OK, so just when I think I have a handle on things and am on the straight and narrow and catching up... I find that for each step forward I'm drawn two or three back. So I get myself organized and socially bookmarked for the first time (entering tags for no less than 300 bookmarks!). I get all of the sites I need at school cleared in our filtering program and can access all the sites I need for class. I get DropBox for my online file storage and download it on my school computer so I can organize all of my duplicate files. I figure out a way to get my cell phone tethered to my computer as a modem so I can get online while I'm at home.
Then I find out that my school computer dumped my files and DropBox, I'm now limited to 15 minutes on the social networking sites at school, and my cell phone just won't support the speed I need to be able to handle class. I think ARGGGGGG! This is the most common complaint I hear about integration of technology - it's great when it works. I feel that I'm a day late and a dollar short when it comes to being able to keep up with it all. Yet I know that if I don't try I'll just keep getting farther and farther behind which is why I'm taking this class. And thus, the cycle continues and I decide to plug away and keep moving forward regardless of the drag.
And with that I started in on Chapter One and checking out graphics sites and presentation sites. I couldn't help but wonder where I would use the graphics and presentation sites and I realized that it's not only about me but where I could see my students using these programs. I honestly don't think that I'll be uploading my current powerpoints to the web unless it's simply for student access but I can see my students' creating presentations for class and having access to them online. The graphics programs would be a fun way for them to create small comic strips that teach a concept or lesson and I can even see using them to draw something like the stages of mitosis... as I begin to let my imagination run, I'm reminded of the notation in Chapter One that discusses not using the technology just because it's there but to choose to be sure that the technology is relevant to and supportive of the content.
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Ann,
ReplyDeleteI certainly feel your pain. It would appear that for each small step I take forward, I sprint backwards about five. I also used dropbox and thought that it would be cool to tie my home computer to my school computer. I liked the fact that I would no longer have to email files to myself, that is, until dropbox stopped working on my school computer. Supposedly, I have a memory issue at work, or at least my computer does. Because of this fact, my computer at school no longer links to the online storage. I am sure that if I knew what I was doing, I would probably be able to figure out a solution to this issue. Unfortunately, I spent considerable time trying to diagnose the problem myself. After taking a small step forward with what I thought would be useful technology for me, I am left feeling leery about technology. Any technology I use has to be efficient for me and my students. This recent failure goes on my long list of failed attempts to utilize technology. Fortunately, I have 31 credits to get a handle on how to be technologically savvy; although I would settle for simply being semiliterate. :)
It is very interesting the way in which technology can make things both easier and more difficult at the same time. I have had some similar issues linking up drop box on my laptop due to filters and access. Though delicious has turned out to work fantastic for me and I have shared this with my department and it has been awesome. After reading the chapter 2 case study it reemphasized the fact that the if you have the right tool for the job it makes is simpler and I you don't know how to use the tool it won't.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be like learning to walk again or drive - we fall alot at first but start figuring ways to move forward.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned that what you are doing is more about where you take the students - I think all of what we do should be about this.