Big Concerns
Undoubtedly you are overwhelmed with just the few Apps that we introduced to you today. We’ll all start in different places as we begin (or continue) our journey along the TVT highway. This blog will be a great place to post your concerns and questions regard to our TVT work.
Getting Started:
- Leave a reply comment to this post by answering the following question… What are your biggest concerns heading into your work on the Technology Vision Team?
- Comment on at least two other peoples comments to this post (if you’re the first to reply, you’ll need to revisit sooner or later)
I tend to need some “playing around time” before “getting it” and therefore seem to ask questions a topic behind. Hoping that I can keep up….
I must agree that I do feel a bit overwhelmed with all the info, BUT I have learned a ton already and look forward to seeing how I can use the apps. to work with my students and to make my web page more Web 2.0.
One concern I have is that I would like to streamline my “work load” through the use of technology. I know that learning something new initially adds to a person’s “workload” by increasing one’s learning curve.
I know I have to be patient and pace myself and know that I will be challenged…and “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”
I agree with you… some supervised play time would be great. I have to admit that I get distracted when I start to play during a presentation
Some of my concerns is that when I get home and I want to play around, I’ll forget. All of this information is great and I’m really excited about it, but it may take me awhile to intergrate this within the curriculum I’m already doing. Thanks goodness there is a lot of support to help with this. Thanks!
I’m anxious to learn about new technologies to use in the classroom, but I’m not the most tech savy person around. I’m concerned I will annoy the living daylights out of everyone with my constant questions. Steve hates me already.
I agree too with Shelley…. initially it seems that my work load has increased when I add a new tool to my toolbox but once I’ve gotten use to the tool I have found that actually in a perverse way it has helped me in my work/efficiency
Jean, I agree with you. I need time to play around with what we just learned to really know that I understand it and then move on.
From an administrative perspective, I feel I am missing the classroom piece. Seeing that many of you are discussing how you’re going to apply this new learning into your classrooms, I’d love an invite to a classroom to see what you’re doing.
@Jeff. I totally agree with you about getting home and then totally forgetting what we have learned. I hope when this happens, I don’t get so frustrated that I walk away from the computer and not go back to it until the next time we meet. I’m also concerned that we are meeting with the larger TVT group who has already been part of this group and are way ahead of us YIKES!!
Shelley – YES!!!! We have a learning curve ahead of us!
What about first graders? I’d like to make a plan to bring some of this to them, but I feel like I want to have a vision before I start…
(And I thought posting a poll on my website was a big step!)
@Jean,
Good point. Here’s where UbD comes into play. What is the end in mind for your first graders? Is it to improve student writing? Is it to become more technologically savvy? Is it to have them comment on let’s say a classroom read aloud? The vision/end in mind is right on.
All great comments and concerns.
Remember, you’ve been set up with tools that allow you to connect and contact the TVT group (you’ll add the rest of the folks at our next meeting) and support team anytime, anywhere. While the learning curve of the tools seems large, take just a bite and see where it fits. As Shelley suggests, start with the end in mind (UbD rocks) and determine what it is you’d like to accomplish or have students do or experience. As for rolling some of this out into the classroom, I would give it time to set in and really experience some of the ways these tools allow us to communicate, share, debate and learn as learners ourselves before taking it right to the classroom. Take the next few weeks and really try to implement one or two of the tools you saw today into your daily routines. Use that Start Page to check in regularly and to ask a question or even just to say hello to a fellow TVT’er.
All,
Rest assured that you are not alone with your concerns, I can promise you that even the veteran TVT members have some of the same concerns you have. The rest of the TVT meetings you will attend will allow you to be more hands on with the technology, giving you that much needed time to get your mind wrapped around the technology to really figure it out. Although you may all feel comfortable with each other having survived orientation together, I would encourage you to sit next to a veteran TVT member at the next meeting. I would even suggest taking it a step further and sit next to someone different at each meeting, every single person has something to contribute to your knowledge.
If you have any questions, concerns, or need any help, remember we are just a chat away!
Oh to be surrounded with so many Type A people- wanting to do it all RIGHT NOW! I feel the same! There are so many new ideas I want to find a place for and in order to do that- I need a week off from teaching with solid “conversation with me” time! Oh wait- that’s what summer is for! I get distracted by people in need of technology support and wander very easily because I love technology too much.
My biggest concern is the internet in my room does not work consistently. I am near the construction and twice now in a week I have had my kids working on a project with the lab cart and find no internet upon arriving at 7am. My frustration point has been reached however I breathe deep and remember this is out of my control.
I am fearful of getting the kids into learning something only to deal with this all year. SO instead of creating with technology, I will be leaning more towards a class activity like echat, Skype etc. This wouldn’t be an extended period of days so I can safely reserve a lab prior to the event.