Sharing!!

A classmate and I were discussing "sharing" the other day. In theory, it seems so simple: be nice and share. The end.

For educators, this should be even simpler. After all, educators share knowledge with their students. In fact, they share love, wisdom, and guidance too. Sharing really is a teacher's guiding force because it isn't the point to give only a little bit in order to always be the more educated being; the point is to give students everything so that they are well prepared and competitive in the work force.

So why don't educators willingly share with one another? I don't know this from personal experiences, but my classmate had some experiences related to this, and several of my mentor teachers have made comments regarding the idea of "sharing" in the education community. (Notably that teachers are often very protective of their own work.)

The primary reason I started this blog was to become a part of that community (but like all good things, it has shown itself to have other benefits).

Educators should be passionate about education- in general- and for everyone. For gifted and talented students. For at-risk students. For students with disabilities. For students who have been placed in vocational tracks. For students of every shape, size, color, and disposition. I think educators should be pro-higher education for every single person who says- or thinks to herself- I want to go to college! I think educators should be passionate about life-long learning, about inspiring others to seek out knowledge, to explore curiosity. I think educators should want everyone to do their best and to BE their best.

So why wouldn't educators want other educators to be their best? And if I have something of use (lesson plans, activities, valuable resources), why would I NOT want to share it with fellow teachers?

It sounds really great and novel...and actually, correct. Being a teacher is about more than what one does during the school day. And I may not have thought any further about this, but I had an experience recently that made me really appreciate what it means- and how difficult and unnatural it is for someone like me- to share.

(I'm a nice person- I swear!)

I am an overachiever. Ask anyone. It's true! I actually have a problem with doing TOO much and going TOO far. Once I get an idea, I run with it! I like to be acknowledged for my accomplishments. I like to be "gushed" over. I like people to take the time to appreciate my work...and then I want to hear how awesome it is. I'm only being honest. Believe me, it's very annoying to my friends and family...

I don't want to be average. I don't want to be just one of many. I want to stand out, to be recognized. I want to be the best. It's true. It's who I am.

Recently, I presented my first webquest to my instructional technology class. I presented early so that I could chaperone my daughter's 2nd grade field trip. After my presentation, I shared the link to the site I used for clipart (It's awesome- Free Clipart by Phillip Martin) with my professor and classmates. Several days later I discovered that many of my classmates then used the site for their class projects.

I had not intended for them to use this site for THESE projects in THIS class. I initially thought, "gosh, couldn't you wait?" I thought that, because our webquests had similar clipart- in some cases the EXACT SAME image- surely it takes away from the value of my webquest.

Again, I'm just being honest.

It clicked in my brain nearly right away, though: first, I'm ridiculous because it's not even MY clipart. Secondly, I had done the right thing by sharing the link because it had helped my classmates. They produced really great work. I looked at their projects and saw some unique, creative, and brilliant ideas. I wanted to write their idea down and copy the URLs to the sites they found.

I was amazed and intrigued and inspired.

And I got not only one lesson out of the whole thing...I got two.

I am not pursuing a career in education because I want fame and fortune. I am pursuing a career in education because I want to be a positive influence and have a powerful affect on young lives. It's not about ME. If I do something great, it's because I did it for children.

And if I do it, I want to share it because I can not educate every child- but I care about every child's education- and because I am surely not the only brilliant mind in the education world. I am one of so very many. Building relationships and a community of sharing affects not only those I can help, but those who can help me. More importantly, it helps OUR students!