6:36 am Tablets
I am not a stranger to writing or even journaling, yet when asked to write a blog, I froze. What does that mean? How do I write a blog? And how do I talk about all the wonderful things I am doing with my new toy when in fact so few of them have materialized yet? Well, I guess I will just rip the band aid off and here we go.
I was quite surprised to have been one of the “Chosen Ones” when the Think Pads were awarded. I love technology and I love what we can do with it…in our lives, in our homes, and in our classrooms. But as with all things loved, there is a dark side to the love that feels like, dare I say it? Hate!
I hate it when I can’t remember which password I have created to meet which criteria for which program. I hate it when I can’t log on to a computer to do simple things like check my email, write a document, or print a document. I hate that our school has not yet evolved, technologically speaking, to a point where we can log onto the wireless Internet without super top level clearance to get the password and assurances that we will not use up all the bandwidth with unnecessary streaming or other illicit behavior.
I was so hopeful that being awarded the Think Pad, an Academy computer, for my use would eliminate at least most of those hateful technology glitches I kept running into. I can say that that dream has come true. But as with all other aspects of my new life as an Academy community member, there is just no time for the vertical learning curve that I am facing in every direction.
So, the question remains, what have I accomplished with this new technology? Well, I am happy to say that more often than not my finger print scan does confirm that I am who I said I was when I set it up. Which is great, because I often forget the actual password that I set up at the same time! I have used the Think pad to project notes and Powerpoint presentations for my classes using the LCD projector that I conveniently forget to return so it is always in my classroom. I have not enjoyed the OneNote program as I was told I would, but to be fair, I have not spent as much time getting used to it as I have Word, so for now, I will use Word because it is what I know.
I was confounded one day when I realized that the CD drive on the computer in my classroom does not work and therefore the Fireworks movie that was going to get the kids jazzed for a unit on Combustion combusted before my eyes. I reached for ThinkPad thinking (foolishly) that it would behave as my personal laptop does by providing a CD drive that functions. WRONG!! No CD drive and a memory of Josh’s admonitions about using such archaic forms of media presentation so no movie. Well, not on that day anyway. Ended up going way old school with a television and the requisite three CD/VHS combination players of which two do not function and you have to wonder why it is still on the darned cart!
So…what now? I have ditched the attachable keyboard and mouse because peripherals add to the burden of transporting the computer on my daily walk to and from work and if Josh can use that little red button, so can I! I am not discouraged that I am not doing technological gymnastics stunts with my new technology because there has been nothing but new every week so I have to beg for patience from my audience while I get more familiar with the computer and how to integrate it with the spotty technology in my classroom (no offense to anyone, it is a work in progress, I understand that).
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