You think you know a person’s tech ability by judging how old he is. You think you know that kids can use devices because they are “digital natives.” You think you know your students cannot handle working in groups because you’ve never allowed them the chance to struggle and figure out what being a team is. You think you know the best tool for a kid to use for creating, because it’s your best tool, and you’ve never asked that kid to consider what works for her. You think your classroom is about learning because you give grades and your kids get A’s. You think innovation is about devices and apps, because you’ve never considered how different the learning environment might look or how the change in design might be better than any app. You think those kids earning gold stars and bright stickers are gaining something. Sometimes we think we know. I’ve assumed. I’ve looked past the facts, with my eye on the wrong goal. I’ve assumed things about kids. I’ve assumed things about myself as an educator. I’ve assumed I didn’t have time, didn’t need to do something, or even assumed I was headed in the right direction.
Assume nothing, except that knowing everything is overrated. That’s all I know.
