Why This Blog?

This blog is the repository of materials I use with my students to help them think about what schools and teaching may be like in the future. I will add materials as I find them. If you have suggestions for materials that should be included here, please let me know via Twitter @drjohnhadley or by Email.

I also use these materials to stimulate an ongoing conversation with students and faculty on two questions: How do we determine whether a teacher is "technologically literate"? and Must all teachers be "technologically literate"?

The first question is the result of thinking about the second which was the central issue addressed in a 2007 post by Karl Fisch, author of The Fischbowl and Director of Technology for Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colorado: "Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Dr. Seuss - The Zax

Paulo Cassallo (Class B) contributed this video in her post Sunday, March 7, 2010.It was first brought to my attention in an email from Amanda Sullivan (Class F). Think about these two statements when you watch the video:
Paula wrote: " 'Paula - are you being a ZAX with regard to technology?' I don't want to be a Zax but change is not always easy."
Amanda wrote: "I feel like a lot of teachers are like the Zax!"

What do you think?

29 comments:

  1. Great little cartoon. Stubborn teachers who won't change and stubborn administrators who can't and/or won't change. But the world will continue it's journey no matter if WE change or not. And others will change and advance while we watch if we don't get up and get active.

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  3. Great example of how things change, regardless of our willingness to accept it. If your stubborn, you get stuck in one place!

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  4. Dr. Seuss was and always be a genius! Unfortunately, some teachers will "never budge from their tracks", but we have to if we are keep up with the world around us.

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  5. Great video. We as teachers need to keep changing with the world around us. If we don't change, we will be like the Zax and the world will continue to change no matter what. Why live like that? Why not live and learn as we go. Change is good.

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  6. Change is going to happen whether we want it to or not. I will be honest: I do not like change but that does not matter. Technology moves so fast it is hard to keep up with but hopefully everyone (including myself!) will accept it and move with the advances!

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  7. I feel like Dr. Seuss has a lesson for everything...

    "And when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done."--Oh! The Places You'll Go

    We cannot let ourselves be stuck in a slump, especially if the world is changing.

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  8. I really like this video. We cannot be stubborn about change, change is a good thing. I like change but sometimes it just comes at the wrong times, but then again when is the right time to change?!

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  9. I agree with the comments above, but what I like best is Paula's self reflection when she saw this video. She thought to herself, "Paula, are you going to be a Zax?" I've tucked that in the back of my mind as a lesson for myself. How can I know that I need to change, am not accepting change, or change is necessary if I don't reflect on where I am.

    Thanks Paula for sharing that.

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  10. This is so true, and yet, there are so many Zaxs living around us. I honestly feel sorry for them.

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  11. Dr. Suess provides the best lessons. The Zax can be found in many professions including education. I hope I'm never a Zax.

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  12. I think that this lesson is important for teachers, because we have to be open to change foe each child. You have be willing to understand how they will learn.

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  13. This video is so true. Many teachers do not like change. We, as humans, tend to be creatures of habit. Therefore, we do not like change. Change is necessary in order to keep learning and moving on with the times.

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  14. I love Dr. Suess!! What a great way to teach us a lesson with something as simple as a cartoon. This is exactly how people act. As teachers we need to learn to stop being stubborn and to open our minds to new ideas.

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  15. Wow. This is a great way to show us that we need to move forward and make compromises. Neither Zax gained anything by not changing.

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  16. Michelle is right, Dr. Suess is, and always will be a genius. Paula was very insightful when she posted this. I believe change is difficult for a lot of people (particularly teachers) because self-reflection is a skill that's lacked by many. Being able to watch this video and apply it to our lives is what's going to create change.

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  17. Great video, Dr. Suess video really addressed an on going problem with some of today's educator's. A willingness to hold on to traditional ways of teaching; not willing to change will the advancement of technology.

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  18. I thought this video was a good example of how unwilling people are to change with the time. I think it's very important to adapt to the ways thing are being done, especially with technology.

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  19. change is inevitable and we must adapt. Sure we can always choose to be stubborn but that only makes it harder on you. However, as teacher you are going to handicap your entire classroom by being unwilling to incorporate technology into your lesson plans. The children of today will not be able to even get by without learning and knowing how to use it.

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  20. I think that sometimes we all feel like the zax's, but there is no room for stubbornness in an effective classroom. Educators have to change and grow with the times. I really enjoyed the video.

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  21. I think we all need to not be a Zax. We need to learn to listen and to accept other people's ideas. We should continue to experiment and to learn. I don't want to be compared to a Zax. I do believe that if you are a Zax, the world isn't going to stop and wait for you to respond. They are just going to build the world around you as they do in the video.

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  22. Oh that stubborn old Zax standing still in his tracks, never moving, never budging. Do not be like the Zax do not be him indeed, for the stubborn old Zax is not one to heed. Hard head, cold shoulder and a smug disposition made both silly Zax stay forever in one position.

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  23. The world is going to change, along with education. Dr. Suess has a lesson for everything and I think this one is superb for teachers and those in education. You need to change your ways as education progresses and new teaching practices emerge. There is not ONE way to teach, but always room for improvement for everyone. Don't be a ZAX and stand still in your tracks....be willing for change for your students will be the ones that reap the benefits!

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  24. I think we should not stay in our tracks, and be willing to compromise or nothing will ever get accomplished. We should apply this theory as we strive to be future teachers.

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  25. I think that it is very important to embrace change. Whether it is good or bad, we need to stay on top of it. If it is bad we can change it, if it is good we can always find ways to make it better.

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  26. Change is imminent. It's going to happen. You can choose to be a zax and wait. What happens to you then? You're left behind and you're doing a disservice to your students. Teachers just need to accept it and learn to incorporate technology into their teaching. Even if it takes baby steps. At least the teacher should be willing to learn. Good video to get a point across.

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  27. I know I have had quite a few of teachers in my life that were just like the Zax's. They were so set in their ways that they would not change their opinion about anything, even if it was a better idea or concept. I feel that we can learn from this video.I feel we all could be more open to new ideas and concepts because it will help us and our students in the long run.

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  28. Dr. Seuss always has great ideas and valuable lessons in all his stories. I think we all need to adapt with the latest technology in the world around us because nobody is going to wait for us!

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  29. I thought this video was perfect in projecting an image of how so many teachers today think and operate in the class. I'm really glad that future teachers(students)are being showed videos such as this one, because this world is evolving, and evolving rapidly. and i feel the only way to be positivity effective in the classroom and in the world is to evolve with it.

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