21st Century Educator

Today I had to ask for help using technology.  I know, I'm supposed to be embarrassed, I am the expert at my school on using technology, but really there are things I don't know how to do.  I don't know how to use a fax machine.  They were never a technology I considered useful, and in today's world of email, I consider them somewhat archaic.

In any case, I had to send a fax today because it was the only way I could send this particular piece of information to a government ministry, don't get me started on that.  I went to the front office and asked our really wonderful administrative assistant if she could help me.  Her jaw dropped, and the jaw of a colleague who was standing nearby dropped as well.  "You don't know how to use a fax machine? But you're like Mr. Technology! You should know this!"

My colleague patiently showed me how to send a fax, a skill I'm sure I'll promptly forget.  It looks pretty easy but given that I have to send about 1 fax every year, it's not a skill I get to practice often and I'll probably have to ask again next year.  When my colleague finished showing me how to use our school's photocopier, which I discovered doubles as a fax machine, I was happy and thanked her.  She did a fist-pump, exclaimed, "Yes! I showed Mr. Wees something with technology," and then went on to give the administrative assistant a high-five.  They were both excited that they got to show me something.

Now keep in mind, these are grown adults, and their reaction might not be the same as your students' reaction, but let me ask the question: How do you think your kids would react if they got to teach you something?  Do you think that they would remember that experience? Would it be worth not looking like the expert for a couple of minutes?

• David Wees's blog

About David

David is a mathematics teacher and a learning specialist for technology at Stratford Hall in Vancouver, BC. He has been teaching since 2002, and has worked in Brooklyn, London, and Bangkok before moving back to Canada. He has his Masters degree in Educational Technology from UBC, and is the co-author of a mathematics textbook. He has been published in ISTE's Leading and Learning, Educational Technology Solutions, The Software Developers Journal, The Bangkok Post and Edutopia. He blogs with the Cooperative Catalyst, and is the Assessment group facilitator for Edutopia. He has also helped organize the first Edcamp in Canada, and TEDxKIDS@BC.