Earlier this year, my department adopted a new data-tool. It generates lovely reports that teachers and principals can use to understand numbers and stuff.
It’s also super-complicated and the forum is fairly sparse. My search for support also took me to YouTube, which was equally fruitless.
I found myself grumbling as I attempted to wrangle it into a form I understand:
This is stupid.
I don’t need this.
My life has been great before this system; how is this going to make it better?
But I stuck with it; my director expects me to learn how to use it, and that’s enough reason for me. Also, I’m aware that a positive mental attitude will make this more likely to stick.
After a couple hours, I realized:
This is how some teachers feel in every tech workshop I do.
Who cares about Google?
My class is just fine without Desmos.
Students don’t complain now, so why should I learn about Haiku?
After lunch, I had another epiphany:
This is also how some students view math class.
Who cares about completing the square?
I have basketball practice later, I can’t focus on fractions.
I have an A already; why should I care about periodic functions?
Learning is hard. It’s your attitude that dictates your success.
Change your attitude, stick with it, and the learning will come.
~Matt “This still ain’t much fun, but I’m pressing through” Vaudrey
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