An Digital iJourney … 2013-01-24 18:02:00

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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.

Overload
 
As for being on Digital Overload, which is where I started this blog post today with, overload isn’t necessarily a universal perception. Some of my colleagues are overwhelmed. I’ve learned in my personal experience that to be overwhelmed is to set unattainable goals for yourself. With technology however my goal was always to use something new each time, to build my toolbox or arsenal with as many things as I could find that worked with me and I with them. To create or motivate learners we have to be learners ourselves, as teachers many time we think we have to be perfect. This is far from the truth, my most successful teachers in my Mentoring program are those who tell me they are clueless as to what they are doing but give it a try anyways. Sometimes they realize knowing the step by step aspect that they took to get to the finished project isn’t as important as the experience they had along the way. The result is usually always the same they are amazed at their final project and can’t believe they actually did something like that themselves. It is a wonderful experience for both of us.
PLN’s
 
A breif glimpse at a few aspects of my “PLN” or what I like to call my own Web.
 
After reflecting on the other day’s session, and looking at the what I gained from the experience, I’ve realized my own process of knowing how important is connected learning. For me personally connected learning is the element in which I think I excel, for my students I hope I have portrayed a sense of importance in which they realize learning without connection to others is simply memorizing facts, but the trueness of becoming educated is one which we connect with each other, collaborate and share our knowledge. We are not perfect, thus we may not always have the skills neccesarry to be PERFECT, however we have the gift to find that which we do not know in any means that we find comfortable. Expansion happens on a daily basis, if we are seeking out knowledge we are constantly expanding our networks – to expand is simply to connect and seek that which we need and want to find.
 
The downfall in being a global presence is one we all wrestle with, openness and limiting. For children I find this to be strange now a days, they are extremely open answering questions, as where when I was a student “personal” meant private and confidential. The art of balance with the key, it is good to share information for specific purposes however we must always be aware of the shadows that lurk even in “CYBERLAND (to quote Maureen – from RENT).” I personally say share if you feel comfortable however discretion is a must. I always ask my students, if you post something on Twitter, how would you feel if your grandmother read it? This will only last for about another generation as we are becoming more and more desentized to the art of being private.