Coffee and Connectedness

As the November wind and rain herald the not-so-distant winter, it makes perfect sense to huddle inside and find warmth through other means. The coffee house offers the perfect venue. My favorite is Coffee Culture. Set inside an old bank building that sits squarely in the center of the main street in the downtown of my hometown, St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada, it is a popular but quiet place to connect and have a coffee. With comfy chairs and couches, sturdy tables and stools, it accommodates both work and relaxation.

This evening as a bright day gives way to a an early darkness, the emphasis is on warmth through coffee and the opportunity to collect thoughts on the day that was. A number of student presentations in a history class were both well done and thought-provoking. The use of technology continues to grow with each passing lesson. A live stream from Toronto was embedded within a news update, smart board technology was used to enhance presentations, backchanelling via TodaysMeet was done in small groups with a follow-up summary session. These measures each enhanced the quality of work and brought about greater engagement. Still, there were frustrations and setbacks, which only served to illustrate the point that all work is a process and requires perseverance, adjustment and tweaking.

A regular observation is that in a 1:1 laptop setting, students are easily lost in their own cyberspace, and like most of us who use technology, can disappear for long spans of time in their own thoughts and interests. Some of that time can be unproductive. I am eager to pursue methods of greater collaboration and accountability that will lead to greater connectedness, sharing and insight.

Come to think of it, the challenge is bit like the coffee house. As I look around the building there are twelve customers, and ten laptops. Many are paired up, but only one dialogue is occurring between people involving actual conversation. I'm not taking the moral high ground because I am one of those individuals with open iPad, lost in my solitary thoughts. Yet, we all search for connectedness, don't we? Why else would I be situated at the coffee house and not at home? Why else would I be blogging?

Indeed, we are social creatures, often looking to connect with the things that interest us, teach us, and inspire us. One of the unique features in this coffee house is that an original vault sits intact. It is a splendid example of sturdiness, craftsmanship, and durability. It is also slightly ajar. I have come to think that this is a good portend. We should all have space for our riches, treasures if you like, but for us to access them and share them, the door needs to be open, however slightly.