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Hello everyone!

I'm Colin Davis, a teacher and musician living here in Huntsville. I'm an adjunct professor at Sam, where I teach the music theory and ear-training sequences. I also teach piano and guitar at a music academy in Houston and I'm an organist on Sundays. My wife is a clarinetists and professor at Lamar University and we have two daughters, Adeline (5) and Ella (1). For me, the ISDT program is a really refreshing chance to explore outside of what my primary focus has been for so many years (music and teaching music), to meet knew people and learn knew ideas, perspectives and skills. I have had a great experience in the program thus far, having had a chance to work with and learn from many of you.

I have many favorite educational quotes, but if asked about one that specifically relates to technology education, I like the one from Steve Jobs, "It's not a faith in technology. It's faith in people." It's a quote that might need a little context. It's an answer to some questions in a 1994 Rolling Stones interview:

Nevertheless, you’ve often talked about how technology can empower people, how it can change their lives. Do you still have as much faith in technology today as you did when you started out 20 years ago?

Steve: Oh, sure. It’s not a faith in technology. It’s faith in people.

Explain that.

Steve: Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them. It’s not the tools that you have faith in — tools are just tools. They work, or they don’t work. It’s people you have faith in or not.

I suppose one might interpret this to mean people will ultimately do good things with technology rather than bad, but for me, parts of it can apply to education, like the part "if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them." Not that I'm creating or developing innovative technology or anything, but in some modest way I hope to be able to help people find and work with tech tools, with which they can do wonderful things with their students. It's not the tech I have faith in, but the teachers and students I have faith in.

Comments

  1. McCune Digital Learning BlogAugust 29, 2021 at 4:03 PM

    The quote you choose is one of the best I have seen. I think I will adapt it to my world too. Its the people that need to take a chance on the tools and see what works best in their classroom or setting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian CandidoAugust 29, 2021 at 8:11 PM

    Great quote! As educators we need to create environments that are going to empower learners to take risks and discover while utilizing new technology.

    ReplyDelete

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