as microchips versus trees, flowers, pets and family; such as family versus work and class. Someone will someday look back and notice the thousands of hours on computers but I hope they don't ignore the calluses on my hands, the mud on my boots, and the sand dust in my lungs. But most importantly I hope they don't ignore my children, my wife, my friends, my trips to China and Africa to help with whatever I could. I hope also that someday you will be remembered for the people you know and not the day you missed class or didn't post a blog entry.

Cool Down

Years ago, actually many years ago, almost 30, a couple of mutual had a serious discussion about their futures. Their criteria included "something they would enjoy", "benefit society", and "earn enough more to survive." Their criteria wasn't far from mine and I have been very successful in most of those aspects, but it's sometimes results in a rather over relaxed attitude. That is one of my faults.

The class has included most of every aspects that one might expect in a class. Some have overachieved with quantity, others have been creative beyond my expectations, while others have followed the expectations better than I would have done myself. On the other side some have been very tardy to the point of no involvement. In three weeks I have tried to guide the class in a direction which would result in hands-on experience, understanding the use of blogs and what technology is involved. In three weeks most of the class have done that and my job as guide was complete. So this week I have been listening and not talking. The race has been run and I'm just cooling down.

Oh, by the way, I'm not a very good blogger for I have not continued to blog and claim your attention. I will visit you about one more time next week. Congratulations to all of you who have met your objectives.