Monday, September 14, 2009

How do I keep up?

It is funny that I am taking the tech course when I am stuck in the prehistoric ages in my classroom. It is the sixth week of school and I am still without a computer. To make things even more frustrating I am getting frowned upon due to my lack of technology. My school participates in online daily attendance. I have no computer therefore I cannot take my attendance online. It is not my fault, I cannot help it and yet it is an expectation that is being put on me. Each day my principal expects us to check our email at least once during the day, I can't. I can check the email before I leave for work in the morning, but information is not updated yet. Not only am I unable to take attendance, I am unable to print out IEP forms, fun worksheets, or parent letters. It has been a very frustrating start to what appears to be a very long year.
When looking for new technology to introduce into my room, I looked for items that did not involve a computer. It was a difficult search, but I think I found a fun new device. Now all I have to do it attempt to get the district to buy it for me.

2 comments:

  1. I understand your frustration! I was once in one of those classrooms too. But at the end of the day just think about what a great teacher you are and how much you care about your students. Your students will always remember that they were treated with respect and love.
    Keep up the good work,
    Maria

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  2. Technology is often challenging.

    Chris Dede, in Six Challenges for Educational Technology, termed technology users as "pioneers" and "settlers" in his article.
    Dede wrote that "“pioneers”:(are) people who see continuous change and growth as an integral part of their profession and who are willing to swim against the tide of conventional operating procedures—often at considerable personal cost.
    I took this to mean that taking risks and chances, stepping out of the norm.

    Settlers are "people who appreciate stability and do not want heroic efforts to become an everyday requirement" (Dede).
    I took this to mean the bulk of educators out here overwhelmed, overworked and stretched to the limits to do what they are doing and are hesitant to add something new.
    Dede says these educators "must be convinced to make the leap to a different mode of professional activity—with the understanding that, once they have mastered these new approaches, their daily work will be sustainable without extraordinary exertion."

    Good luck!

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