Reflection about technology and my new car Ruby

coakes Ruby

I was reading Langwitches blog about how to successfully implement iPads into the classroom. Here I digress-- Her post Get Over It! really resonated with me and here is why! (First a thank you to Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano for her thoughtful and informative posts!)

Silvia tells us how her thinking has changed over the past 5 years about teaching and learning. Originally, she soft pedaled, as we all have, about good teachers make good learning, NOT the technology. Now Silvia says, " educators MUST experience the world of technology and modern learning (aka 21st century learning) for themselves in order to understand the transformative learning." 

Here is why! My new, 9 month new car, Ruby! I purchased the car hoping for a sun roof, hands free phone, possibly a GPS unit and space to travel with a crowd. What I got was keyless entry, keyless start, a talking SyncUnit including GPS, hands free phone, weather, traffic alerts, CD player, Sirius Radio, many USB ports, etc......you get the picture. I had the customary get to know your vehicle at the dealer and a huge thick book. Books, I know books! I began to read about my Ruby.

However, books are going through a revolution, as far as informational text. The car company does not present the information I need in a fluid manner. I had to use the index and found many references to the items of interest. Once I secured the page, the information was NOT even close to answering my question. My son, Dr. Nathan-dentist, ( you see it has been a long time that some of you readers have been following me) said, "Mom, go to YouTube to get that answer!"  (I knew that! see my post about how I fixed my dishwasher.)

I learned how to customize my screen. I downloaded software, inserted in one USB port and updated my car system, and then read my email from Ford that I need to download and update my system further to "fix the bugs".  MY point, SILVIA's point-we must experience the world of technology!! We must learn for ourselves in order to understand the transformative-(my words here-ANYTIME-ANYWHERE LEARNING-AS LONG AS I HAVE YOUTUBE) learning"

How is your classroom changing as you go back to school? Mine is changing with iPads. That post is for another day.

School Year 2013-2014

It has been nearly a year since I have regularly posted. I took last year off from my picture post a day, my blogging, tweeting and commenting. It was the first time since 2005! I took time to focus on my students, my family and myself. Not a bad thing! Now I am ready to begin again. I am baaaaccccckkkk! I will be blogging with purpose about my students and how technology continues to level the playing field for challenged learner. I may have shorter blogs about my school days, shorter blogs about new tools and new ways students are making progress. I look forward to the virtual conversations, ideas and dialogues. See you on the flip side! Join in these conversations.