Wait for it...
Seriously, I just can't watch this enough times. I blogged about this before but now that I found the footage on YouTube, it calls for another post. Someone needs to ask me to do a keynote just so I can play this multiple times to prove my point about changing education. The game is changing. It's challenging. It's rigorous. It calls for creativity and flexibility. That is us people standing in field of uncharted territory, the flying club could be the WiFi going out in the middle of a lesson, or Apple TV dropping out again. We have to be ready, we can't throw a Tiger Woods temper tantrum and vow never to use technology in the classroom again. Now going home and pouring yourself a drink and venting to your spouse is perfectly acceptable. They bought into that when they married a teacher.
Watching the 2015 US Open was entertaining because it was different. Seeing the younger golfers pull themselves up and get creative to tackle the challenges was inspiring. Watching the seasoned golfers who thought they could just play the way they always had and win easily was entertaining as we see in this footage. But this is golf. I am perfectly capable of laughing at myself in my classroom when I do something stupid or make a mistake. We all have to do that or our students will bury us. However, I don't want it to be because I was afraid to try something new or take a risk. I want my students to laugh with me and then figure out how we can do better and make it work next time. They can do that--they are smarter than us most of the time.
So this summer, look at the course you face in the fall and pick some new clubs (apps, lessons, techniques) to use in your game. Have a backup for when you end up in the weeds or the sand (and you will). Stock up on a sense of humor (if you need help read the books by Doug Robertson) and hit BevMo. Whatever you do, realize that the challenge will be fun if you allow yourself to enjoy the game.
Watching the 2015 US Open was entertaining because it was different. Seeing the younger golfers pull themselves up and get creative to tackle the challenges was inspiring. Watching the seasoned golfers who thought they could just play the way they always had and win easily was entertaining as we see in this footage. But this is golf. I am perfectly capable of laughing at myself in my classroom when I do something stupid or make a mistake. We all have to do that or our students will bury us. However, I don't want it to be because I was afraid to try something new or take a risk. I want my students to laugh with me and then figure out how we can do better and make it work next time. They can do that--they are smarter than us most of the time.
So this summer, look at the course you face in the fall and pick some new clubs (apps, lessons, techniques) to use in your game. Have a backup for when you end up in the weeds or the sand (and you will). Stock up on a sense of humor (if you need help read the books by Doug Robertson) and hit BevMo. Whatever you do, realize that the challenge will be fun if you allow yourself to enjoy the game.