Which Mentor Are You?

1. How do you prepare for class?

I coordinate behind the scenes with the Digital Atelierista to get equipment ready and prepped (making all kinds of backroom deals if necessary for day-of reservations).

I make sure all of the cameras have been charged, the SD cards are wiped clean, I have two versions of the video (in addition to the YouTube link, obvi), and all activities are planned out to the minute. I have a Plan B, C, and D. I even show up an hour early to test out every single device’s wireless access.

I have my teacher watch footage of previous classes, then we map out several different strategies that we can draw on, mid-class, depending on what’s needed.

We’ve been preparing all along, you just didn’t realize it.

I'm very comfortable with improvisation, so I consult the plan but then kind of just wing it, and it works best for me and my style.

2. What is your approach to unit planning?

Show my teacher all of the unit plans I’ve ever made and then we find the best one.

I make sure my teacher has completed stages 1 and 2 before even agreeing to meet.

Share some really inspiring ideas with my teacher and hand it over to her… and then I keep pushing her to the limit.

Tell my teacher partner good luck and then go get lunch (where I secretly watch her fill out the unit plan on Google Drive, making adjustments and comments to keep her on track)

Blow my teacher’s mind with an amazing and innovative media piece that I made

3. During class, who runs the show?

I am front and center, setting the tone and heightening the energy.

The kids! I just sit back and make sure no one steps on a land mine.

The teacher does exactly as I’ve trained her.

The teacher and I work as I team… I just work a little harder.

The teacher carries the work, I’m just there to give direction and step in if needed.

4. How do you handle conflict with your teacher?

We get drunk together, which may lead to a fight, but ultimately reconciliation.

Confront it head on. We have a private conversation, and I try to find out what’s going on below the surface.

Craft a very thoughtful handmade gift and let her know how much she and her students mean to me. Then we hug it out.

We go out for karaoke, where we both realize that our different styles make us a stronger team.

Quietly, swiftly, with dignity and grace.

5. What is your philosophy about digital media integration?

Do you mean the mimeograph?

It helps make math problems more fun!

It helps teachers keep track of students’ progress.

It allows students to choose how they express themselves.

It revolutionizes education as we know it!

6. When your partner teacher seems frustrated, what would you probably say?

You're an amazing, wonderful person and I really want you to have fun today and not focus on the fact that if one thing goes wrong, we're all gonna lose our jobs.

We make a sacred pact. I promise to teach media to you, you promise to learn. I say, you do, no questions.

Yeah, you see that's the problem. People like going to theaters and they like going to casinos but they don't like coming to school. Why? Because it's a drag.

Life is so very fragile, we are all vulnerable. We will all, at some time in our lives, fall. We must carry this in our hearts, that what we have is special, that it can be taken from us, and that when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls. We will all be tested. It is these times, it is this pain that allows us to look inside ourselves.

Embrace the probability of your imminent failure, and know in your heart that there's nothing I can do to save you.

7. What's your ultimate goal as a DMM?

For the kids to survive public education in tact.

To have the best Convergence project in the history of the planet.

To inspire educators to be better.

For the students and teachers to be engaged and have fun while they learn.

For teachers to be stronger and more mindful.

8. What do you bring to a coaching session?