Senator Hagan

So this was my day as I was working on a website for the Help Desk.  I thought it was a relatively cool experience.  Always nice to meet someone whose kind of famous.  Especially around election time!

So it's another Saturday and I again find myself in a Starbucks.  As a reflection of the week I want to say how much fun it was getting to work with teachers again during the PTP meeting on Tuesday.  But I did realize that I bit off a little bit more than I can chew, it's pretty difficult to set timed meetings with teachers when there is chaos in the Help Desk.

I tell you one thing though, a teacher portal for how-tos would be great.  I've assigned students different roles they need to complete for their next project.  They will have a three week assignment that will be able to be put on a website so teachers and students can utilize how-to's pretty much anywhere they are. 

They say that October and March are always the longest months to be teachers, and I can agree.  I'm very excited for our break -- I don't even have anything planned, but I really need a break.  I'm also sure you all can agree.

PTP Meeting Take 2

I'm actually pretty excited about the PTP process.

I really enjoy sitting down and helping people with their technology issues.  It's actually the biggest reason I took the job.  I noticed that we were all working towards the same goal, even though we have different destinations.

I think a challenge from today is working with teachers from other content areas.  Ms. Markle had me question a lot as I was working on a way to integrate meaningful content into her classroom.  I challenged her by telling her that her homework was to sign up for the blue room.  We gotta get outta that comfort zone.

I think that the cohorts will be an excellent way for us to work together for a goal.  It will help us push ourselves in a smaller group setting with likeminded people working together.  Normally, I'm not really a big fan of cohorts and working together, because it always seems like a buzzword that people are using in the education field.  But for the first time, I'm excited to help my coworkers with something I'm kind of comfortable with.

I hope everyone else is both as excited and apprehensive as I am for this process.

Here's something that I need to think about though -- Tracey asked what I was going to do at NCTIES.  I don't know if I really want to go.  I like being behind the scenes to make something else happen -- that and you know -- the babies coming around that time.  #Lessthan80.

Another Saturday at Starbucks

As a teacher there is a constant need to reflect on your practice.  And in the brief time that I have as Mrs. Akelman is currently at work and I am sitting at a Starbucks, I didn't order anything the line was too long, reflecting on how my week went.

All things considered, this week was a good opportunity for me to see what I was able to do.  This was my first technology visit as Help Desk Manager and I think that the visitors were impressed by the level of expertise that my students shared.  I hope that with this experience I will be better prepared for next visit.

On Wednesday, I had a terrific opportunity to sit down with ITF's across the district to discuss a long term plan for what these positions would be.  Recently, I felt very fragmented within what each role would be, but I think that we have made a very valuable step in the right direction by making sure we have leadership that will continue to grow the program and develop excellence and standards across the district.  ITF's are the reason why teachers are so successful with some of these programs, and I think by being on the same page then we are all working toward a better goal.

Lastly, this week has proven to me that I have a little more time than I had at the beginning of the year.  Tennis has officially wound down and I have more time to reflect on what I need to do.  Friday was a struggle though -- I was gone half the day and there was some confusion about what needed to be done with some updates to the Operating Systems.

So in summation:

• I need to come up with policies and procedures to ensure that the Help Desk can run smoothly while I'm not there
• I need to be more concise in my e-mails regarding small things (I've always been pretty verbose)
• I need to be more specific in my e-mails and include screenshot when possible if it regards a complicated subject.
• I need to be more receptive to feedback that way the Help Desk can change in a positive way to  help both teachers and students. 

Wow, look at that, a complete blog post in under 7 minutes.  Of course, in the busy day of a teacher, there's not much time for editing.  Here's to hoping it's somewhat readable. 

Congrats

Congratulations to me!

I've been promoted to be a coach for the PTP team.  I'm excited.  After taking the self-assessment I see that I still need to grow as an educator, but I really enjoy coaching teachers with technology.  It's pretty cool too.

From a standpoint of where I am today to where I was in college is starkly different.  For a little while in my life I thought that I was going to pursuit college and a career in law.  Then I decided I wanted to teach -- I was actually backed into a corner with nothing else to look at so I picked it as a final alternative.

I took education classes and fell in love.  I didn't realize that I was meant to do something in life, but the more I do with education the more enthralled I am by it.  I love working with students.  I think it's probably why I took the Help Desk job; it gives me an opportunity to pursuit another passion of technology and working with students.

I don't believe that I could be doing anything better.  Now I get to take that to the next level; I can help other teachers utilize digital resources to help improve their own instruction.  I didn't think that I would be able to do something that amazing so early in my career.  But then again, I didn't think I'd be in education 10 years ago.  But -- now that I'm here... I won't go anywhere.

Reflecting Today

This is blog post #1.  I hope that I can help you guys work around what you need to accomplish with utilizing technology in the classroom.  To be honest, as I look at this project -- I think it will take a lot of my nonexistent time.  But I know that you guys will be awesome and help me out when I need to.

The coolest part of this experience is going to be me learning from you guys as well.  Either way I'm excited.  I can't wait to get this thing started!