698 more things

I know I'm supposed to be doing the 11.5 things, but things keep getting in the way. About 698 little things.

In my new job as technology teacher at my school (I will miss the books), I picked up a group of 2nd graders yesterday, to teach them the fine art of image downloading and Animoto. Someday, we may actually get there. Seems that this group of 14 youngsters, billed as "not needing core-subject tutoring because they are smart" belong to me for the second hour of the after-school program. Great, sit down at the laptop and let's go. The hour was up before we got to the part where we create a shortcut to the SAN folder. These 2nd graders were not familiar with "Ctrl-Alt-Delete". They could not figure out how to make their left hand into the "hook-em-horns" symbol. Double clicking was a challenge. Digital Natives, my Aunt Fannie!

Actually, it may be the teachers who are the problem here. These kids have been here for 2 years, and do not yet know how to log on to a district computer!

While trying to trouble-shoot (I discoverer the "-" key) several of our recalcitrant laptops, I glimpsed a note that said the rollout for the new laptops has been pushed back. No surprise there. When the system lets me into OWA this morning, I will read the email more thoroughly. In the meantime, our 5-year old, trustworthy Dell D505s have just about had it! One died on the operating table last week, one refused a request to turn on during our after-school session, and one seems to have lost the letter "T".

So, I am taking bets as to what will happen first - New laptops that have been promised for several years, or two 3rd grade classes will occupy the T-shack out back, that has been languishing on the playground since April.

There is hope, though. Our 6 new teachers are new to us, but not to teaching . They also seem to understand a little bit about technology, so that is very encouraging.

Trying to be part of the solution, I have scheduled a class on Easy Tech so that several of us, including several aides, can start to change the situation. I also helped an aide get the cute little Writers powered up so that this third grade may actually learn something about keyboarding. Since blogging is on my radar this year, it would help if the kids could actually find the letters on the keyboard.

Ah, I will miss the books. Wonder what will happen to them?

11.5, Thing # 2

I went to Wordle. This is about as simple as I can handle. I was even able to do the following in this posting, which really impresses the electrons right out of me. The big challenge for the kids may be coming up with the text in the first place.



Wordle wants us to give credit, Why not?: http://www.wordle.net

Time to get ready for school. More to come. I'm not dead yet.

11.5 More Things. Thing 1.

Watched a well-done video about the networked student. The kid does most of his learning independently and on the web, even to going on-line to visit with experts at UC Berkley (It doesn't say that he foils a plot against the world, performs open heart surgery using nothing but his iTouch, and develops a new species of mushrooms, but I digress).

First let's talk about the video itself. I love the simple approach, using paper and drawings to make a video. I think this can work very well in elementary school with the new equipment we expect to receive. Simple and effective.

Next let's discuss the work of the student. While I believe most of the applications mentioned would work best at the high school level, most of the high school students I worked with at my last school would not be interested in thinking this hard, let alone working this hard. This is probably a real good concept for the top of the GT group.

Let's talk about teachers using this. Just today, I received a "all librarians" note from the boss, forwarding a complaint from tech services about the large number of work orders on equipment that could have been solved had the teacher plugged in the equipment or checked the cables! Contrast this with the highly technical and involved projects the video suggests!

Now let's talk about the librarian's role. Sure. We can do this. I don't mind spending all sorts of time helping a student explore the entire universe from the equipment in my room. I love surfing the web. I love helping one or two students explore deep questions like "is it ethical to scream Theater in a crowded fire?" Just one question: Who's running the rest of the room? Shall I quit checking out books to the child who just discovered they can read? Do I quit helping teachers with their roadmaps? Do I ignore the 2nd graders who are running, no flying through the library? Do I ignore the growing pile of books that will not be shelved while I am being the super researcher - Sensei - Guru? I actually plan to do just that, but I am going to need more book carts. It takes less than 2 days to FILL one completely if no one shelves.

And all of this assumes that the equipment actually is reliable. Tech Services turned over 4 brand new laptops to my campus the other week. Trouble is they did not authorize these wonderful instruments of investigation and learning to access our Wireless network, which, by the way, bounces up and down like a pogo stick. And this is the new stuff! My work order for the 4 laptops languishes somewhere between Berkeley and the Tequila Sunrise Bar down the street.

But yeah, I liked the video. What was the question?

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack!!!!!

OK, sports fans, it's time to get back in the game. I have reset my password and refreshed my feeble memory on how to do this.

Kansas City Southern Railroad has opened their new line between Rosenberg and Victoria. the Treasure Forest Railroad is going to be reopening after a year off. We will lay track in accordance with student performance in Accelerated Reader.

So, fasten your seat belts, ..........