A new semester has started and, in addition to my Social Studies courses, I get to teach a bunch of computer stuff. I”m always amazed at this point in the semester just how keen the kids are. I’m showing them a few new things that are old hat to me (blogs, wikis, Audacity) but are new to the kids. Because these things are new to the students, they embrace them with enthusiasm.

It’s a good wake up call for me as a teacher. What we can do with computers is practically limitless when compared with what we had when I was my students’ age (I still adore my 64!) and when I see them react excitedly, I wake up one more time and see just a few of the things that can be done.

I’m trying to spill this enthusiasm over into my Social Studies class. To start off this year I’m having the kids write and record songs about all 22 Prime Ministers. Goofy? Yes, but it gets the kids interested and excited because, frankly, I’m the only teacher just odd enough to try something like this.

The new, the different, and the unusual can create excite. Looking at the familiar through fresh eyes can make us better teachers and better learners, too.