The Paradigm Paintbrush
My career as an educator leaves me inspired and energized on a daily basis. There is nothing quite like delivering a great lesson and seeing the positive response from the students. Seeing that engagement in their eyes; seeing that spark that speaks to an innate desire to learn… It is truly rewarding as an educator to be an observer in this process – as the students begin to probe and question and grow.
I love the journey of life-long learning, and I suppose that is what I mean by “The Paradigm Paintbrush.” I think life is boring without challenging the old paradigms now and then, and mixing it up with some fresh ideas. Painting a whole new landscape or just adding a mountain range or a happy tree here and there – I’m no artist, but the analogy is fitting for me.
To be perfectly honest, I also like the word “Paintbrush” because it reminds me of my home state, Wyoming. The state flower of Wyoming is the Wyoming Indian Paintbrush. It is a beautiful, tough little flower, and it represents the pioneering spirit of Wyoming. I have pioneered my own little path through life. Branching out from the little town I grew up in Wyoming, I’ve worked as a math and computer teacher in the countries of Thailand, Costa Rica, and Taiwan, and I’ve also worked as an electrical engineer in private consulting firms as well as for the U.S. government.
I’ve now got the best of both worlds – my love of technology which compelled me to study and practice as an engineer – and my love of education. These worlds have begun to converge in recent years for me, as I am beginning to focus more and more on ways to utilize technology effectively in the classroom. I only seem to become more energized and my interests and passions have only begun to accelerate as I study these concepts with increased clarity and understanding – so it appears this convergence has been an auspicious one!
And so, just as I’ve observed in my students in those truly rewarding moments, I’ll continue to challenge my thinking, question, and grow – and paint those new paradigms. What color should I use today?
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Lance Riley
Middle and High School Math and Technology Teacher living in Taichung, Taiwan.
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