Forrest Gump Thursday

If it could happen today, it did - computer connections - camera connections - lost drives! UGH!! It is good that the staff sees me struggle sometimes too. What a mess wires can be! We needed to be wired to electricity because batteries don't last forever and the floor is a minefield but people are becoming familiar with using one direction to get to and from seats.

I hope that staff bring flash drives so that if a network drive connection is kidnapped - saving projects won't be a problem!

We had some frank discussions today about the logistics of using the carts in a classroom. It will take some real commitment to the systemic change process to make this technology project work. I know that it is really hard work upfront but I have seen classes actively engaged in the learning process. All I have to do is look at the staff that is attending the Professional Development to see engagement. When I turn the staff loose on a project, they are off and running and also laughing and sharing with "look at this!" comments or "look what else this does!".

Bill Kelly, Melissa Stonesifer, and Neil Brenneman had a great time during the round robin MS Word project and now they know several ways to use and share kids thoughts and work!

Janice Caruso has attended several classes and she is having a ball! Her skill level has improved and she is trying new things that were somewhat scary – not to mention really outside her box. Chef Michael is running away with his Delicious account and, WOW!, he is doing a fantastic job of tagging his additions so that they can be easily returned to and shared with his colleagues - you know - those professional bakers, as well as his students! Joe Marks and Kelly Rupp have been working on connecting their curricula to technology.

Therese, who is a gifted photographer (OK, I know it's her job) and Kelly shared their Photostory movies and it was easy for Joe Marks to mention what a great way to document Senior Projects. Janice mentioned lab reports.

Friday is Wikis and Blogs. I’m wondering who will be the first to use either of these in his or her class. I’m finding the blogging thing needs some real commitment to get into and do regularly. I think that it will be a great amount of fun because the staff are talking about this blog and I like talk. So if I like the talk, I think the kids will like the talk. I’m published!