Well, I will have to say that this week has certainly ended better than it began. Not to get into all of it, but all coaches were required to complete a task (aka "Log") to compile individual information from the beginning of the school year--which has shown to be a tedious use of time (7 hours for me). I guess I'll just deem that one another "hoop."

Speaking of hoops, it seems the Microsoft Hoops have been cleared and are well on their way to becoming a reality. We have our schedule set, and Jamie and I got to meet with Amanda (from AEA) to plot out our training strategy for all of the teachers this summer. It was encouraging to see that this is becoming a reality. I love working with both Amanda and Jamie--it seems like we complete each others' thoughts. With Layne involved, we are an awesome team!

And...next Monday is MARCH 1st...what more could I ask for??

Flying High

It's been an excellent week, and here are a few examples why:

I met with MS Science teachers about CPS Responders & had some nice feedback about using them in the classrooms.

I've enrolled another elementary teacher with the CPS Responders & she is soooo excited and motivated.

I've passed my new CPS software upgrade woes off to e-instruction.

Fourth grade Tag students and I have successfully experimented with Google Sites.

All my Standards, Benchmarks, and Core Indicators for the Middle School Technology classes have successfully been added to Pinnacle Global Scholar.

Learning.com has re-surfaced & has been a wonderful way to enroll more teachers...I just need to get a little more "solid" with it. (Weekend plans)

And finally, the State Accreditation team stated that the Technology Instructional Coaches were highlighted as a district area of success! Wow! What a great ending to the week.

Feeling Good!!

It always feels good when people recognize what you do. I'm not in this gig to seek out pats on the back, but when you applauded, it feels good. My posts over the last few weeks haven't been the most positive.
This week our school district had state accreditation visits. Through interviewing teachers and administrators, technology in curriculum was highlighted as a district area of success. What does this mean?? It means that teachers see and appreciate the help we can offer to implement technology in to their classroom instruction.
We are only going to grow from here. With more technology being pushed out soon, more and more teachers will have access to the tools some teachers are enjoying right now. This is a great end to our week!!

Online learning at it's finest

Seeing this story is what makes our jobs so exciting.

Good News...Bad News...Good News

Okay...good news first:

Just within the past 24 hours I received two really nice compliments about our Tech Coaching. The first came from a principal who said he has been hearing some very positive things about what we are doing. The second came from a teacher this morning who called me a life saver--not that I actually fit that description, but she told me that she trusted me because I was a teacher and not just a tech--otherwise she would have been turned off. I loved hearing that because when Layne and Neil opened this position, that was one specific requirement---had to have classroom experience.

Now these two compliments couldn't have come at a better time because, well, here is the bad news:

Our 21st Century Classroom roll-out has now been pushed back for at LEAST a month. Microsoft red tape is the issue, but this endeavor is one of the main reasons why we were hired as a Technology Coach. I've certainly been busy--even swamped--with many other issues, but it is so frustrating knowing what is coming, what is possible, and just barely out of reach. The look on some teachers/principals faces when we have to say "it will be a little longer"--sometimes I think they think I'm joking around. I wished I was... I'd love to take our extra set of equipment and model in some of the classrooms that lack technology, but it reminds me of that Ally Bank commercial where the little girl is given a bike, but told she has to ride it within the 3-foot rectangle. We could use the equipment for an hour or even a day, but to have any sort of impact, it needs to be a part of the classroom...and that's going to take a while.

So, what's the good news embedded in all of this?

I would say that the time I have spent so far this year has been great in helping me learn the ropes of this new position. I feel solid in the software/hardware. (I couldn't have said that last fall) I feel I've made some wonderful teacher contacts. I've written middle school S&B for next fall--which will be a great change for our MS tech program. I now know my way around every elementary, middle, and high school. I've found my way around our new administrative building. And I've learned that change is not something that happens automatically or quickly.

Where do I begin....

Well, it's been another crazy couple of weeks. We are trying desperately to get this Microsoft settlement figured out. We think we have it and they change the rules on us. We keep getting pushed back further and further. I know eventually it will happen, but I am tired of telling teachers and principals, "soon". "It's still full go, we just have to be patient." I don't know how many more times I can go out and get excited about the technology roll out before teachers tell me to leave.
I know we are doing everything in our power to get this going. It's not our fault we keep getting pushed back. It's just frustrating. I keep coming back to a few blogs I have done in the past. We find it very difficult to get in to classrooms and co-teach and model, when the teachers can't use what we have shown them. It's a tease. It's like teaching your 15 year old kid to drive, but you never let them get behind the wheel to use what you have talked about and shown them.
We'll get to where we need to be soon enough.

Interactive Pictorial History of the World

A couple of months ago, I blogged about the benefits of RSS feeds, and well, today one of them really came through for me. I've found this really interesting technology blog which sends me 10-20 feeds a week--and oftentimes have little gems...like this one by Mr. Byrne at http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/02/explore-history-of-world-through.html

"The BBC and the British Museum have partnered to create an interactive timeline called A History of the World. A History of the World presents images of artifacts from various eras in world history. The objects are displayed in rings arranged to match each era. Click on any object in the ring to see a larger image and to read about the significance of each artifact. You can browse the collection by clicking through the rings of images or you can browse by location, by historical theme, or by dates."

I've created a video that shows you this site.