I admit it. I am a Tech-junkie. A "Tech-a-holic" if you will. I love to learn as well. Okay, I am a genuine nerd. I'm also a control freak. I need to know that everything in my world is under my control.
When I get a new tech toy, I am more excited by that then I am by the chocolate and vanilla diamond ring I received for my anniversary! But, my vision is beginning to get blurry in the evenings. My head aches - a lot - and my brain may be nearing capacity. But like anyone addicted to something, I can't stop wanting more, more, more.
Last week, I learned from the amazing Alice Keeler (whom you should all learn to worship) about using Google Hangouts for Office Hours and how to keep said GHangout open permanently on your calendar! By the way, I don't have office hours. I do use GHangouts, quite often, but I don't have office hours. I was just psyched to learn it! (Plus, if I learn it, I know it, I control it. Yes, I know, I probably need a shrink.)
About two weeks ago, on a Friday, my husband and I upgraded to the new Samsung Galaxy S6...talk about a nerdy weekend! BTW, If you are interested in the differences between the S4 and the S6 here is a great comparison site.
This brings me to my teaching strategy of the past 18 months. When I learn something great from my PLN, I want to use it immediately in my classroom. That doesn't leave much time for in-depth understanding or learning on my part. Sometimes, I sign-up for what ever the newest cloud-based tech toy is, learn the basics and then fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants. This is an entirely new experience for the control freak in me. I used to like to reign over my classroom like a queen over her castle. Everything quiet, orderly and led by me. Now, 16 years into my practice, for the last two years, I have finally learned to give up my control and let the students be the center of the room. Student-centered learning, where sometimes we learn together, and more often than not, we all have an "a-ha moment" together these days.... plus a lot of high-fiving, laughing, and excited screaming of, "LOOK AT THIS!!!" It's a thrilling, gratifying time to be a technology teacher.
Things change so rapidly, but our students have the greatest capacity for going along with the changes. They are not freaked out when I say, "I don't know every single thing about this software, we're going to figure it out together," or "Oh look, Google Classroom is a little different today." In fact, they like the discovery process and the times when they can come to the SMART Board and show me and the others what they have learned and can share with others to make the project easier, faster, or better. Once I outline a project, they choose the subject matter (for the most part) and they also speed away... stretching the ideas, the theme, the technology much further than I would have ever asked them to. The result? More learning, both in technology and in the subject areas, and happy students of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.
This week, my 6th graders were finishing up "How To" Powtoons. The subject matter ranged from How to Make an Oreo Pie to How to Tie a Tie; from How to Field a Ball at Second Base to How to make a Chevron Friendship Bracelet. The results were amazing and after I taught them the basics of Powtoons, the discoveries we made together - like the recording part is wonky and how we had to get voices into some of the projects (a ten-step process), was all a collaboration between the students and me. Me coaching and questioning them, and them figuring out solutions to problems that came up. THEN... and then they explained it to each other! Now, I'm not looking to shirk my responsibility and do nothing to earn my paycheck, but watching the light in their eyes when they figured out the solution to a problem that will help the entire class is priceless in so many ways. I facilitated that. I helped that student get there. It was challeging, fun and very productive for all of us! I also believe they will remember how to use the program long after they leave me, because they did the learning without a long lecture but with discovery and exploration (and a short lecture).
So is the Tech Junkie going to give up her PLN's worth of new stuff? Not a chance. Give up new toys, new software, new gear... NEVER! However, the Control Queen has given up a lot of the control and has learned to love it.
When I get a new tech toy, I am more excited by that then I am by the chocolate and vanilla diamond ring I received for my anniversary! But, my vision is beginning to get blurry in the evenings. My head aches - a lot - and my brain may be nearing capacity. But like anyone addicted to something, I can't stop wanting more, more, more.
Last week, I learned from the amazing Alice Keeler (whom you should all learn to worship) about using Google Hangouts for Office Hours and how to keep said GHangout open permanently on your calendar! By the way, I don't have office hours. I do use GHangouts, quite often, but I don't have office hours. I was just psyched to learn it! (Plus, if I learn it, I know it, I control it. Yes, I know, I probably need a shrink.)
About two weeks ago, on a Friday, my husband and I upgraded to the new Samsung Galaxy S6...talk about a nerdy weekend! BTW, If you are interested in the differences between the S4 and the S6 here is a great comparison site.
This brings me to my teaching strategy of the past 18 months. When I learn something great from my PLN, I want to use it immediately in my classroom. That doesn't leave much time for in-depth understanding or learning on my part. Sometimes, I sign-up for what ever the newest cloud-based tech toy is, learn the basics and then fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants. This is an entirely new experience for the control freak in me. I used to like to reign over my classroom like a queen over her castle. Everything quiet, orderly and led by me. Now, 16 years into my practice, for the last two years, I have finally learned to give up my control and let the students be the center of the room. Student-centered learning, where sometimes we learn together, and more often than not, we all have an "a-ha moment" together these days.... plus a lot of high-fiving, laughing, and excited screaming of, "LOOK AT THIS!!!" It's a thrilling, gratifying time to be a technology teacher.
Things change so rapidly, but our students have the greatest capacity for going along with the changes. They are not freaked out when I say, "I don't know every single thing about this software, we're going to figure it out together," or "Oh look, Google Classroom is a little different today." In fact, they like the discovery process and the times when they can come to the SMART Board and show me and the others what they have learned and can share with others to make the project easier, faster, or better. Once I outline a project, they choose the subject matter (for the most part) and they also speed away... stretching the ideas, the theme, the technology much further than I would have ever asked them to. The result? More learning, both in technology and in the subject areas, and happy students of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.
This week, my 6th graders were finishing up "How To" Powtoons. The subject matter ranged from How to Make an Oreo Pie to How to Tie a Tie; from How to Field a Ball at Second Base to How to make a Chevron Friendship Bracelet. The results were amazing and after I taught them the basics of Powtoons, the discoveries we made together - like the recording part is wonky and how we had to get voices into some of the projects (a ten-step process), was all a collaboration between the students and me. Me coaching and questioning them, and them figuring out solutions to problems that came up. THEN... and then they explained it to each other! Now, I'm not looking to shirk my responsibility and do nothing to earn my paycheck, but watching the light in their eyes when they figured out the solution to a problem that will help the entire class is priceless in so many ways. I facilitated that. I helped that student get there. It was challeging, fun and very productive for all of us! I also believe they will remember how to use the program long after they leave me, because they did the learning without a long lecture but with discovery and exploration (and a short lecture).
So is the Tech Junkie going to give up her PLN's worth of new stuff? Not a chance. Give up new toys, new software, new gear... NEVER! However, the Control Queen has given up a lot of the control and has learned to love it.