I Can't Believe It

I can't believe the semester is ending! Here is where I am at- As for my EdTech class I don't want it to be over because I feel like there is still so much that I want  and need to learn. Technology changes so fast that by next semester what I learned in my class will be obsolete. I wish we could keep the survey class during the  whole program so that we can learn updates and great new tips and tricks. As for my research class- my professor is very helpful and understanding, but I still must admit I dread that class. Every time I walk in it is a reminder of how much of my paper isn't done =( BUT like all things- I need to be focused and  bunker down to do what I need to do.  
I used to think home was the best place to get my work done, but I am learning the hard way that that is not true. It is easy to get writer's block when the laundry buzzer is going off or you hear your family's stomachs growling because you haven't made dinner yet. It is all about finding that physical space that gets you going and I need to find mine quick! =)  

My Masters - Check in part 2

Let me start off with my frustrations so we can get to the good stuff- so far I have good news that I only have 2 frustrations right now. The first one being is that I realllly want to tear my hair out when it comes to working on my "Chapter 1" of my masters paper/project. I am sooo relieved to know that I am not the only on who is behind in my research class, but that relief is cut short by the fact that I still have a lot of writing and research to do. I am grateful that the last time my class met, I got a lot of good help and input from my teacher and classmates. However, how in the world did I spend 2 and half hours trying to edit/fix/"perfect" 7 sentences! LOL I seriously wanted to shut my laptop and cry. =( I know I'll be fine. It's just been a long time since I wrote a serious paper and  I am praying to God that I still got it =) 

My second frustration which is sort of small is that I am really trying my best to get used to this Twitter thing. No matter how many times I tried to participate on Twitter before , there was always an acronym or lingo that would pop up every few characters and would stop me dead in my tracks. More and more I am seeing and understanding how huge this Twitter "thing" is. In the same respect I'm slowly VERY slowly  starting to not get so intimidated by it anymore. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? This leads me to one of the things I AM enjoying. In my very first Twitter chat I cannot tell you how much I learned and how many great resources I was connected to. Since that chat I have been emailing back and forth a few people who I believe can help me with my research. Unbeknownst to me one of the guys turns out to be a big influence in the EdTech world and here he is: Retweeting something I posted??? and favoriting a LEGO picture I tweeted?? I mean- Really??? It is a pretty amazing feeling.  I am not able to believe how easy it is to make connections.  But my favorite part is learning/knowing  that people from all over the country have the same frustrations and common likes and I was able to connect with them. To know that you are not alone in your way of thinking is PRICELESS and officially has converted me to Twitter fan status.

One of my cheat sheets! 

My Masters - Check in part 1

I cannot believe I am finally working on a Masters! Woohoo! For years everyone was encouraging me to go for it, but I just couldn't figure out how I could possibly afford it and how in the world it would fit in my schedule. Now after 10 years it seems like everything happens for a reason so here I am! First off I LOOOVVVVVEEE to learn. I have always told people that if I could get paid to go to school as a career that that would be the job of my dreams. Now I've made it really clear in other assignments that EdTech was not my first, second nor third pick, but I knew that in order for me to be viable in the future of education or any work place for that matter- that Technology was going to have to be that second language that I needed to get familiar with. 

To tell you the truth I think that my progress through the program so far has been clouded by my anxiety about different school issues. I have been having issues with the financial aid on my workplace's end and the changes in schedules and not knowing a definite summer schedule has really been stressing me out especially since I work over the summer. I really need to plan ahead about what I am going to do for June July, and August in order to be in this program but its a waiting game. This has kept me from enjoying this program experience to a degree. I am not a quitter though and I have faith that everything will work itself out.

Onto the upside! =) You want to hear the coolest thing ever? So you know how at most schools you have those handful of teachers that just happen to be good at technology so what happens? They end up being the "Tech Group" whether they signed up for it or not. They are the ones the faculty and staff go to for help. They are also the ones that teach "Tech Tips" at Faculty/Staff Meetings. Well ever since I've been in this program- the next day after each evening class I am running up to a few of them to teach them things that I learned the night before. Whether it is a new App or "Add -on" or website. At first I could tell they were a bit annoyed because they are so busy but now it has gotten to the point that they come to my office now saying "Goodmorning! What new stuff do you got for us?!" haha and the funny thing is that some of those colleagues went through the EdTech program with Touro also! It just shows you how ever changing this field is.  I really enjoy being able to help them out and I think we all get a kick out of it because I was not someone they would EVER expect to go the EdTech route, but I'm glad I did =) 

When I finish my Masters this is the shirt I want to get!

As Usher would say "These are my confessions..." Ed Tech Masters- It's more than "getting good" at Technology

I have to confess! I'm not exactly a Tech Lover- I see myself more as a Tech Liker. Why did I choose this degree then? 1) because I was informed that in order for me to continue to teach that I had to continue my education and go for a Masters.  2)  I know that Technology is only going to be moving in one direction in Education and that is forward so I need to get on it. Using an online gradebook  or class website cannot be the peak of my technological skills. =) Joining this program went quick and so far I am really enjoying it. In only a few classes I have learned so much and I know it sounds cheesy but I'm starting to feel empowered! Because of this, I wanted to know what can I actually do with an EdTech degree so I found these two videos. After watching these I feel excited and now more then ever I want to learn more and more so that I can share my knowledge with my colleagues and my students. What is most exciting is that these videos reminded me that teaching doesn't only have  to happen in a traditional classroom. I actually forget about that a lot. I feel good knowing that there are other avenues I can venture into if needed or if I wanted to.

Video Games and Education 

I will admit that I have always been a video game lover. If only my original Atari or original Nintendo NES  were in still great working condition I'd be a very happy girl. I found this video so interesting because he has such a great take on what video games are and how learning happens. Learning is happening in vid games all the time, kids can easily get  addicted to playing these games and do  play them  for hours on end. Imagine if we could get our students to be addicted to what's going on in the classroom. James Paul Gee is right when it comes to the definition to a video game- all it is is a set of problems that you must solve to win.  Education is essentially that. The prize for winning a video game is a sense of accomplishment, bragging rights and  hopefully an unbeatable score. As adults we know what the "prize" is from learning- a future. Sadly, most students can't see it that way. Imagine technology in the classroom and all that it can accomplish. Imagine all the "games" out there that are made to teach Math, History, Science and so on. How amazing is it that finally something that kids love (video games) can be used to help a student learn the things we want them to learn and they get to enjoy it at the same time. Like Gee says imagine curriculum built so rich that just by going through it, the way we would perceive ways of assessment would completely change. It is mind blowing and I Iook forward to the time we get to that point.

Going COMPLETELY Paperless- 90% convinced

This commercial put the biggest smile on my face because it's a great portrayal of how I feel about the idea of going paperless especially in the classroom. This year our school started the 1:1 iPad program and it has been a definite journey so far. Don't get me wrong, it has been the best thing for my classroom in the sense that it has absolutely helped my students and myself pass comfort zones, think outside of the box and finally read each others minds! The most amazing thing about it though is that once in a while (once I again I'm being generous here=) the roles flip and the students end up teaching ME how to do cool things with the iPad or end up being my IT help. They love the role reversal and I am okay with that. It has actually built more relationships among the students and with me as we all came into the new year a  bit Techno-phoebic. That vulnerability turned into everyone wanting to help each other succeed and not feel like "idiots holding iPads" . 

On the other hand, there are times that I definitely feel like Emma in this commercial. I still believe there are some things that technology can't replace. Technology can't replace writing skills. I feel very uncomfortable knowing that kids are so quick to "auto-correct" and "spell check" their work. It is literally like breathing to them. This will be my 15th year teaching and in the past few years I have seen students' writing decline. This year I decided to continue to have my students' journals in writing and not on the iPads. If I had a penny for every time I see writing like " 2day has been a gr8 day so far. i got to c my crush and u wouldn't believe what he sed to me" - Forget financial aid! I could pay for everyone's EdTech degree in this class! =)

Am I a little bit old fashioned??? and if yes, is it bad?

The History of Technology in Education

Who doesn't love a cartoon? To tell you the truth I think that is what first attracted me to this video LOL. But in all seriousness this video really opened my eyes in #1) how long technology has been around and #2) how evergrowing it is! It blows me away that overhead projectors were around in the 40's. How did I only notice them in the 90's?!  
Also, hearing the sound of dial up brought back so many memories! Memories of excitement of waiting to get online to chat on AOL with a crush or trying to strike up conversations with classmates in the wee hours of the morning. It also conjured up memories of impatience and annoyance as technology got even better and "high speed internet" was coming around and yours truly still didn't want to give in and cough up extra money to upgrade ;) This video got me thinking about how much technology has changed and how I never paid attention. I have always been 5 steps behind (I'm being generous here- it's more like 10 steps) the technology game. We are talking about the girl who when I finally received a smart box in my classroom with a document camera, I was in HEAVEN!!! I couldn't believe how much this new gadget made teaching easier and more fun for me and for my students. So much in fact that if my coworkers wanted to chat with me - this was my tag line:

I'm not 100% sure if all the facts of this video are true (yes I know- bad research skills 101) regardless it opened my eyes to want to pay attention more and I hope it does the same for you.