Reflective Blog #4

            I am much more comfortable creating documents on the computer than I am on paper.  It's faster and I can edit quickly.  When it comes to creating a calendar to keep up with my events, I'm still writing lists quickly on a sheet of paper or I still just use my memory.  I have started to use calendars online at school and on yahoo but I can't seem to find the perfect vehicle that is one system fits all for every locale I'm in.  I hope to find a calendar that can works quickly and I can access anywhere.  Until then, I will continue to make lists at home and work.  For now, that's faster.  I keep all of my phone numbers in Outlook which is the only thing I do in Outlook.  I don't use Outlook email.  I use my work email or Yahoo email.  I have gone to a few meetings with my laptop because I keep everything on there.  However, every room I go to in school usually has a computer, if needed.  I am constantly connected.  My Droid phone and earbud go with me where ever I go, and the phone has the internet, and text messaging.  When it comes to how many activities I do at once, I am much like the Net Geners because I always have multiple media going at once.  I can easily have a TV on, my computer on a website, and listening to headphones.  I switch back and forth to what seems most interesting at the time.  There are times that I play video games especially with my son.  We play Angry Birds, while the TV is on.  My wife hates technology so we have to try and keep it down.  She's easily irritated by more than one thing going on at a time. 

            I am a Baby Boomer and have several of the attributes.  I am definitely a workaholic, at times.  I do have a can-do attitude and believe in having a hard work ethic.  However, I do like to shut down and watch movies or go camping.  I also have some Gen X attributes as well.  I am definitely the multi-tasker and I also believe in having a good work-life balance.  I have to balance life since I have an 8 and 12 year-old.  I do have to be careful because so much is expected of me, or maybe I expect it of myself, to create curriculum for our school and sometimes for the district.      

            The article Is it Age or IT: First Steps Towards Understanding the Net Generation, was another fascinating article.  I know quite a bit about how students have changed but I didn't realize how far it had gone.  Students have told me that they are on the internet as much as their are watching TV.  I know they are not reading as much.  I am glad that my kids still love to read along with their love of video games and TV.  My daughter is a multi-tasker but my son is glued into one thing at a time.  I've watched my own kids complete many assignments on computer in their classrooms and at home.  My son is already becoming proficient at making powerpoints, and I've been showing him more about moviemaker and other vehicles for creating good documents.  At school, I have seen how students are attending less and less to lecture and will stop listening very quickly if they are bored, even if it means that it will hurt their grades.  In my classroom, I am trying to create more discovery assignments, group activities, and something to get them out of their seats and doing something, at least, once a day.  We are trying to create more hands-on activities.  I'm bringing in more video clips, educational and/or humorous to break the monotony.  My powerpoints are very visual and so is the smart board that I use to teach with.  They attend more to the bells and whistles of technology, especially the visual.  However, this class shows me that I need to go much further.  I want to create more student-centered projects where students create within groups using technology.  I can see using wikis where several students can contribute and create a project together in one place.  I believe that parents would like to have more interactivity to my classroom.  Wikis and Podcasts could create that.  I started mass emailing last year to my parent base.  It was a good start for me but it could be much better.  How about using an electronic portfolio to keep parents informed.  I have already started to create podcasts of different assignments for students that need review and for parents that want to help their kids.  I need more time!  Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that I can't do it all in a day.  But, if you make curriculum here and there, you will eventually get there.  Actually, you won't get there but you have to keep on the continuous ride or you will stagnate.  This class has given me a better picture of my students than I had in the past.  This class has given me several tools that will help my students.  This class will lead to more success for my students.  It already has.