Based on your experiences, what are the greatest challenges for leveraging technology to empower learning in your classroom and school?  As I consider my thoughts on this topic, the following image comes to mind:

I always get excited about using technology in my classroom and my students enjoy it too.  I’m fortunate enough to have a few laptops that stay in my room so my students work in small groups with Vernier probeware in most cases.  However, that glorious plan usually goes out the window, like these lovely monitors did!  I usually end up having to try and troubleshoot a laptop and one group ends up splitting into other groups because their computer won’t log onto the network, recognize the student ID, recognize the probeware, connect to the printer, … (you fill in the blank!)  As educators, we have to be prepared to teach “on the fly” when our original lesson doesn’t work, but I REALLY hate trying to fix laptops every time I use them!

I will be the first to admit that I’m not as versed at using cell phone technology and apps in my classes.  Our school system does have a policy against having the phones out.  However, being the physics teacher does mean that my students are interested in learning, so I believe that if I found some cool, engaging apps, they would buy in and use them as directed during class.  So far, my experiences with the phones have been polleverywhere.com surveys.  This week at NCCAT we did get a numberl of new ideas for the classroom.  My disappointment lies in the fact that most of them were Apple/iPhone apps and the Android version isn’t available.

I think that brings me full circle to the dilemma most teachers face – the cool thing that’s available isn’t available to all students and what is available to all students may not be the coolest thing out there.  So, my laptops may be getting older and they don’t all work on any given day, but I keep on fixing and teaching my students that the technology is to enhance their learning, not to do it for them.  Unfortunately, many teachers give up on their ideas after this kind of experience.  I think lack of time and/or resources ultimately forces teachers to find another route.  Who has hours each week to spend on figuring out a way to give 100% of their students the necessary technology in order to complete one assignment?  I don’t believe there will ever be a time when this issue is solved because technology runs light years ahead of hardware in our school sytems.  I can only hope to find some apps and websites that will engage my students and that are available to the majority and that cooperative learning will take place…just like I had originally planned!

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicalowl/504522097/”>practicalowl</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>

Now that’s an easy one. The best part of this week was being inspired by all the great ideas that came from discussions with other fellows or our facilitators. For example, Jason Lineberger gave me a great app to support augmented reality in my classes. I think I’d like to try it with chemistry for various pieces of lab equipment. Ben L and Ben V are both doing fellowships on alternative energies so I plan to be in touch with them throughout the year. I met them both at break and dinnertime. And, finally, my new friend Karen Martin introduced me to geocaching. I’m so excited to go back home and try it with my own children!

The cool thing about coming to a residential retreat like NCCAT is you find inspiration all over the place and throughout the day. I have some great new friends who will support me through this process. I also learned a lot about their teaching while we were on a hike, on the river, or even sitting around in the afternoons. Some of their best practices have been added to my “must try” list for next year! I must say that I thought I would work on my project this week, but the experience has really been more about getting to know all of my cohort and stirring the creative process in me, which will undoubtedly spill into my project!

So, thanks to everyone who helped me, taught me and laughed with me this week. As with each trip up here, I will have great memories of this trip to NCCAT!

My first trip down the river

A lot of friends have asked me this question and I usually say something to the effect that it will be great professional development and I’ll be learning some new content for my classes.  But these past two days at NCCAT have given me so much more than professional development.  I’ve learned all about new apps, websites, teaching tools and some pretty cool “best practices” from all the amazing teachers here with me.  It’s been more about the culture of teaching and education than it has about our individual projects.

So, now I think I can say that this Kenan Fellowship at NC A&T University is going to teach me a lot more than what’s going on in the world of biofuel research.  I believe this experience is shoving me outside my comfort area.  I’m back in college as a freshman!  I’ve had to find the library, study like crazy and think about changing the big picture in my classroom.  It’s a bit scary and daunting right now, but I love to try new things and I am open to help and suggestions from other people.  After enough years of teaching, you can get comfortable if you’re not careful.

So, as I wave goodbye to the safety of my usual ways, I am so looking forward to trying out all the new ideas that are waiting for my classroom.  Anybody else want to come along for the ride?

This evening I was wandering around all the sites we now have access to, and I was delighted (and secretly relieved) to see some other posts about being overwhelmed, out of your element, feeling like a student!  It is daunting to see this new information unfold, and for me, to realize how much I will be learning.  How much will I understand?  Will I find the building and be on time?

My mentor, Dr. Schimmel, has been patient in answering my questions as I discover them.  He’s also given me plenty of information to “get the big picture” on biofuel production, advantages versus disadvantages, and economic impact.  I just hope I can rise to the challenge of creating a great module that will be useful to teachers.  So, thanks to Dr. Schimmel and the Kenan program for this great opportunity.  It’s been a long time since I was “the student” and while it’s scary, it’s also really exciting!

Hang in there everyone.  NCCAT is almost here!

Well, my son’s 5th grade graduation is over and today he is helping his teacher pack up her room for the summer.  Our high school graduated 456 super seniors on Saturday.  Today, only students with make up exams (and no other place to be!) are on campus.  In one week, I’ll be starting my fellowship at NC A&T with Dr. Schimmel.  I’m so excited to be working this summer.  I understand the “brain drain” that we are warned about over the summer break!  This summer will be one of learning and creating so no brain drain for me.  And, of course, who wouldn’t be looking forward to a few days at NCCAT?!