I feel that FCPS is trying to attempt to bring teacher together by using blackboard as a connection for teachers to share their ideas, projects, information and more. But I don't feel like all teachers are taking advantage of that. I myself being one of them. I'm not sure if it's because I like to have face to face contact or sharing all of my work for everyone to use and see makes me uneasy. I think another reason is due to the fact that I wasn't comfortable using all the tools we were given. When I'm not comfortable with something I tend to ignore it. I sometimes have the 2 year old mentality. If I can't see it, it's not there.
During my reading of Chapter 6 in Will Richardson's book a quote caught my attention. This is found on page 88. "It's starting to feel like you need your own army to help you keep track of all the information you might need or want." With the many tools we have available to us today that are suppose to make things "easier" I feel like it is adding more work to my already heavily loaded schedule. Where is my army and why do I need to learn all these other things to further complicate my school life? As I continued reading I found that the more a tool is used the easier it will become because I will begin to be familiar with it. Something many people don't do is spend the time becoming familiar. As a person living in an instant gratification society I don't like waiting. This is something I am going to have to do if I want to use this technology in the classroom or my everyday life.
How to i find the time to set up all these great tools and become familiar with them when I am trying to complete my masters (keep up with all the work), teach, plan a wedding, and everything else life throws at me? Have you found it works for you and are comfortable? How much time does it really take?
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I think I am just waiting till after worlds and graduation. Storing all we are learning until I have some space and I can think about it. Because I do think these tools are great but I agree that they take time to get comfortable with so we can use them.
ReplyDeleteI need an army too...so many passwords, usernames and places to check! Blog, ITSopedia, advocacy, portfolio, module 2, school email, FCPS Blackboard. Whew! Time to go check off the next thing! (which goes with the first part of this - I'm just getting through them and getting the basics but I need more time to think about how to use them)
Thank goodness I am not the only one that feels this way!
ReplyDeleteFocus and organization HELP with some of those "army" ideas, but I don't know anything that is "secure" that will help with all of it. As far as trying to use all of the resources and ideas...you can't. There is no way one person can use all of the resources available for everything (or even in one week!). I am on a team (I don't think you plan with a team..) so we sometimes split up the resources and search for ideas on the curriculum area we are working on. We don't do this every time and it doesn't always work, but that's how we can use many resources. When I don't have my team working with me...I look at maybe two or three and use them. TOO many resources all spread out...apparently too much of a good thing IS stressful! :)