final reflection...

this past week was crazy-full of so much new learning for me. as i previously shared with all of you, i approached this class with trepidation. for the material (seriously? learning something new? going back to school?), for the time needed (hell - i have 4 kids & 4 jobs - when do i have time for this?), for everything!

when i graduated with my MFA (in ‘91), there WAS NO INTERNET… at least available to the average joe. computers were used as a tool to assist in our traditional artistic methods.  creating my own curriculum in computer graphics and photography was sooooooo cutting edge. we thought we were so cool. rio, retina, topaz, tips… all the predecessors to today's photo-altering software. i had my own macintosh plus. then classic. then classic ii. it was a joyful day when i got my own mac iici. i remember freelancing around boston using the companies brand-sparkling-new cannon RC701 still video camera… so exciting! so nerve wracking (it was worth a fortune at the time)! i also loved freelancing around boston assisting publishing houses in the transfer of their traditional paste-up methods onto the desktop. computers were awesome… wicked awesome (hey - i’m from boston… haha)!

imagine my surprise when, after taking “some time” off to have my 4 kids, suddenly there was this thing called the internet! with new ways to design! new ways to think! and the kicker? my 6 years of college and 2 degrees? could now be purchased at staples in the form of a program called Photoshop for about a thousand dollars.

disillusioned doesn't even BEGIN to describe my state of mind. feeling betrayed, i turned from technology back to more traditional (ie: no computers) art.

since then, i’ve dealt with technology as most people have. i’ve got the phone(s) & upgraded appropriately. replaced my walkman with an iPod. surfed the internet, dipped my toe into the social networking pond, learned about arduinos, even have begun to love playing on an iPad. but never really forgiven technology for what i considered a huge screwing over. irrational? crazy? stupid? close-minded? yes, i know.

              THIS CLASS HAS GOT ME OVER MY MENTAL ROADBLOCK.

technology IS still cool. it can be used for so much. and not just for kids-for me. this realization was HUGE. technology isn't my enemy - its my friend and i now look forward to getting to know it even better. i can hardly wait to experiment with new exciting drawing/painting programs. see what’s new in illustrator & photoshop. learn flash. create a website (!!!! this is HUGE!!! i’ve been wanting one for years and have been too [afraid?] [stubborn?] to try and create one myself). use diigo. learn from twitter. create my own blog. explore and contribute to others blogs, websites, keep in touch with others more effectively, et al. i plan on utilizing it in my teaching too - both for me as well as for the students. after reading tessa's reflection i'm inspired to create a site that links lesson plans and creative ideas to core & standards for art teachers... anyone wanna join me??

there's so much is out there - it’s crazy!

right now - this minute?

         i’m thinking kirk was wrong. space isn’t the final frontier - technology is!

adam - you were the key that helped unlock my ridiculous technology phobia. i left friday feeling at peace with my doubts. feeling a little more confident with all this new technology. feeling energized about sharing my new-found knowledge with students, fellow artists and teachers. filled with questions. looking forward to seeking and discovering the answers. unafraid to take risks - to take chances. to explore. to discover. to create. to learn. it's so EXCITING!!!

what an adventure we have before us! i look forward to embarking on it with all of you. thank you for your patience and ideas - we have a lot of amazing learning ahead of us!

Final Reflection

My goal was to not wait until the last minute to write my reflection yet here I am on Tuesday night and just starting.  I know I will probably wait until tomorrow to check it over then publish it.  This is how I have always operated.  I procrastinate until the last second and then get my work done, which during the school year often means I am working on Sunday evening.  One of the things I have struggled with over the past few years is how to separate my personal and professional life.  They seem to go together and I sometimes have a work day that never ends.  One of the most important points I will take away from this course is "to be present."  When I arrive home from work I need to be "home."  I need to spend time with my husband and my children.  I need this time with them.  I also need that hour once a week to myself to try something new.   I picked up some yarn today and am going to attempt a project with it.  Another thing I will take away from our time together is the discovery of Twitter.  I now see the value of it and love reading all the articles I have discovered through it.

Last week was very inspiring to me and I left "full" of so much new knowledge and so many new tools and resources.  I am excited to bring this new knowledge back to the classroom in the fall and to share with my colleagues.

Adam, thank you!  Thank you for your guidance and for introducing me to so many innovating educators.  Good luck with your move and all the best to your family.  It was a pleasure learning with you.

To the Bennington V I am looking forward to our journey together.  See you in September!

reflection 5

                I came into this class with an open mind and nervous energy. I knew this was a tech class and my school doesn’t really have the necessary resources to enable tech in my class. Early in the week we discussed how some teachers are able to use their own personal devices in their classrooms, but I don’t have any, I mean I still use a flip phone. So after the first day I had some trepidation over how I was going to get through the week and what I’d actually learn.

                As the week progressed two things put me at ease. Using technology extends beyond just using devices and beyond what we do with our students’ in the classroom. Technology can help with my professional growth, organization, communication with students, parents, and community and it can help me work more efficiently and save some precious time.

                In another month school starts and I plan on creating class blogs for each of my classes. I also want to try to “flip” a few units in each class. I’ll continue to use some of the resources introduced over the course of this class for inspiration for developing engaging lessons.  

Reflection 5

I really enjoyed our first 3 credit class. It was nice being able to spend time on ed tech tools that interest and benefit us as professionals and individuals. Adam, thank you for being knowledgeable, relaxed and supportive, even throughout our process of welcoming the open endedness of the final project. Two things that surprised me throughout the week: 1. The value of using twitter. I had huge misconceptions about what it was for. 2. Exactly how many tech tools are available. After taking this course, I’m inspired to do the following two things in my classroom: 1. Even more inquiry based lessons. 2. Include more time share and discuss student work. I have just spent the last few days dealing with a phone that had only a blue display :( I’m so glad that I spent quite a bit of time throughout the week organizing and filing documents, photos and ideas. Thank to Adam for helping me with my iCloud!!!

#5 MOVE Forward

I always enjoy tech classes and this one was no exception.  Adam's style of teaching is fun and thought provoking.  I loved the line "What do you want to learn".  It reminded me of a website I ran across and tried using with students this year.  In the spirit of what do you want to learn, http://wonderopolis.org/ is a great site to let kids choose their own learning.  I like the idea of letting kids spend some time each week researching something they are interested in instead of doing assignments.  What I realized from trying this program is that students become addicted to hand holding while learning.  They want to be told exactly what is expected and told where to go and what to do.  IF they can't find the answers immediately, they give up in frustration.  They are afraid to explore.   That is a fear I want them to overcome with technology.

Don't be afraid to fail~ I remind myself of this everyday I teach and step into the classroom. Some days I am prepared and some days it feels like the blind leading the blind.  I re frame my thinking to consider myself a guide instead of the wise sage.  I have had to use this approach with teaching technology. I don't know all the tools that are available and if I waited until I did feel in control over some of these programs, I may be paralyzed and not begin.  So I begin projects often without a clear outline of where I am going.  It makes for many questions along the way from students and we muddle through learning together.  It is rewarding when things work in technology.  I have learned to expect glitches and have a plan B.

THere are so many great tech tools and so little time!  I become consumed with exploring them and like what Adam had to say.  Step away and limit your time.  Computers just suck you in to the world of endless information and fun.  The seductive danger here is neglecting your body!  It is easy to spend lots of time on computers and forgetting you need to get up and move.  That will be my challenge in this new school year....to get organized and introduce new and exciting technology tools but to also remember that while my mind may be expanding....I need to remember that my body could be shrinking if I dont get up from time to time and focus on that part of my world too!  So thank you Adam for reminding me that we are human and have to be present in our lives no matter where we are and to take breaks and to not get sucked in to the vortex of giving too much of ourselves to teaching.  We are all  bright stars that have to be careful not to burn out too fast!  I enjoyed your addition of music and fun videos this week.  Thank you and good luck in Burlington...they are lucky to have you there!

Final Thoughts

One goal I left the class with was to learn with my students.  Not to try and be the expert.  
I am inspired to take some of the risks I have been hesitant to take.  To challenge my students and myself with not having a rigid planned out project, but to explore.  I forgot how much that is a part of my creative nature.  I think the structure and demands that are faced in the classroom everyday can stifle this creative approach.  

I will admit that taking a class on technology did force me to tackle some of my tech issues.  Or at least to remind me that I need to  make the effort to keep up with tech to stay relevant to my students.  This is so difficult when you are working with such out dated, limited tech in the schools.  I will make an effort this year to not let that discourage me. 

This last school year I had a class blog and had students write to each other about books they read and projects they were working on.   I got a little bit of questioning from some about the value in it.  I still stand by it's value.  I am swarming with ideas of how to give students creative choices for writing reports, learning science and social studies, or writing a journal...

Reflection 5

I enter the class feeling like I knew all I wanted to know about technology, however, by Friday I found myself inspired again to learn using technology and to enhance my teaching skills by continuing to update my tech skills.  I am one of the few people in this country who has yet to get an Iphone, ipad or ipod for the simple reason of addiction.  My 75 year old parents have all of thI spent a week at Disney World this past Thanksgiving and I was mortified that so many people who traveled to the "best vacation place on earth" spent so much of their time talking, texting, checking e-mail, checking the weather, planning tomorrow and missing all that being in the presence has to offer.  I was impressed that my children chose not to engage in the use of technology during this vacation and the fact that I didn't have to take the devices away.  They were just occupied by having a great time.  I am so afraid of becoming like everyone else who doesn't look-up from their gadget that I refuse to buy into one.  I don't want to be a hypocrite. After leaving the class and learning all the different ways I could use these devises to enhance my teaching I am eager to get one.  I know I will need to put limits on my use and know when to leave it at home.

Once I allowed myself to let go of my tech hang up I jumped right back in where I left off with my technology use and skills.  I am self taught which makes having conversations a challenge when asking questions or helping others, but I think I managed.  I have shared so much of what I learned with different people I have run into since the class which is not all that uncommon when I get excited about something.

I enjoyed the constructivist format of teaching and learning and I will admit that I have moved away from it for no other reason than conforming to what I was seeing and hearing in the classrooms around me.  I know my passion for this approach stems from my interest in Gardner's multiple intelligence theory of learning, as well as, my understanding of how to engage children in their own learning.

I have to step back and take some advice when it comes to not over doing it.  I have spent so much of my time working on the stuff I have learned mainly because I am afraid I will forget something.   I have added so much to my livebinders to organize my upcoming school year as well as creating a webpage for the 3 schools I teach at.  Each school will have their own link with just there stuff on it along with combined pages that have pictures of projects, tips, parent info, ect.

The presentations were a great way for me to see new uses of technology.  I took so much away and have checked in to many of the ideas.  I will say I am disappointed that I can not find an e-lesson book for art that includes the standards.  How easy would that make life.  

Adam, I thank you for revitalizing my passion for technology as a tool.  I enjoyed your class, your stories, your interests in others with talents.  I would love your play list.  I struggle finding suitable music to play in the classroom.   Did you create it yourself or is there a tool for that too?  Take care, Tessa