iDream

Why, yes, it's been over 2 months since I've blogged. A lot has been going on since then, including a dream. 


I've been working at the High School working to implement more technology, teach my teachers new and exciting ways to engage students in their class, and learning more myself about technology, students, teachers, and the direction for students in a typical classroom. 


Some days I don't stop. No lunch, no bathroom breaks, not a lot of anything except technology. I have to say it is heaven despite the stress. Not to mention the fact that I get great opportunities to learn new things from new people. 


The stress and pure exhaustion is the reason my fingers have not found the keyboard and my blog site. (Plus being mommy to 3 and wife)


I've decided to write about it instead of avoiding discussing it! :) If you get bored, that's fine - just be sure to scroll to the bottom before closing this window! 


So, the first month was hectic. This is the first school to have a full time "me." (instructional technologist) So, on top of making sure my teachers know basic technology knowledge, I also meet with the technology team about upcoming changes or obstacles. I order new devices and make sure that we have trainers available. I work to schedule professional development and recruit speakers to come talk "technology." 


I've also had the opportunity to go to TCEA (Computer Education Conference) in Austin and hang with some pretty smart, cool people. It was at this conference that I began my new twitter account @txtechchick and found a whole new world. It's like being at a professional development conference every minute of every day. It can consume a person, no doubt. Please feel free to follow me for some great educational apps, Apple news, Web 2.0 tools, and much more!  


I attended an Apple Learning seminar where Apple associates model how to use their devices, computers, and applications in a real world classroom setting. 


I went to a HS in Decatur to see how they have been implementing and rolling out a 1:1 (1 laptop to 1 student). We have most everything in place now to be able to do this if we so chose. It was one of my favorite learning opportunities! I loved seeing the students engaged and the teacher not being afraid to try something new! 


I've also sat in on a textbook adoption meeting. Interestingly enough, many textbook companies realize that our students are digital natives and are making their books, writing, and grammar materials accessible online. Imagine having your textbooks on your computer or iPad! 


As I've weeded through thousands of sites, ideas, thoughts, I've definitely become inspired. I watch my own children grow and learn and watch their ease and ability to use a cell phone, a laptop, and iPad, an iPod or any other electronic device that connects them to the world. 


They definitely learn differently than we did. Their expectations are much different than ours. 

I've had the chance to interact with kids from preK-12 since 2008 and the more I talk with them the more I hear of how they want/need to learn. I made this video for my teachers based on a survey taken of a HS class and their answers to the question "How do you learn best?" 




Another student said it best: 'The minute we walk into school they expect us to come in and turn off our lives. And the first thing we do the minute school is out? Turn them back on. We are digital and live digital lives. We have to go back in time to go to school." 


And I heard a teacher once say " As a teacher it is very hard to change your learning style, but if we are not willing to come into [their] world and teach how they learn, we don't need to walk into those school doors each morning." 


As you can tell, this is my passion (one of them). So on a whim one day, I ended up at Brainpop.com and saw that they had a contest. The contest was to write a 400 word blog about mobile learning and how it might change students and teachers' experiences. 


So, I decided to enter immediately since the prize was a trip to the VERY same conference I'd just asked to attend in AZ. :) 


In about 30 minutes, this is what I came up with: 

iDream

i have a dream that one day our schools will rise up and live out the true meaning

of its mission: ". . . seeks to promote student achievement and preparation for

global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal

access." (US Department of Education 2010)

i have a dream that one day, every day, every student will have the ability to own

or use a mobile device and work together to create music, books, movies, websites,

and presentations that will change how the world thinks, evolves and engages as a

people.

i have a dream that one day even the teachers realize the power lies in the tiny

device they call “evil” or “distracting” and will open their minds and hearts to the

possibility that those tiny devices could be the turning point for a student “left

behind” or a student who isn’t meeting state, college, or career standards.

i have a dream that my three little children will one day go to a school where they

will begin their morning using a mobile device, continue learning on the device in

the afternoon, and beg to stay up late using their device to learn more, create

device that is small enough to fit in their school bag.

iDream today!

i have a dream that one day, every child will have their textbook at their fingertips,

their school books on a virtual shelf, the ability to take and email their notes at a

whim, the chance to interact, touch, and engage with the words they are reading.

iDream today!

i have a dream that one day every student shall be excited, and every teacher and

class shall teach and seek more knowledge than expected in order to prepare

students for the world outside of the four walls of their classroom.

Yes, I did model it after a very famous speech and surprisingly I WON! :) I was one of the 5 winners chosen. My blog will be featured on brainpop.com the week of April 4th AND will be presented live at the conference in AZ later that week. 


So, blog friends - this is what I've been up to since my last entry. 
So much to do, so much to see, so much to learn, so little time. . . 
Don't be afraid to DREAM.