Needless to say, that there is such a thing. Many of the people I work with are inundated day in and day out with technology. From their phones, to doing grades, to simply teaching a class. Everything revolves around some sort of “gadget.” When has “gadgeting” become a cause of death? I am not sure. However, as I write this blog staring at my desk I can empathize with many of them and their frustrations. To the front of me sites my new computer, (thank you school). To my immediate left is my iPad, to the farther left is my MacBook Air. Scanning slowing (for dramatic purposes) to the right of me is my iPhone, further to my right is also my MacBook Pro I use for editing videos for the blog. To say the least I am “attached” to these devices. What got me to thinking was this morning I went to write something and realized that the 20 pens in my pen holder do not work, the ink is dried up. And the pad of paper I am writing on is the same pad I had last year when I started at this school. What does that say about my average day … a lot!
Digital Journey
Ten years ago when I started teaching this was a completely different scenario. My records and charts were kept in a spiral bound teachers book. My lesson plans were in their appropriate binders and labeled. Pens were either stuck in my ponytail or in various pockets of my slacks. The phone was in my bag locked in my drawer, and computer, the then ancient Dell Laptop was humming away on my desk, wired to the wall for Internet access. This was life ten years ago, as I created my PowerPoint displays and worked on my transparencies for the overhead projector. My PowerPoint’s were shown through the television that was in my classroom via an S cable, because I did not have a projector. To conclude my flashback story (which apparently I have gone off on a tangent – sorry), I remember the day they brought in a new piece of equipment and asked if I would figure out how to use it and what to do with it. “IT” was still in the box and was huge. I pulled “IT” out of the box, with the help of Dr. G our science teacher and my team teacher. We both just starred at “IT” and shook our heads. He huffed and stated, “Well, have fun with ‘IT’” and quickly exited the room. “IT” for those who are still perplexed by what large gift my principal had just bestowed on me was the start to where I am now. “IT” was a document camera.
Now if you are wondering how did a document camera lead the way to a complete overhaul and ultimately change my career course, that is simple – it literally was that light bulb moment for me. My own personal AH HA moment with the powering up of the document camera. It allowed me to change my classroom from a traditional one to that which was student centered and technology infused. Over the years I added more “weapons” in my arsenal. These toys, devices, tools – whatever you call them – became part of who I was as a teacher and the way in which I delivered or more so guided my students into discovery.
I tell this back-story because it is a simple display of evolution that has taken me from one aspect – my starting point – to where I am today. This also explains and sets up for my own network, and how I see it expands to expand beyond those elements which I use, but also the people in which I connect with . I am working on a Prezi for my journey, however I have included in the diagram my own version of my Network.