End of Summer

Summer, and my first two grad classes, are coming to an end. I have learned so much, too much maybe, and can't wait to learn more. I am excited to take another class, but am nervous becuase it really takes up a lot of time. Here I am, scrambling to finish all my work early so I can go on one last vacation before school starts. It would be nice if my school credited me the actual amount of hours I spend on my classes towards professional development, or at least the number of credit hours that I take!! It is frustrating that they want highly qualified, knowledgable teachers, yet not credit all of the hours teachers spend trying to better themselves. I know I'll get paid more eventually, but to do grad classes and then be expected to do 14 (minimum) additional hours of development is a lot! But, oh well. What makes me suffer only benefits my students!

The best part...

of taking the grad classes that I am is that I feel more prepared (and excited) to start teaching again in September. I've learned of so many new aspects of technology that I can share with my students. The last project that I completed, creating a digital story, might just be the best one yet. It is a project that I plan to implement at the beginning of the school year, provided I can find the time to teach them the technology I've learned! My school is switching to block scheduling and I'm a bit nervous! It will also be fun to share what I've learned with some of the teachers in my school that I know would enjoy the projects.

Finding stuff on the Web

While taking these classes, I am spending a terrific amount of time searching the Web for valuable and reliable information. I am also having a bit of a hard time doing it! It's not like I've never searched for something on the Internet before, but when you are looking for something educationally related, it is harder. I've found so many sites that are under a search that includes the word 'education' that are complete garbage! And it is very frustrating when sites are no longer being updated that you want to use! I've never bookmarked so many sites as I am doing this summer. Come September, I am sure I will have a great list of trustworthy websites to use!

Using the computer when I'm not home...

is difficult. This summer I am taking two grad classes which require me to have Internet access several times (if not everyday) a week. But I vacation a lot. And in today's WiFi world, this would normally not be a problem. It is for me though because most of my vacationing is in the middle of nowhere. My family camps out a lot. There's only been one spot, a state park in Vermont, that's had WiFi. But it rained almost the whole time I was there and the computer does not like to be sitting outside the Ranger's office in the rain. Luckily, my next trip is to Wildwood- with indoor WiFi. But then it's off to the Catskill Mountains where I can absolutely forget about using Internet! These trips have forced me to work diligently before leaving and after arriving home, which I guess is good too because I probably enjoy my vacations a bit more.

Vacation

I just back from Vermont yesterday and have been spending the day attached to my computer working on the discussion forum and project 2. My group has our project almost completed (!) and it had been an interesting experience creating something with two others that live far away. This has truly been a technological project as I've not only learned three new things about computers, but also that I've not met with Sandra or Siobahn in person to do any work!

First project done!

I finally finished. It took most of the day, but it's done! Hooray! I've made webpages before, but using PowerPoint, and this was completely different. I am glad I know how to do it now though!

I did it!

It did work! I am shocked and amazed, and happy as well. And I even got it to link back to my home page!