Technology: The 10th Muse

"We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion." - G. W. F. HEGEL

As teachers, we are well aware of the legend of the Greek muses. In ancient myth, these 9 goddesses provided inspiration for music, literature, and the arts. Clio, the glorious one in some translations, the muse of History, is often represented with a parchment scroll or a set of tablets. I wonder, a decade into the 21st century, if her image might be updated to include a PDA or a Kindle 2.

I began this experiment in technology because of my passion for History and my passion for transmitting/transferring some portion to my students. As a pragmatist, I am aware that many will still, ultimately, fail to see the import of studying History; however, for those chosen few, they are what drives me. As a reformed (somewhat) Ludditte, I want to learn how to incorporate technology, various types, into my more traditional, brick-and-mortar classes in an effort to more readily and immediately engage my students who are the first generation of digital natives.

A secondary objective, and one I admit was not immediately known to me, is that of building an online community of History teachers, across the nation (around the world) who can share ideas, methods, pedagogical tools that they have employed in thier classrooms in California, Maine, or the UK.

Thus, I would like to thank you all for your passion, brilliance and dedication to teaching. The toughest job you will ever love!

First Day - Spring term

Well, it finally arrived! It seemed as though it was an eternity in getting here. And, as I almost always am, I find myself more than a bit anxious as to how the first day went. What I mean by that is; I do not want to overwhelm my students with the amount of material that I intend to cover (and, I have sought, aggressively so) to parse it into a few sessions; and yet, I want them to come into the course with their eyes open, no surprises.

I also want them to see the importance and significance of taking a History class: particularly in light of the times which confront us and our nation.

As I begin a new semester, I also find myself facing the dilemma of how "best" to use technology (such as this blog) to further enhance my students' experience(s). I do not want it to serve, solely, as a "diary" for me to post my ramblings (although, knowing me, that will surely happen!) However, in all honesty, if I strive to utilize it as a learning tool, an integrated aspect of my courses, I do not think that it will be. I remain encouraged by the vistas that integration of the technology which my students, this "digital generation" use, so effortlessly, on a daily basis, can and will open (if I do not, with my heavy-hands, muck it up ;-).

Welcome!

Before I venture further, I feel as though I should warn you, dear reader[s] that this is my first endeavor at entering the "blogosphere." As I do so I am reminded somewhat of Darwin's "Monkey Theorem." Not that Darwin, his father, Erasmus who postulated that if an infinite number of monkeys banged away on an infinite number of typewriters they would, in good time, produce the collected works of William Shakespeare. However, instead of primates and typewriters, we have humans and keyboards. It is my sincerest wish that my thoughts will not be as inane as the vast majority I have encountered.

The true purpose of this experiment is to see if it is possible to link it with my classroom in an attempt at increasing the awareness and comprehension my students have for History...which, if it was not readily apparent, is what I teach. And, since this is not limited to my History students, but rather by anyone in the virtual world who might chance upon it, I hope that those individuals might find something beneficial, relevant, dare I say, meaningful? Yes, I think I dare!

My family and I leave tomorrow [early in the AM] for a two week vacation of several states in our great nation's interior. Although we have a generally idea of where we want to go, we are, at this point, dependent on a "wanderlust" spirit to move us: do we head for Minnesota or South Dakota? Wyoming or Montana?

As we trek, I will post on this space my perceptions and gleanings from traveling several thousand miles with 3 children and 1 wife [who has little love for History]. If they can get excited and enthusiastic about Mt. Rushmore, Custer's Battlefield, and Wall Drug, then I have hope for my students.

Keep your fingers crossed!