What Drives Us

"I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish." - Chuck Norris

"That drive." What is that drive, and how to we strengthen that determination?

The beauty of the educational system is the fact that we work in teams. Within each school there are departments and curriculum groups, while even outside our particular school there are PLNs abound on virtually any topic and academic area. Elaine K. McEwan writes, it is a school leader's function "to help people appreciate the value of teamwork and recognize the power of collaboratively wrestling with issues related to teaching and learning." As a team, we support and energize one another each day. It is the team effort, among other components, that assists us in our drive. It is the team effort that compels and propels us further. Yet, with heightened demands in both time and effort, it has become exceedingly difficult to dedicate face-to-face opportunities for such collaboration.  

To resolve this dilemma, we require a different drive. Google Drive. As Tom Vander Ark commented at last week's keynote at The Moriah School, "I live in Google Drive." I second that sentiment. Most of my workload is managed through it. From sharing lesson plans and schedules to materials, meeting notes, and resources, we have the capacity of editing, viewing and commenting on texts until a collective product is produced. And while it may be best to meet in person, this tool makes the team process rather smooth and extremely efficient. Drive is truly a remarkably asset. 

As Chuck said, "you've got to have that Drive, and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish." 
And this is how educators use Drive. It is truly fascinating what our students are doing with Drive!