Comments on Kim Cofino Conference

About "culture shock" and being a "third culture kid": I believe Cofino is using these ideas as metaphors for how we as teachers are essentially caught in between two worlds: the traditional education system as we have known it for decades and the urgent calls for us to adapt to the changing educational needs in a new era.

Some of us are experiencing some "culture shock" as we adapt to new methods of communicating -- through blogging, through Twitter, etc. In a sense, we are also the "third culture kids." That is, on the one hand, we are working in a standardized test-driven system that has been around for ages. Yet at the same time, we are trying to depart from this system and integrate more "authentic" experiences into the curriculum.

I resonate with Jen's and Joseph's comments about the frustrations they face when even the simplest technology doesn't work. It can waste a great deal of time on learning if a class period is dependent upon unreliable technological resources. I'm not sure what the solution is, aside from, as Jen aptly points out, more money for better equipment. In the meantime, I'm not sure what the best way is to adapt to these "old" and "new" worlds.

On a separate note, I do share some of the concerns expressed by my colleagues about losing personal connections in an increasingly online world. That said, I do believe that it is important, as Cofino advocates, to give students the chance to connect with other cultures -- this is particularly valuable for students who financially would not be able to have such first-hand experiences through travel. Such an opportunity could sustain a lifelong interest in another culture and could lead to more meaningful, face-to-face experiences when the student becomes an adult.