For those of you who are appalled at the lack of technology-use within the institutions of education, please let me give you a realistic view of the “real” world.
This week, after completing many discussions about creating digital finger-prints, about presenting one’s-self professionally, about selecting tools that best represent the needs of our class, we went to the student lab to further launch our digital careers.
Then…
- Gmail: After about six-to-eight successful accounts were created, Gmail locked the other students out. Why? Google thought our sight was spamming them and refused our business…at least for a while. Good news, though, I was able, two days later, to walk some students through a successful set-up.
- Edublogs: Not sure what was happening here…except that once a student clicked to create an account, nothing happened. No one was home. Students had the same problem when trying to set up an account at home also. Peer Lisa Huff brainstorms that maybe the site is too full? I do know that feeds seldom work with Edublogs anymore, which is frustrating to those of us with such an account. (Now contemplating using Blogger with my students.)
- Delicous: This one worked! Students were able to set up an account! But, due to no fault of theirs, but thanks to the “locks”…okay, security measures of our district…we could not place the shortcut links on the toolbar to post to Delicious. I hope to obtain permission to do so, for this will save time and ensure that students use this then more friendly tool.
- goodreads? I have not tried this one yet. I will! Just later.
Because I am determined to use such tools, I keep on keeping on. Because I have a peer and mentor who cares, I try again. Because I have department that is ever-embracing such technological tools, I persevere.
But what about those teachers who are already frustrated with technology? Those teachers who have no “techie-nerds” working closely beside them? Those teachers who need a pacifier called a technology specialist? What happens to their attempts at a techie baby-step?
They quit. They do not even attempt to take that digital detour. They simply quit. I would have…probably…except for that support I receive.
So, yes, I may detour, but we will utilize some of these Web 2.0 tools this year in Gillmore Land.
The added bonus? My students enter the door, as was the case today, asking, “Mrs. Gillmore, are we going to the lab to set up our blogs?”
What more could a teacher ask?
We will reach our destination…no matter how many detours we have to take.
2 responses so far ↓
I am so with you on this frustration! I get lab access once a week and I have one computer in my classroom so you can imagine how many 4-letter words are flying around the jungle (inside my head, of course) when these “glitches” occur.
On the Edublogs front, I just received my last 2 posts from my edublog, Middle School Monkeys, on my Google Reader today (Aug.29). These were originally posted Aug.20 and Aug.24. However, my Blogger posts (I have a trashy TV blog as well) appear instantly in my reader. How am I supposed to teach my kids about readers and blogging when the two tools don’t work together????Argh!
Thanks for letting me rant and for the validation that this is not just happening to me.
Keep up the great work,
Head Monkey
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I’m right there with you! Good luck!
I am blessed…I have 12 computers in my room – not new ones, but we get by! This is thanks, though, to teaching yearbook and newspaper, both of which I enjoy…until it comes to deadline time!
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