“Technology offers us a unique opportunity, though rarely welcome, to practice patience.”
― Allan Lokos, Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Is it Plugged In?
Is it plugged in? These four words seem to be the answer to just about every question I have gotten these first two weeks of the school year. My computer doesn't turn on, is it plugged in? I can't connect to the Internet, is it plugged in? My Promethean board is not working, is it plugged in? Why won't the projector turn on, is it plugged in? I should ask myself if I am plugged in as I am beginning to feel overworked and overwhelmed in the technology that surrounds me. I am currently a teacher librarian, school technology specialist, and a technology teacher at an urban school in Denver. It is amazing all these job titles can fit into one 6.75 hour school day, but I better get plugged in. After nine years in an ever-changing job, I have come to learn and accept that you just cannot get everything done in one school day, in one calendar year, in one lifetime of teaching. The reason is simple: change.
I am embarking on change in my professional life as I have just started a second master's program, where I am hoping to gain the knowledge to push me further in my career with so many job titles. I hope this two year experience will prepare me for what change is to come in the world of education. I have hope that my students will benefit directly from what I am learning, and that we can grow and change together this school year in the world of online education. This year I am teaching first grade technology as one of my sections and it will be the focus of this blog. I want to broaden my knowledge of primary educational technology and bring what I have learned to others. This is my first blog entry and I am hoping I begin to feel plugged in.
“Technology offers us a unique opportunity, though rarely welcome, to practice patience.”
― Allan Lokos, Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living
“Technology offers us a unique opportunity, though rarely welcome, to practice patience.”
― Allan Lokos, Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living
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Katie,
ReplyDeleteI loved your use of the phrase "is it plugged in" throughout this blog. It made it really entertaining to read!
I am a high school math teacher and if I had been farther along in this masters program, I could have taught a technology course or two. I'm really interested to read more of your blog to see what works for your first graders and what doesn't.
I find it strange that in today's world, where the next generation is very tech savvy, there are still students who struggle with the simplest things. I am trying an online homework system and many of them say things like "it froze". Then I respond with, "well did you restart your computer and try again" and they'll look at me like I just asked for them to hold the weight of the world on their backs. These kids are in high school! Figured they knew all of these tricks by now.
Good luck this year. I'll be sure to read your blog later on in this course to see how everything is progressing :)
Erin
Hey Erin-
DeleteThanks for the comments! I agree we have kids that have a lot of trouble just figuring things out. They are more of the work now mindset then lets figure it out. I am hoping to change that at least with my little crowd of first graders!
Kaite,
ReplyDeleteI love the title of your blog. As an STR and technology teacher in Denver Public Schools I know the variety of hats you wear daily to get the job done. I like the fact that you mention change. Will your blog focus on your experiences only or will you provide tips and lessons for those teaching these young learners. I teach middle school technology so I would be very intimidated teaching technology to younger students.
Hey Michelle-
DeleteI will hopefully be writing both my experiences and tips and tricks for working with technology in the primary setting. I think it is a different world in k-2 even from 3-5th grade so I will see how things progress this year!