We are now into the third(?) or is it fourth(?) week of school... time flies when you are having fun... or doesn't. I am really enjoying the beginning of this year. As a Campus Technology Coordinator I tried really hard last year not to be seen as someone who can fix things OR someone who can take the place of the teacher when it comes to technology, but as a facilitator of technology on the campus. In the beginning that was really difficult because people saw me as someone who could make things work (technically) and I really didn't know much. So many times I would be asked a question and I had to say, "I don't know, but I know who to ask".
This year I have already asked many of the questions although there are still things I don't know, but I feel much more knowledgeable when I talk to teachers about various things.
One thing that is exciting is working with the kids at the beginning of the year and learning their names. I am doing an activity with the Kindergarten when they come into the lab for the first few weeks. First they must log in (which takes them 15-20 minutes, but is valuable because they are learning their numbers and letters and lunch number). Then they have to open the drawing program (we are using http://kerpoof.com) and then type their name. It has taken a few weeks to get this far! Then they are learning to make it different colors and different sizes. Eventually they will draw a picture and have their name on it and we will print it in color. In the process I will learn their names and they will practice hand-eye coordination, learn about drawing tools and learn letters and numbers on the keyboard. Cool!I am also working with 1st and 3rd grades on keyboarding. For first grade it is only using two hands instead of just one. For 3rd grade it is traditional keyboarding and we are doing timed tests and Type to Learn for practice. Fun!
Now for my surprise: I had a meeting yesterday with my technology committee at the school and mentioned the idea of a one to one laptop project. I thought that they would react by saying it was visionary and exciting. I thought their complaints would be more about the cost... but was I wrong! The first one was "But how are they going to learn handwriting?" and "We don't have time to use laptops." (rephrased) What do you think?
Janice
Yesterday I heard an interview on NPR about a collaboration between Google and GE to try to find a better/safer energy source by 2030. Eric Schmidt from Google who was being interviewed said that this is very doable. One comment that sticks with me is that the two biggest problems facing us are Global Warming and the dwindling sources of oil. Both of those are bound to be the causes of future wars. It was amazing to think that it may be possible to solve both of those problems if we can find a solution to our huge needs for energy.
