Thinkfinity

Yesterday I went to a session on Thinkfinity which is actually a consortium of websites tied together with funding from the Verizon Foundation. It is a wonderful, extensive, overwhelming resource.

I learned many things at this session, but I think I took away one important thing: a way to approach teachers with this (and other tech resources) that will not be so overwhelming.

Start with what the teacher's need. I knew this, but yesterday I learned more how I can do that.

I have access to all of the past test data through Eduphoria which is an awesome program our district uses to make sense of all of the data. I learned how I can go to Eduphoria Aware and pick out ONE standard that our kids are having trouble with. Then I can go to the Thinkfinity site and search for ONE cool "learning object" (their term) that can be used in a lesson.

I think if I come to a teacher with ONE thing they can do that addresses a need they have they will be more open to what I have to offer. There is just SO much technology available (our school has digital cameras, digital recorders, flip video cameras, a green screen, polycom and skype for videoconferencing, and then all of the amazing resources online). One understandable reaction to all of this is to totally shut it off. It is too much. I am hopeful that if I can approach the teachers with ONE thing that is helpful it will open their minds to other possiblities.