So how was our first week together? Check out our slideshow.
Writing into the morning:
Part I: Mapmaking
Make a map of the earliest neighborhood you can remember.
Include as much detail as you can.
Who lived there? What were the secret places? Where were your friends? Where did the weird people live? Where were the off-limits places?…
Part 2: Map Story
Now tell us a story from your map. “One day back in Anchorage…”- and off you go, elaborating on your recollection that you and Ellie Totten used to throw frozen fish through garage windows.
Don’t edit yourself much; don’t try for anything finished.
“If nothing happens, it’s not a story.” Flannery O’Connor
(from Writing Life Stories, Bill Roorbach)
Here’s a few photo memories From our first week together:
Digital Documenter: Kathy B
Logger: Gina
The last day of our first week of the HVWP started off with Jose’s delicious frittata and cinnamon buns for breakfast. We quickly moved into our free write activity. After hearing a short excerpt from Sandra Cisnero’s House on Mango Street, we wrote about the history of our own names.
We listened as Barbara lovingly told us, not about her own name, but about her strong fiery little boy, Brian and of her grace from God, “Troublegail”, aka Abagail. Marisol shared her desire as a child to be just. plain. Mary.
From there we revisited the E-anthology site. We looked at some of the feedback on Bonnie and Steve’s work. Bonnie reminded us to use this short window of opportunity to get that important feedback from NWP’s trained eyes. Did everyone post this weekend?!
Next came Paulette’s turn to share her favorite digital moment, or shall we say her favorite shot from her day as a paparazzi? She chose a wonderful “behind the scenes” picture she had taken on one of her many spontaneous dashes between the classrooms.
Following Paulette, Terri read her recap of the previous days work.
Housekeeping: Katelin gently reminded us to recycle, we have enough cream cheese, and best of all we have printing privileges!
Steve then shared his reflections from his TIW. He thanked the class for the terrific letters and support.
After a short break Diane began her TIW focused on the reluctant learner. Later on we broke into our own chat rooms and discussed important points of the article she presented with fellow group members.
After another short break Kathleen Yeager joined us for the remainder of our morning. We focused on her article and broke into the Passing Notes and Talking Back activity. We all chose the paragraph that made the most impact on us and discussed this with our neighbor. We discussed the idea of a “fast” in the classroom. Mary commented that we need to give students a chance to sit on the steps and figure things out. Lilah summed up her feelings about the article in a quote from a recently listened to song – “You’re the freeway, I’m the country road. “
Our morning turned into afternoon as we met with our writing groups. Later that afternoon our very hungry bunch reconvened at our host Sarah’s lovely home for some good food and even better company.
In the Lab:
EAnthology: TIme to post and offer feedback.
Returning to the Homepage to share something of your Tech Life Autobiography: What was your first experience with computers? How far have you come? What do you feel good about? What would you love to learn?
Final Reflections:
What critical issue in your school or classroom (or education in general) isn’t receiving the attention it needs?
What problem or issue seems unresolved?
What problem or predicarment seems to stop or silence you as a teacher?
14 responses so far ↓
1
tcsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:46 am
I don’t recall my ‘first’ experience with computers but I do know I enjoy using them. I do want to learn more about using them effectively in the classroom because I believe as a teacher in a techno-age it is in the best interest of everyone in the class, teachers and students alike! I heard someone say that kids today are the Technology Natives and adults are the Immigrants! That is so true! I would like to know more about using the Smartboard, and digital stories with the kids. I think they would really enjoy it!
2
bcsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:47 am
My TechLife? I typed in college on a typewriter, but thankfully when it came time for graduate school, PCs were available. I’m not sure I ever would have gotten through my dissertation if I had to use the typewriter.
I’ve come along way from simply word processing, but I still have far to go. I have enjoyed creating my own wiki for my classes, discussing blogging with my students, and sharing podcasts with them too. I’d like to create a digital story some time soon to illustrate this for my students and also expand my knowledge of using the Smartboard.
Barbara
3
stevemasson
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:49 am
I’m a bit of a tech dork. I spend an unhealthy amount of time on music blogs, playing fantasy baseball through yahoo, maintaining wikipages, and looking for images for my teaching materials. I do not however own a pocket protector.
4
gjsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:50 am
I doubt it was my first experience with computers, but I do recall my first experience with computers where I felt completly clueless. It was my freshman year in college and I was taking Computer Science 101 as a night class. Big mistake. I found it was either too cold or I was too tired to trek across campus in the cold Oswego snow. I remember being instructed to log on and email someone. Email? What was that? And who actually had email? Wasn’t it just easier to pick up the phone? At the time my friends and I were still writing letters to each other!
I eneded up having to take the class over during the summer session. SO much easier!
Needless to say, I now chuckle at that experience. I couldn’t tell you what I found so confusing at the time, but I think I’ve come pretty far since then. I would love to get more experience with the graphic programs.
5
bcsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:52 am
Steve
Be careful what you wish for. A pocket protector can be mentioned to your sister as a great birthday gift. After all, you said you didn’t own one.
6
slsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 10:59 am
I remember DOS and continual crashes and total confusion all the time — but boy, was it better than a typewriter. I was writing long documents for a business training company and used a professional typist to do the various drafts that were required, and then along came the computer and changed everything. Suddenly I didn’t have to worry about my terrible handwriting, or whether a revision was worth the cost; and it was so great to be able to erase rather than to cross out! On the downside, I also had some of the worst experiences of my professional life losing months of work when the computer crashed (this was before backing up became a discipline). My husband accidentally erased a huge project I’d been working on and it almost caused us to divorce.
I feel fortunate that my work has always required me to use the computer, so I’m not completely behind the eight ball. I had a SmartBoard in my classroom for two years, and was thrilled to learn how to use it. Now I’m determined to become more comfortable with media on the computer so I can help teachers who want to do more but are shy about trying. After years of debating about it, I just purchased my first MAC so I’m using the technology that so many of our students are using.
7
jgsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:00 am
For thirty years I worked as a designer of computers, using the computer to make computers. Most of that work was “technical” and lots of it involved writing… technical writing. As for “real” writing, that work was more like the work of a mechanical engineer who is part of the design team that designs the ultimate engine but never gets to drive it. So, beyond emails and memos, I don’t think I have ever taken the writing route down the technology lane… does it make sense? And, yes, Bonnie, math teacher can write and I promise I will never again say I can not write but write, whenever I or circumstances “make” me do so, and let others “say” if I can or can not (does it matter?)
8
cwsi08
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:00 am
My first experience with computers was not good. I was recently divorced, had two small kids and had not been in the workplace for a while. I needed a job, bad. I signed up for a computer course for beginners. Cost $350.00. The guy who ran the course assumed that we knew how to turn the computer on. I didn’t. This must have been before Windows, because he was trying to teach us DOS (I think), with codes and stuff. He spent most of the first session discussing the merits of one computer company over the other, and how cool it was to work with computers. I left early and never went back. Lost $349.00.
9
Diane
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:03 am
Computers were as big as a room when I was young. My first summer job was in a factory office. We coded the names and addresses of customers so they could be entered into a computer system. I remember in my first teaching job some parent worked at IBM and gave our class some old punch cards to reuse as index cards in my classroom. Our fist home computer was a big deal for my husband and two sons but not for me. I only began to use it when my school district began using Part 200 a computer system to create IEP’s. We eventually moved from dial up to high speed cable. That was great for me because although I am special educator who is known for patience with children I found I have no patience with computers. I need to have a newspaper or magazine to read in case what I’m doing takes too long.
Serving as corresponding secretary for the Mid Hudson Reading Council forced me to master email and attachments.
Working as an adjunct professor at Vassar & MSMC forced me to use power point and to access websites to show video clips to my students.
Notice how I used the word FORCE. I even forced myself to pick the David Warlick book because I need to know more about the potential for using computers with my new job as adjunct instructor.
My most fun on the computer is finding reviews about my son’s band, the Felice Brothers when he is on road trips. He says, “Mom, read a book or get a hobby” if I tell him what I’ve learned.
10
mmaloy
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:04 am
My first experience with computers was on the job and at school. I never had a home computer growing up…they just weren’t as popular back then or needed. I’m very proud of the fact that I can “get around” on computers. Enough so that my husband thinks I’m the expert at home between the two of us!!! While I enjoy working on them, I use them as needed and try not to spend too much time on the internet. While it is a web full of information–I also find it to be a “web” that is hard to get out of..I enjoy other things soo much more but agree that it is an awesome tool for information, communication and learning.
11
Susan Olsen
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:11 am
I don’t really remember first experiences with computers, though I do remember those old “ditto” machines in schools when I first started teaching. Whew, those were the dark ages. Ironically, I also recall teaching texts back then that I wouldn’t go near now. For example, I used to pair One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Hamlet, connecting the subjectivity of perception, madness, and the creative iconcoclast. The year I found myself explaining how Cuckoo’s Nest was funny was my last year teaching it. This long digression is just to say/wonder how we’ve made amazing progress technologically, as our students are losing the ability/interest in reading complex novels. Enough philosophical nay-saying!
Technological confusions, fears, hopes: I am really excited about expanding my horizons technologically speaking. Our “slacker” reading group is having great fun complaining about the techie book we’re alledgedly reading, and letting Steve lead us through new internet experiences.
I plan to figure out how to create a digital story, and I am playing around with ideas in my head so far. It will be a great teaching tool for the fall for me. We have a senior job internship at our school (which I’ll be involved with) and currently the kids are doing either a power point or a chalk and talk as their end of the year presentation. Boooring!!! I plan to lead the way, as the newcomer to this program, with digital storytelling of their internship experiences.
AND, Steve has put the bug in me for Windows movie making and Adobe premier…. If I can muster the energy for deciphering and playing with them during the institute, I will be on my way to using some great tools for my upcoming media literacy senior elective in the fall.
I am completely pschced for all this. Now all I need is the time, and keeping my techno fears at bay.
Susan
12
Lilah Weiss
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:13 am
Sheesh. Indeed I do. Perhaps it wasn’t my first experience with computers but it was, at least, my first formal learning experience with computers. I recall Junior High School 104’s idea of computer class. There were about 6 to 8 of us assigned to each computer because of the limited funds and resources available. If you had hit 5 keys by leaning over somebody’s shoulder in the course of a 50 minute block of time, you had participated quite a bit that day. It was an utter waste of time. As the year progressed, I vividly recall the growing lack of care about the class building among us all. We were idle so much of the class that it lead to disruptive behavior, management issues, and everybody’s favorite – a frazzled, screaming teacher. Yes… I remember those first experiences formally learning about computers and cringe. I have certainly made leaps and bounds with my technology literacy since the seventh grade.
- Lilah
13
Paulette Easterlin
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
I remember pecking away at a typewriter and later a word processor. I must say that I was fine with just having typing and printing ability. The word processor was great because I could cut and paste. When the internet and more advance technology came along I was intimidate. With the internet, I felt that there was too much access to things, many that should stay semi-private and that it took the personal touch out of things. I still wanted to get handwritten letters from friends and family. This intimidation kept me out of technology for some time. I became more interest once I stated teaching, and more so, within the last 2 1/2 years. Though I would not say that I am completely computer/technologhy proficient, I would say that I am more comfortable. From here, I would like to do more graphic and digital works as well as to become familiar with blogs, websites and webinar post sites.
14
katelingrande
// Jul 14, 2008 at 11:58 am
1982 I use green and white striped printer paper for drawings, placemats, and costumes (my brother
Carey earned quite a few paper cuts this way—sorry.
1986 Oregon Trail.
198? WordPerfect (ugh).
198? Microsoft Word—reports.
1993 America online chat rooms and mail (dial-up death).
1994 Dad is a computer programmer. Dad closes Word document I am working on without saving it
despite my protest. Due tomorrow. Tears and minor resentment dissipate within a week.
1995 Microsoft Word—reports.
1997 What’s this PowerPoint stuff? Thank God I am a language arts major.
2002 Matt and I make our first major purchase together—a desktop computer that actually works! I
use it for Word, Quicken, and the internet (online reservations of books and access to documents
for my Master’s), he uses it for research and transferring vhs onto DVD. It’s really quite a
production. I abstain.
2003 Free graduate level class at Marist on…technology. I love free credits! I do not connect with the
professor, he takes levels of technological experience for granted (as evidenced by the first
virtual classroom meeting we have—I was the only one there), and what we did had little impact
on our classroom practices. Hmm…
2004 Our computer dies a slow sad death…until we pay the Geek squad a ridiculous amount of money
to get the spyware off. Do Mac people suffer this kind of degradation and humiliation when
their computers have issues?
2007 We bought a Mac. It is beautiful and I love it more than I would a new puppy.
2008 Okay, so I need my own Mac. Really. I will buy the smaller version. Matt, are you telling me
that you will be happy if I take our computer to the HVWP every day while your sitting at home?
How will you rotate your fantasy pitchers? I know I am right.
2008 I really have to get on my blog. And Digital Storytelling. And…
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