Fourteen Ways

Around 1995, when MCSD decided that teachers should use technology as a teaching aid, I was an Instructional Technology Specialist, with the responsibility to help them learn how use their new computers. Some of my “students” had never touched a computer, did not want to touch a computer, and were extremely frustrated with my directions. In a computer basics class, a very bright and annoyed teacher let me know that I was showing them several ways to do a task when all they wanted to learn was ONE way. More was a waste of time. (I think this was during a copy/paste exercise.) No right-clicks. No keyboard shortcuts. Just menus, thank you. From then on, I prefaced introductory exercises in all my classes with the statement that there were 14 ways to do everything on a computer, but I would show them just one for now. This assertion, never challenged or questioned in basic classes, became something of a trademark. Over the years I started teaching more advanced classes in specific programs and still continued using that statement, which was then greeted with understanding smiles.

My favorite assignment was working with Staff Development’s mentor teachers. That was a loud, funny, and dedicated group. They actually wanted to learn what I wanted to teach them. Wow! A teacher’s dream! We usually had day-long classes in one of Claflin’s old classrooms, sometimes with a lunch break at Rose Hill. During the morning of an intermediate PowerPoint class, I noticed something puzzling about the class. They would occasionally look at each other and smile. And sometimes give a little sigh. That afternoon we started on an entirely new procedure, and I finally said it: “And how many ways can we do this?” Within seconds, they reached into their notebooks and happily held up fans (like church fans) that they had made. There was a big “14” on each fan. And then we all laughed so hard we cried. I loved those folks! I loved them then, and I love them now. Through Facebook, over the retirement years, we have re-kindled that connection, that bond, by our jokes centering around “14 times.” And now one of us is gone. I can’t count the times Tina and I sent a “14” chuckle from one wi-fi to another. Oh, how I will miss that. There are 14 ways to be a friend.

Written for Tina Jones, February 9, 2021