Dept-ditties

So the department rolls on with advancements in technology. Over the past weeks, a handful of English members commented on interest in tablet use. I continue to use it visible, like at department meeting, hoping to illustrate tablet use to more individuals. Still, other technological opportunities have been seized, while others fell flat.

Quickly today, for example, I showed Sabra how to better use labels in her blog; other individuals blogging in English are Gina and Leah, whom I helped initiate into the blog-land during a lunch area. This occurred more by orchestrated happenstance as I was working in the office when I overheard Leah discussing blogs and jumped on the moment. Getting started blogging really only takes a lil' nudge. Others, too, have ventured into blogs with ease of trial and error.

Many more of my projected offerings to show or teach an element of technology die cold deaths. Most teachers during a free or lunch period reject the immediate "let me show you...." unless already answering a question that necessitates the computer in front of us. We are all busy and scheduled into slots of time. Even more, out of school day hours are less used, though more advertised via Mike Bachrodt. I am talking more to Mike about ideas on getting teachers to accept invitations to learn more about what technology will be in the future classroom that we will all be using. For now and with the greatest success, I snag moments of sharing to pique curiosity for more; eventually, someone will ask for more training on a given topic or tech. device.

There is always so much more and new to learn that it is difficult to keep abreast of it all. The "it" being technology, as well as course content information. We continue to push ourselves to be better teachers with the content; we develop new aspects for each class after assessing successes; we grade; we learn every new technological advancement that is available to us.

Right. Not quite on that last point. There simply is not enough time in the year to do it all. My personal frustrations lie in the adage, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, as well as balancing my own learning and work. Overall, I sincerely believe we are doing a fine job as teachers with keeping in line with new technology; and I believe as tech. coaches we do make a difference. We're all good.