I have been working this week on learning a new life skill that may be easy to many people. I am learning to wear contact lenses. The biggest difficulty I have found has been putting them in. My eyes are pretty sensitive and my eyelids close at what may be super hero speed. I am used to getting up, putting on my glasses and starting my day. Now I have to allow for some extra time to put my contacts in.

I really enjoy being able to see without glasses. The world seems different when I have my contacts in. Its a brighter place and my vision is no longer restrained by the frames my glasses provided. However the glare during a bright day requires sunglasses to help me see clearer.

How is this related to technology and Web 2.0?

Many teachers are still wearing glasses when it comes to teaching. They are used to doing things without using technology. Their vision of education is restrained by the frames of traditional instruction and tools. Just as using contacts requires me to make a choice and work at using contacts, using technology in the classroom (and in schools in general) does as well. With contacts the initial work is hard and at times may not seem worth it, but I’ve been told that eventually it becomes much easier. Setting up and using technology in the classroom also require work that becomes easier with practice.

It can be easy to be “blinded” by all of the new technology and Web 2.0 tools. Our sunglasses for technology come from those who have more experience in using technology in the classroom. Find, and talk to those who have been successful in using technology.

It may seem that contacts are a rather old fashioned technology to use as an analogy for using technology in education. Perhaps laser surgery would make a better choice. I think that contacts fit better as the user has to make the choice to use them every day, whereas once laser surgery is done the user doesn’t have the choice.

Here’s a good post on what are the best practices in teaching. Its from LeaderTalk, a blog that primarily deals with administrator issues.

What Makes the “Best” the Best?

Here’s an excellent example of using media to present a lesson about graphing real events.

Check it out at:

Dan Meyer’s Graphing Stories