Thing #1

The video of 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners was very interesting. I have always considered myself a lifelong learner - I love learning new things and get pretty pumped when I can find new tools or ways of teaching. I think that's why I love my technology job so much! There are constantly new things to learn!

I think the most challenging habit for me is to view a problem as a challenge - and not as a problem. This is especially difficult under stress - a teacher needs something fixed right now and I'm under the gun to help her (or him) or risk looking like I don't know what I'm doing. Sometimes I have to take a deep breath, relax, and start thinking of it as a puzzle to be worked out.

I think the easiest habit is to accept responsibility for my own learning. As I said, I love to learn and I want to found out information. (It's usually more difficult for me to understand why others don't want to learn something).

The most important habit, IMHB, is to PLAY! This is especially important with technology. I read an article last year about doing technology staff development for teachers and how it's important to get them doing a project for fun first - something with which they can personalize and take ownership. Then they can more easily make the transition into using it in their classroom. It seems more like play to them and their students. It would sure make teaching more fun! "Using technology in the classroom is a mindset - not a skillset."