I wouldn’t say that I am a technologically incompetent person but I am definitely not a natural. So, honestly, the thought of taking a course on educational technology was slightly daunting even though I know it’s important. I am happy to say that I really enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to think through what I want to do with my LLC and to confront my own attitudes. Though I found value in all the topics, readings, and discussions, a few things have stuck with me more than others:
For my Final Vision digital artifact (Google slides for a presentation to my staff), see here.
Inquiry Blog Post #3
Being a leader among teachers is no easy task. I have taken on leadership roles within my school a couple of times over the last few years (Literacy Leader and Educational Facilitator of our enriched program), and I can affirm what I have heard so many times before: leading teachers can be like trying to herd cats. Teachers have a (justifiably) wide independent streak and will always know a lot more about some things than you do. They’re often overworked and tired and looking for resources they can use in the classroom right now. They already have a lot of high priorities, so how can they spend their preciously guarded mental bandwidth on ideas that did not come from their classroom, that will often require more work from them, and that may not come with an immediate pay-off? Can they just think about it when they have more time (a time that never comes)?
(If you’d like to see the commercial this still was taken from, click here. It’s awfully good.)
How Can I Move My LLC’s Makerspace into the 21st Century?
That has been one of the questions I’ve been asking myself since I started as a newbie Teacher-Librarian last year. It’s not that what we have is terrible. In many ways we are very fortunate. We have a dedicated space in the LLC and an abundance of hands-on supplies and equipment, including materials for paper crafts, origami, greeting cards, colouring books, and puzzles. We also have bins of wooden, architectural building blocks, Lego and a Lego table and column. Finally, we’ve got AV equipment (a green screen, podcasting equipment, and cameras), a 3D printer and a Cricut cutting machine which are just starting to catch on with students. But, generally, the space has been underused, there is no “buzz,” and I get the feeling that students are waiting for something more exciting to be offered before they jump in.
What issues, interests, or opportunities do you anticipate arising in your teaching in the near future? Is there a component of this issue, interest, or opportunity that relates to the use of digital technologies?
Though I am a relatively new Teacher-Librarian, I have taught in my current school for sixteen years, so I have a good sense of where the LLC sits in the overall culture and life of the school.