More than just knowing stuff! » TED http://helenotway.edublogs.org Helen's thoughts on learning. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:05:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Have to Get Better at Believing the Impossible http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/09/07/have-to-get-better-at-believing-the-impossible/ http://helenotway.edublogs.org/2008/09/07/have-to-get-better-at-believing-the-impossible/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:12:21 +0000 helenotway http://helenotway.edublogs.org/?p=92 One of the things that I have found in my career is that there is always a stack of ‘reasons’ or ‘excuses’ for not being able to do something or to believe in something. This week was interesting and I found myself listening to the ‘but’ word over and over, and almost felt defeated by it.

I watched Kevin Kelly tonight on TED and what he said very much resonated with me. He said we ‘have to get better at believing the impossible’.

I feel I am an optimistic person, some might think naïve possibly. However, without believing that things can be done we will give up on trying to make them happen. Like with new technologies and new ideas. Why can’t we have laptops in classrooms? I’ve had them in my rooms. Why is this so hard for others to believe this possible? Why can’t we use the web2.0 for learning? Predators, paedophiles? Surely there is more than that out there for our students. Some believers are using blogs and online technologies to the highest advantage for student learning, whilst others ‘are not ready’.

No one else would ever need machines of their own, or would be able to afford to buy them. Thomas J. Watson, American President of IBM (Quote from Wikipedia)

I like to believe in the impossible and to give things a go. I think this is what makes education rich and authentic. And I applaud the teachers who are out there doing what most people say they can’t

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