High Hopes

This year one of the true icons in the sports announcing business passed away; Harry Kalas.  Harry’s favorite song was “High Hopes”.  I think people need hope today more than ever as each mouse click in Google Reader brings with it a new problem; whether it is a global issue like the Swine Flu, a national issue like the decline of American newspapers, or an edtech issue like the cutting of the federal edtech budget.  This season of standardized testing itself, brings with it so many negative tweets and blog posts (probably for good reason).

The reality is that the sky is no more falling today, than CNBC led you to believe in September or October.  Education is the business of hope; of struggling with imperfect constructs and striving for better thinking, of meeting students where they are and helping them be all that they can be.   Technology is the business of innovation.  Technology is about improving peoples’ practices, bringing people together, and making life more efficient.

Therefore it is incumbent on the educational technology community to maintain a positive focus and outlook on our work and on our times. Consider a recent tweet I saw about someone being annoyed with countdowns to the end of the year.  Everyone is counting down, but are you counting down to the end of the school work or to a summer of fun and learning.

It is impossible to not be affected by current events but it is your choice if you allow yourself to be afflicted by them.

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