Snowed in and out of ideas

Usually, I set a goal to write two times a week about something tech related.  I have been snowed in so much lately that I can't try tools and see how they work with my students.  I am stuck at home with the computer and Netflix and not much of a chance to experiment before I share.

We are out again, our 12th day since Christmas break ended.  Probably going to miss the rest of the week. It has been absurd to say the least, and it has made me so behind that I can't keep up with my blog and my school work.  I am hoping I can spend a little time today while I am drifted in to reflect on a few things I have come across of late.

I have been spending most of my free time at school working with our video for the Follett Challenge.  I had to learn how to use Camtasia, I figured I may as well.  The school bought it for me, so I might as well try to use it.   I really like the software and I think it so easy to work with.  I have spent a really long time assembling a video.  I think what we have is going to be awesome and hopefully, fingers crossed, we can win some money.   Our library is such an antiquated mess. My shelving dates back to the 60s, it is all high and double sided.  I would like to win enough to replace what I have and add exterior wall shelving around the entire library and try to do away with as much shelving in the middle.  I would like to make reading spaces and work zones.  I would like to start weeding out more of our nonfiction, some of it is so old and unused. I would like to revamp the coffee shop as well.  A gal can dream, right?

So, that is what has taken me away from my blog- working on grants and contests.  Hopefully, I can start spending more time doing some research and get back to blogging.

The importance of PD in technology

I have spent a lot of my summer in conference mode.  I have done some online lessons, some free conferences and also some national ones.  All of them have stressed the need for professional development to make a 1:1 program a success. I decided to dive into it myself.

Starting this year, I will be offering a 15-20 minute web 2.0 lesson each Tuesday.  Teachers can come and go as they please, attend or skip if they wish.  My goal is to see everyone at least once and that everyone tries one of the tools, even just for a lesson.  If we build this into the weekly routine, maybe our students and staff will embrace the technology.   There are so many tools out there that can be used in the classroom.  Some can be for the teacher afraid of tech and some can be for the tech vet.  No matter what the tools, there is something for everyone.

We went 1:1 two years ago.  We had a few summer PDs where there was an info overload.  We were shown a hundred tools at a mile a minute and for many, that was way too much.  We have taken some baby steps, some have climbed in the shallow end and done a little wading and some have jumped right into the deep end and started going to town. I am proud of our teachers for doing what they can to embrace this change, it's hard.

My goal is that the 1:1 program will flourish this year and I am hoping my Tech Tuesdays with little bits of info at a time will help guide that growth.