For those who work in schools and work with technology this will not come as a surprise, but teachers are not always the most eager to try new things. Now, there are a variety of legitimate reasons for this: There is limited time, What they're already doing works well, They are not familiar with using technology, They don't feel that it incorporates well into their curriculum.
For those who work in schools and whose job it is to help teachers you know that it is your job (read here MY JOB) to change their minds and move them forward. Today, was a win. A win first period. Nice. I didn't have to wait for the payoff.
A fantastic teacher of English who has some great systems in place needed a way to share a lecture. Not one to miss a golden opportunity I moved her directly to Google hangouts. Now I know that Google hangouts are designed for a bunch of people to go online and yap at each other about nothing special and have a great time. Piffle! This is a great way to have a quick step to record and upload directly to YouTube. I have a preference for what I call the lazy approach (and my sister calls the efficient approach.) This goes back to my, still, romance with Google. One stop shopping. I like a product tView bloghat doesn't need me to complete it. I bring the hardware to this relationship, and Google does the rest. My teacher? She does what she does best, lecture and explain and an unusually lively way.
Now, of course when the teacher came to me there were, as always, impediments to the actual project. It might have happened while I was at a conference. I had backups ready to work with us. She got nervous. Maybe she should use the microcassette recorder? No. No need. It will all work out....really....trust me....really.....and if she uses the microcassette she'll have to redo it next year....and this will be great for the kids who need a review (I gather this is very difficult material that needs regular reviewing....)
So, this morning, trial run. My biggest concern was that the technology, webcam, microphone, computer wouldn't perform up to par, wouldn't capture the image, wouldn't capture the sound. THANK YOU Logitech and Google. I have a successful test AND wonder of wonders, the lecture will take place prior to my leaving for my conference and I will have the joy of setting up the project and seeing it through to it's natural conclusion. Win! Tiger blood? No, but still, in my book, a HUGE win.
Am I overly excited? Yes. So what. Live in my world for a little while and you'll learn to take your wins where you can find them....
For those who work in schools and whose job it is to help teachers you know that it is your job (read here MY JOB) to change their minds and move them forward. Today, was a win. A win first period. Nice. I didn't have to wait for the payoff.
A fantastic teacher of English who has some great systems in place needed a way to share a lecture. Not one to miss a golden opportunity I moved her directly to Google hangouts. Now I know that Google hangouts are designed for a bunch of people to go online and yap at each other about nothing special and have a great time. Piffle! This is a great way to have a quick step to record and upload directly to YouTube. I have a preference for what I call the lazy approach (and my sister calls the efficient approach.) This goes back to my, still, romance with Google. One stop shopping. I like a product tView bloghat doesn't need me to complete it. I bring the hardware to this relationship, and Google does the rest. My teacher? She does what she does best, lecture and explain and an unusually lively way.
Now, of course when the teacher came to me there were, as always, impediments to the actual project. It might have happened while I was at a conference. I had backups ready to work with us. She got nervous. Maybe she should use the microcassette recorder? No. No need. It will all work out....really....trust me....really.....and if she uses the microcassette she'll have to redo it next year....and this will be great for the kids who need a review (I gather this is very difficult material that needs regular reviewing....)
So, this morning, trial run. My biggest concern was that the technology, webcam, microphone, computer wouldn't perform up to par, wouldn't capture the image, wouldn't capture the sound. THANK YOU Logitech and Google. I have a successful test AND wonder of wonders, the lecture will take place prior to my leaving for my conference and I will have the joy of setting up the project and seeing it through to it's natural conclusion. Win! Tiger blood? No, but still, in my book, a HUGE win.
Am I overly excited? Yes. So what. Live in my world for a little while and you'll learn to take your wins where you can find them....
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