Overtech'd?

In gathering a PLN on Twitter, technology education is emphasized to a very significant degree. While I enjoy technology as much as the next person, I've started to wonder about the perceived "need" to offer a technological component across the curriculum. I've noticed it especially regarding Web 2.0 which I suspect is a term that is unfamiliar to a large % of my school district (students and faculty). Initially, this would seem to confirm the view that we need to be teaching more about this to everyone. However...

I graduated from high school in 1981 (just before the PC), so my district offered zero training from K-12 in the use or existence of computer technology (unless you count typing). In fact, the World Wide Web didn't exist until 7 years after I graduated from college, and yet, here I am, completely functional and using "21st century" skills. So this leads to all sorts of questions re: learning, when it happens, where it happens and how important is it to teach specific skills and specific tools. I mean, our school offers a "Computer Applications" class now that is all about using Microsoft Office. Is this going to go the way of the typing class? Don't have the answers, but it does give me pause when I read all of the proclamations of dire consequence if we don't teach "21st Century" skills now.

Back to school

We had our first day back at school today. I have to admit, I was not as prepared as I had hoped to be; much of our 3 days of in-service was taken up with meetings from a new consultant working with the district because of NCLB AYP issues.

I did pull out a "Who I Am" sheet that I had seen originally on one blog and then repeated on another. For my part of the introduction, I created a small 4 "slide" presentation in Notebook establishing my connections to the community and the school.

Today, we had abbreviated classes due to an introductory assembly (which was a GREAT success), so tomorrow we'll have full classes, but more interruptions due to planned attendance of the former governor's funeral procession.

I have a Powerpoint that I've used for introduction to the rules and procedures, but I'd really like to make the process more interactive. Last year, I went totally toward group discussion and creation of the classroom rules, but it was not particularly effective. I need a middle ground, but am probably not going to find it in the the next 30 minutes before I go to bed. Something to think about though and reflect on.

Getting started

Wow. So I need to get on this blogging thing. I opened this account during the 08/09 school year, but then didn't use it because it was blocked on our school network. I have had several different things running through my mind that could make up complete blog entries, so I think I'll just start trying to get them written down here and then begin to tackle them one at a time.

-Understanding math so that we can teach it

-School reform- Are they right when they say, "it's the teachers, stupid"?

-How is math taught in primary grades? I feel like some of the "real world" teaching of basic concepts has to be unlearned in order to hit some of the more abstract things.

-Is "real world" overrated? Isn't it more about the connection? I mean all those "A-double B-C" button combinations on the game controllers have absolutely no real world value, but the kids sure can nail them.

-PLN's - not sure what to say, hadn't even seen the acronym until I got on Twitter this summer. Boy, has Twitter been a revelation!

-Local private school just got a couple of SMARTboards (public school has them in every classroom). The thing is, if it's just an electronic chalkboard or projector screen, what have you accomplished.

All for now, I'm sure I'll find plenty more.