 Stuffed and Prodded, Part II
by David Benson, Educational Technology Consultant ()
I've been doing some reflecting lately. In the November 2002 newsletter article, I thanked all the teachers who read our publications and use our services, who have served as mentors, friends and colleagues, and who just generally do a job that few others would be willing to do.
I've also been reflecting back on my article in October 2003 about "stuffers" and "prodders" — someone appropriately pointed out to me that without some stuffers there might not be anything to prod out of me. What brought these thoughts together was studying for my midterm for a graduate-level class I'm taking for my own personal development.
As if I don't have enough to do between a family, a job and an old decrepit farm, I thought why not take a class or two to improve and grow professionally? A lot of friends and colleagues looked at me and asked if I was crazy. What would lead me to take upon such a time-eater as a graduate class? But I must confess, it is because many of my teachers during my developing years as a student stuffed and prodded me and inspired me to take chances, so I'm not afraid to challenge myself to do something big and new.
Write a five-page paper on emerging technologies? Not a problem. I can get it done in a weekend and still have time to mow a field, put up the storm windows and play a little football with the boys. Study for a midterm? I don't need to pull any all-nighters; I've read the material, highlighted key points, notated and reviewed all along. Now I'd like to think that I'm really, really smart (and maybe I am) but what I do know is that early on I was given the right tools by my teachers to get the job done.
The right tools (a little prodding) and a challenge are what put many of us on the paths we follow today. And I know that for every teacher who had to deal with me (I am certain that is how they would say it) and succeeded, there are thousands more doing the same thing every day in every school in America.
Hey, how do you like that? I think I just managed to say THANK YOU again.
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