A gigantic teaching window
As teachers, we sometimes forget how large a public window opens into our lives. The Washington Post today tells tales of intrepid teachers in the Washington suburbs who apparently think frosted web-glass obcures all public view of their web presence. Wrong. I wonder, though: Is it wrong to provide a consciously open window, even to keep it crystal-clear on purpose?
Thinking about any web presence requires the same approach as your bathroom blind:
- If I keep it open, who will see?
- If I do reveal something, it implies that I want it to be seen by anyone.
- Is there a good reason to share?
- What others will inadvertently see it?
As a lifelong teacher, however, I ask one more:
- What can I teach this way that I cannot teach any other way?
My first decision would be to post a “See next window” sign on the outside of the bathroom blind, directing people, instead, to a slightly-less-voyeuresque view of my living room. Now, I ask:
- What can I teach from my web “living room” that I cannot teach any other way?
I can teach that I am an art quilter and a writer, a side of me that splashes into view immediately on the walls and in this blog window. My visual-spatial students and colleagues ask: how does this connect with what she does all day? Should I connect art and/or writing into what I do all day?
I can teach that books and TV can share a space in my life. Can they in YOUR life?
I can teach that family is at the center, and a dog closeby. My students and colleagues ask themselves what forms the center of their world.
I can teach that teaching and work sometimes make me tired (is that me on the couch, asleep?). The voyeurs ask: What is it that drives her to work so hard? What drives me?
I can teach that nothing is finished, even the space for the imaginary fireplace still down the list on our “ten year plan.” They ask: What am I willing to wait for? Are time and imagination as important as the final, tangible item?
I can teach that I don’t mind being honest and human, but that I will always try to present my best. A little dust is OK, though.
I even wash the windows (inside and out) occasionally. My windows are frames for viewing both ways, and I welcome the voyeurs. I have thought about what I will show them. I hope other teachers will do the same.
Why frost the glass when we can shed such light?
Thanks for providing a sensible way of thinking about a troubling idea, Candace. At the risk of sounding like my grandmother, we can certainly shine the light if we can be sensible about where the illumination lands. A teacher is so much more than what s/he shows in the classroom. Background, hobbies, possessions, travels, friends, religion, family, pets, food – all of this comprises the complex person who designs learning experiences for important young people every day. My web presence can show a little more of me than ever comes out in the classroom and I’m not worried. I’m proud to share my blog from my travels to England to those who care to see it, even though it’s perhaps not completely educational.
With that being said, I’m still worried about the questionable commonsense of the young teachers in the Washington Post article with Facebook or MySpace profiles that shine a little too brightly on perhaps entirely too much. What are they thinking? That the light’s dim? Off?
Comment by Nancy Slattery — May 1, 2008 @ 12:07 am
Nancy,
Unfortunately, we cannot teach common sense. We can model and explain good professional practice, thinking aloud about our decisions (not preaching about them) and airing incidents that demonstrate the logical consequences of poor judgment. We should not tell today’s teachers, as Ohio EA recommends, to avoid a web presence. (Pen and paper can deliver poor messages, too, but we still use them!)
Professionals of any age and in any field should work to provide a reasoned, deliberate transparency if they choose to offer a clear web window into their lives. Teachers must meet an especially high standard and can, in turn, model it to their students. Today’s middle and high school students, reading the profiles of their teachers, are tomorrow’s newbie teachers and other professionals. Anyone in the classroom today is working at a precedent-setting time, demonstrating how these tools can be used in positive ways (or not).
We need to do it right and “think out loud” as we do–aren’t blogs a great tool for just that?
Comment by Candace Hackett Shively — May 3, 2008 @ 7:35 am
I just posted something similar and then landed here! LOL – great way of looking at it. I always use the picture window analogy (I’m from the generation where you had a large picture window in your living room) and I never even thought of the bathroom window. I love it – thanks for sharing this thoughtful article.
Comment by Dee — May 6, 2008 @ 11:27 am