New Teachers and Inspired Classrooms

So the question has come up several times in conversation lately, “Can a brand new teacher set up his/her classroom as an inspired one?” The question is almost always asked rhetorically, with an implied “no” for the answer. Up until now, most of the teachers piloting an Inspired Classroom environment have typically been pretty techno-savvy, veteran teachers. They have been the ones that felt “ready” to move ahead and try something new. But what about new or practically-new teachers, with less than three years of classroom experience? Could they, or should they try to set up their rooms as an Inspired Classroom? Many of the people I’ve talked with will say “no.”

Here’s why I think they believe that. In most cases, they are reflecting back at their own teaching experience and re-playing their teaching timeline in their heads. Keep in mind that everyone that has been in the classroom longer than 7-8 years (with a few exceptions) has lived through the same technology continuum. We started our teaching careers with no computers in the classroom, later added a few desktop computers in the classroom, learned how to use a “teacher” computer for administrative tasks, and then had to learn how to use it for creative and instructional tasks. Once we got that far, then and only then, did we begin teaching students how to use them for creative and instructional tasks. We learned how to manage our students and develop a classroom workflow before the technology timeline began. Our B.C. experiences (Before Computers) shaped how, when, where and why we use technology in our classrooms today.

For new teachers, the timeline looks a lot different. Whether it’s a 22-year-old teacher right out of college, or someone beginning his/her second career through alternative certification, they don’t have the history that most of us do. There is no B.C. in their timeline. Their first year in the classroom starts with computers in classrooms AND with a room full of students who come to school already prepared (and highly motivated) to use the technology.

My question is WHY do we want teachers to learn the “old” way of running a classroom before learning the “2006” way? Just because it took us 10 years to get comfortable with using Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Email, Internet Explorer, etc. doesn’t mean that from now on, there is a mandatory ten-year learning curve for all new teachers. They should be able to skip ahead and join the rest of us without having to “pay their dues” like we feel we had to do.

The big concepts of Inspired Classrooms can be taught to new teachers just as easily as the “traditional” way or the “old” way. Teaching and Learning in an Inspired Classroom requires skills (inquiry-based learning, collaborative teaming, researching skills, differentiated instruction and online communicating) that should not be “put on hold” for a few years while new teachers try to find their comfort zone. We should not only allow, but encourage new teachers to adopt these tenets and learn from the beginning how to leverage the technology and manage the student issues in this environment.

I understand I may be way off base here. As always, I reserve the right to be wrong on this issue. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave a comment and let’s discuss it. Any new teachers out there? New teacher mentors? Anyone?