Confidence

As we begin the work of collaborating with another teacher for our project, I suspect several of you are a bit worried about how this is all going to go. You may feel like you are imposing on a friend or colleague. You may be concerned that your work isn’t completely your own - that you are dependent on other people for completion of your collaborative project. These are all valid and understandable concerns.

I also suspect that some of these concerns come out of a doubt about what you might be able to contribute. Let me put any such doubts to rest. You have much to give and contribute in a collaborative process. You understand the process of design much more completely than most teachers do and have a variety of tools at your disposal to utilize in that process. You have an understanding of a large number of technologies and pedagogical strategies to meet a wide variety of learning needs. Think back to all of the different examples and the incredible resources you saw last semester. You understand too, the value in pushing a bit beyond your comfort zone and so you will be able to empathize with your colleague if they begin to get a bit freaked out.

And you care about quality work and quality teaching. I know that because of the work that you’ve done in this program thus far.

You’ll get a few more tools this semester to help you out - some of the softer skills - but you are ready to go now. I am so looking forward to seeing what you come up with. I know that it will be great!