... was what I needed at the start of this academic year. Coming into my fifth year of full time teaching was not positive. I felt fairly know it all "been there done that" and just generally quite jaded and very very bored.
The sharp learning curve that defined my first few years of teaching where everything was fresh and I was constantly learning had plateaued. It was nice not to be so worried about lesson plans and classes but what in the first few years had been a flurry of collecting/adapting/creating resources had quickly become well stocked on and offline folders of go-to resources that it was very easy to go-to. However, the sense of excitement and fresh insight and ... learning ... had faded.
Getting to go to the occasional conference etc... helped a bit but I'd missed the last one and it got to January and I just needed something new. So I signed up for a digital storytelling course online which, unfortunately, I have not managed to start let alone complete. However, at the same time... I stumbled across OneStopBlogs and all I can say is wow....
Just a few hours wondering round there and I could feel my teaching lungs beginning to take in a few deep breathes. There were people out there who were really thinking about why and how they taught, who were excited about their profession and most amazingly of all were willing to share completely free their insights, ideas and resources.
My know it all "been there done that" attitude began to fade. I hardly knew anything... I felt like a trainee again. There was so much I hadn't tried... ideas that scared me a little... and this idea that my students could actually learn in my classes began to emerge once again.
It was incredibly humbling... and a little hard to come to terms with... but gradually excitement started to stir.
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