This is an opportunity, not a barrier

Who could have imagined just a few weeks ago that schooling would look today like it did then? Typically, when we talk about what teaching was like 'way back then,' we mean decades. Today, 'way back then' was March 13! An aside - that was indeed Friday, the 13th. Coincidence?

My, oh, my, have times have changed.

I wish Prof. Clayton Christensen were still with us for many reasons, but in particular, because I'd be quite interested to learn of whether, and/or how, he would associate disruptive innovation with the last week of America's schools. What we knew as the norm was certainly disrupted.

Let's agree that this disruption is an opportunity. Let's not view it as a barrier. Of course, there are struggles to overcome, struggles we may have never anticipated, but isn't overcoming struggles the essence of learning? Is that not how we learn? See, isn't this just another learning exercise? Forgive me, I mean learning opportunity?

Take a moment to reflect on the innovation we have seen in the last week. I've been tweeting about our faculty's creativity in blending not necessarily old, but certainly not contemporary, technology with Zoom and Google Meet class sessions. Please join our dialog at #LaTechTeacher.

We will seize this opportunity. We will be more innovative problem-solvers on the other side of 'this' (what history calls this period in time is TBA). We now have evidence that change is not bad and that we can implement it not over years but over hours. Interesting new standard, isn't it?

I invite you to join us in celebrating innovation, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. We especially want to highlight stories of how our candidates are serving their school communities during this time. Join us here and on social media to share the stories. In other words, 'let's make the most of this beautiful day.'

Dustin Hebert, Chair, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership at Louisiana Tech University