Last night was the first time the KE Tech Club met. What a great experience. There are 28 eager 4th and 5th graders who want to be a part of the club. We have divided them into two groups because 28 is just too many to handle. So, last night the first 14 met. We had invited them to bring their own digital cameras if they had one and their flash drives.
Phyllis shared what it takes to make a good picture - she talked about composition, rule of three and angle. Then we turned them loose in pairs and invited them to roam the rooms and take pics. They had so much fun!!
Of course there were techie problems - one of the digital cameras would not connect to the computer and didn't have a memory card or instructions. We had to apologize and let this sweet little girl know that there was nothing we could do - and she and her partner took another turn with one of our cameras.
After a bit of time we called them back to the computer lab and taught them how to download their pics to the computers in iPhoto. I showed them how to crop, get rid of red eye, adjust the lighting and play around with some of the effects. They got really involved in that and suddenly the hour and a half was gone and it was time to show them how to save their pics to their flashdrives and get ready to go home.
Today I had lunch with 4 girls from my class and one of them was sharing what we did in Tech Club. She was so excited one of the other girls (not in the club) asked if she could join. I tried to keep her interested and understand that she could join next year!
We have 6 sessions with each group this year - and hope to start much earlier next year. We don't even have all the equipment yet -we are still hassling over the video camera. But, I played with the new camera tonight. I have a lot to learn!!
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
I'm Trying...
I'm working on changing too many things in my world right now. It's driving be a bit crazy...ok - completely crazy!
I am working on 3 different major elements at the same time... I am co-creator and teacher for a new Tech Club which we hope to get up and running in 2 weeks. I am working on an application for Grad. school which is due next week. I am rewriting my entire SS curriculum for the rest of the year.
WHY!!!
That was my husband shaking his head and wondering out loud...
To that I answer...because I can.
I love new things. That is one of the most appealing parts of teaching. I love to create new ways of presenting the same old facts. New techniques for reaching my students. New approaches to the same old problem. I love that.
But, I have all these ideas and I need someone else to help me carry them out. Or, I need a deadline to force me to carry them out. Or I need a moment to plan how to carry them out. See a theme here?
Really, it's not that big a deal until I line them all up at the same time and realize that there is a reason I feel a little crazy!
So, I create my lists. I steal moments at night. And I ignore the problems and write. Each of these helps my sanity a little bit. And then I tackle the issue.
I usually realize that the anticipating the creating is so much harder than the actual project. I often have much of the unit or process in my head before I ever put my hands on a keyboard.
So, I can check things off my list. And add new ones in it's place.
That' what teaching is for me. I am a work in progress just like my kids learning is. I love to learn along with them! Maybe that 's really the secret!
Anywal, it's time to tackle my list!!
I am working on 3 different major elements at the same time... I am co-creator and teacher for a new Tech Club which we hope to get up and running in 2 weeks. I am working on an application for Grad. school which is due next week. I am rewriting my entire SS curriculum for the rest of the year.
WHY!!!
That was my husband shaking his head and wondering out loud...
To that I answer...because I can.
I love new things. That is one of the most appealing parts of teaching. I love to create new ways of presenting the same old facts. New techniques for reaching my students. New approaches to the same old problem. I love that.
But, I have all these ideas and I need someone else to help me carry them out. Or, I need a deadline to force me to carry them out. Or I need a moment to plan how to carry them out. See a theme here?
Really, it's not that big a deal until I line them all up at the same time and realize that there is a reason I feel a little crazy!
So, I create my lists. I steal moments at night. And I ignore the problems and write. Each of these helps my sanity a little bit. And then I tackle the issue.
I usually realize that the anticipating the creating is so much harder than the actual project. I often have much of the unit or process in my head before I ever put my hands on a keyboard.
So, I can check things off my list. And add new ones in it's place.
That' what teaching is for me. I am a work in progress just like my kids learning is. I love to learn along with them! Maybe that 's really the secret!
Anywal, it's time to tackle my list!!
Our First Workshop presentation
It happened this week. I and my techie cohort presented or first presentation at a state level conference.
This was a very big deal for us! We wanted things to go smoothly - and they really did...
But - we had the second to the last workshop spot on the last day. Our room was down a hallway - away from the main room. And the crowd wasn't all that large.
But, that didn't really matter. We did it! We shared what we knew and there was a group of people who seemed to want to learn from us. That is something....
Now, it's almost a week later and life hasn't changed at all for us.
That's not entirely true. I had an ah ha moment....
I've been involved with the background tech stuff at my school for almost 10 years. In that time I've worked hard to keep myself on top of some of the trends and software changes. I've spent many hours working on the machines and the tools in our building, ordering, repairing and maintaining. Now, we are making changes. That behind the scenes work is going to someone else. I've thought a lot about what that means for me. And most of my thoughts have not been very positive. I've liked being in the middle of the changes in our world. I've liked knowing what is going on and sharing the information with others. I've liked being stressed because it all felt exciting and important. Now, that I"m not involved I was a bit sad. It was hard to give all that up....
But - I'm learning.I thought it was tech that was helping me keep my sanity in the changing face of my classroom and the high stakes testing environment...it wasn't. What helped me keep my sanity was being involved in a project that was bigger than myself. It was helping my building move into a new place that made me excited. It just happened to be tech.
And I thought I would need to give that up. I'm now understanding what it means to have much more time. Now, I can actually help teachers use the tools we have and dream about the next step instead of worrying about keeping them all running. I can happily give that over to our tech director.
It may seem like a small change - but it's huge! I get to choose! I don't have to be tied to the computer lab on Saturdays like I used to be. Now I can surf the web and find out how to use Goolge Earth or some other app and use that in my own room with my kiddos.
I am learning to give up my ownership. It doesn't depend on me. I am only a tool.
Now, what does that have to do with our presentation? Well, I realized that I do have something to share. I hope to keep sharing that with others. I think that I do a good job of that.
So as my cohort and I look at the next step.... we wonder.
This was a very big deal for us! We wanted things to go smoothly - and they really did...
But - we had the second to the last workshop spot on the last day. Our room was down a hallway - away from the main room. And the crowd wasn't all that large.
But, that didn't really matter. We did it! We shared what we knew and there was a group of people who seemed to want to learn from us. That is something....
Now, it's almost a week later and life hasn't changed at all for us.
That's not entirely true. I had an ah ha moment....
I've been involved with the background tech stuff at my school for almost 10 years. In that time I've worked hard to keep myself on top of some of the trends and software changes. I've spent many hours working on the machines and the tools in our building, ordering, repairing and maintaining. Now, we are making changes. That behind the scenes work is going to someone else. I've thought a lot about what that means for me. And most of my thoughts have not been very positive. I've liked being in the middle of the changes in our world. I've liked knowing what is going on and sharing the information with others. I've liked being stressed because it all felt exciting and important. Now, that I"m not involved I was a bit sad. It was hard to give all that up....
But - I'm learning.I thought it was tech that was helping me keep my sanity in the changing face of my classroom and the high stakes testing environment...it wasn't. What helped me keep my sanity was being involved in a project that was bigger than myself. It was helping my building move into a new place that made me excited. It just happened to be tech.
And I thought I would need to give that up. I'm now understanding what it means to have much more time. Now, I can actually help teachers use the tools we have and dream about the next step instead of worrying about keeping them all running. I can happily give that over to our tech director.
It may seem like a small change - but it's huge! I get to choose! I don't have to be tied to the computer lab on Saturdays like I used to be. Now I can surf the web and find out how to use Goolge Earth or some other app and use that in my own room with my kiddos.
I am learning to give up my ownership. It doesn't depend on me. I am only a tool.
Now, what does that have to do with our presentation? Well, I realized that I do have something to share. I hope to keep sharing that with others. I think that I do a good job of that.
So as my cohort and I look at the next step.... we wonder.