Scott - I have been impressed by the work of Dean Shareski and Alec Couros at the University of Regina. It would be great to start a list of schools that are training teachers to walk into the environments that you speak of.

I agree. I'm one of those veteran teachers who used to be the epitome of technophobia. Now, I wouln't call myself an intermediate as of yet, I am willing to pursue and get more engaged in it. So, instead of running in the opposite direction, I have been fervently taking courses on technology and its beneficial uses in my pedagogies. The more I learn, the more I am willing to pursue more courses. I am a teacher who is extremely passionate about seeing my students successful. I have and will continue to go to extreme lengths to make sure that my students succeed and to make sure that they feel comfortable in my courses. I love when they're having fun, having a blast in my classes. I can engage in tech even though I'm not the expert. The students are the experts. I can help them in my area of discipline, and they can help me in the area of tech. If I wait until I master technology, we'll be on to the web 4.0. I want to reach them NOW. We can help each other, engage in the learning process and learn together.

"One more thing"... as Lt. Columbo would say.... I always embrace the 1970's Vidal Sassoon Hair Products slogan, "If you don't look good, we don't look good". I tell this to my students all throughout the year. If they're not succeeding, learning and using the materials acquired in my courses outside of the classroom, then I'm not doing my job. I'm not succeeding. Their success is my success in return. I'm there for them. I work hard, very hard to achieve this. If I don't speak their language and embrace their language (technology) in my classes, then I'm not reaching them. I want to reach them at their level, not always at mine. I have been working very hard in learning their language (technology). They know that I'm learning and that it is not always easy for me, but they respect me and are always willing to help me. I'm also grateful that I have a principal who is a forerunner in technology. He is an incredibly encouraging, helpful, patient and affirming man, especially with those of us over 50, whose generation was not that knowledgeable in tech. I teach in an awesome school system and am so grateful for that. I am a life-long learner who is on the road to perfection regarding technology. I have failed at times, but will not be stopped by that. I am willing to put forth my best efforts and learn. I had an amazing tech professor at Northeastern University last week who informed us that working with tech means that the teacher is working smarter and not harder!!! I like that!!!