Today I worked on a project with the staff at one of our elementary schools. I won’t say which one, but they’ll know who they are. I’d been working with one of the teachers to put together a kick-off for their schoolwide fundraiser for the year. We were prepared. We’d put together our resources. We’d tested the technology. We were good to go. Or so we thought. At 2:30 this afternoon…the afternoon before a four-day weekend, no less…about 20 or so dedicated folks showed up at the appointed time to play their part in this little production. And then the technical glitches began. The teacher I’d been working with was starting to panic. I was too, but I was trying not to show it. Everyone was very patient and helpful, but I really didn’t want to keep them all waiting while I tried to figure this out. So, we tried something a little different. It wasn’t quite what they’d planned and will definitely change the final outcome of the project, but it worked.
What did I learn today? I learned that this staff is amazingly patient and adaptable! But I also learned that when technology glitches occur, whether they are the fault of the technology or the user (in this case, I think it might have been a little of both and I take all the responsibility for that), there’s always another option. Your lesson or project might not turn out the way you had originally planned, but you can almost always still meet your instructional objectives. In this case, we switched from video to still photos. But the end result will still teach the kids what the fundraiser is all about and will be entertaining as well. Sometimes I think we’re so tied to our idea of what the final product should look like that we fail to accept anything else. If that had been the case today, this staff would have nothing to show for all their planning. Instead, they took the bumps in stride and we found a way around the issues. That’s how we need to address technology in our classrooms. So often we hear “technology is great…when it works.” I know as well as you do the frustration of standing in front of a classroom full of students and having something go wrong. When I’m planning a lesson or project I always try to have a “Plan B” in mind. But sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I am grateful for the cooperation of that wonderful staff today. I can’t wait to see their final project. It’s going to be great!
Technology Gems, Ideas, and Facts
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009
Gem ~ a website or application that might work well for you or your students
My blog looks a little different this week. I changed the theme so that I could emphasize the RSS subscription button. That’s the big orange guy peeking out at you from the top right corner. Today I want you to subscribe to my blog, so I thought that icon should be easy to find.
I was going to explain what an RSS feed is and how to set up a feed reader, but Beth Bard has already done this for me. Click here to read Beth’s blog posts about RSS. Beth’s done a great job of explaining how to set up a feed reader. You could also watch this three minute video from Common Craft called “RSS in Plain English”. There are other news readers or feed readers out there besides Google Reader, so feel free to explore online and find another if you wish. Once you’ve set up your reader, come back here and click on the RSS icon (the orange guy) at the top of my blog. Depending on what browser you’re using, you might have to copy the address and paste it into your reader or you might have the option to “subscribe” right from that page. Either way, it will only take a few clicks. Once you’ve subscribed, each time I post to my blog, your reader will show that there is a new entry that you can read when you have time. A few minutes spent setting up your reader now will pay off in the future. As always, if you need help with this, let me know.
Idea ~ a way to enhance your LFS lessons with technology
Looking for a short video to use as an activator? Curriculumbits.com has short videos and slideshows on a wide variety of topics. Teachers can use these videos to introduce or review a topic. Students can access the videos from home in case they miss them in class or just need to see and hear the information again. Topics range from English and Science to Performing Arts and Physical Education. Check them out! (http://www.curriculumbits.com/index.php)
Fact ~ just a bit of information
Bruce is home! He arrived home from Ft. Dix on Wednesday. I understand that he’s already getting his MASD email again, so…Welcome back, Bruce and thank you for your service. Can’t wait to have you back!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to reply below this post by clicking where it says, “Have Your Say”. I’d love to hear from you!
Enjoy the long weekend!
Anne