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December Ramblings
Category: Everyday ChatI have had a month of great news and I wanted to share.
In the beginning of December I got the news that I PASSED my Principal’s Test, in the state of Illinois this is the test I needed to pass to get my Administrative Certification.
A few weeks ago I got more great news, I was accepted to present at ISTE 2011! Not only was I accepted but I have been able to break out of my Clay Animation box. For the first time I was accepted to present a topic that is near and dear to my heart: Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is not anything new, but people are finally asking what is it. It’s becoming a buzz term that is important when designing classrooms.
Finally the week before break, I heard that we got a $50,000 grant specifically to purchase Promethean Activboards! After many phone calls with vendors, this grant will allow us to get 20 boards, 3 ActivExpressions (voters), 2 slates and a partridge in a pear tree! I was soooo excited! My principal actually let me tell everyone the last day of school before break.
I left for the holiday on a high note.
My concern is what happens now. I am still being relegated to a computer lab teaching position, two days a week I have back to back classes for 9 periods a day. (Not best practice in my opinion but just the way it has “always” been at this school). The issue is that I am the sole support for these teachers that are getting the new boards. The days I am not a lab teacher, I am at the admin building and out in sector. How am I going to support these 9 teachers that are getting boards when I have no freedom in my day. 10 of these boards are going directly in my school, the other 10 are going to our sister school. I am the ONLY one in the district qualified to train these teachers about the boards and the software. When am I going to be allowed to do this? How can I support these teachers with my current set up. My hope is that the principal will see what is happening and allow me to act as a coach versus a “lab” teacher for the rest of the year, but what if she doesn’t. How will I support these teachers? How will I show the board that these boards make a difference in engagement which in turn causes a decrease in behaviors. I have to “prove” that technology can make that change, but I know as well as anyone that if the teachers aren’t invested, then the technology will NOT make a change. Technology does not make a bad teacher good, but it can give them a tool to move in that direction IF they become invested. How do I help teachers to become invested?
So much good news this month but also so many things to ponder……
On a completely separate note, I think I am going to apply for ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator) again. I have already been turned down once, so I figure the worse thing that happens is I get turned down again and the best thing that could happen is that I get to be a part of an amazing new network.
I have also decided that I will join Teach42′s Fitness Challenge. I am hoping that the support of others in my network will help me get over the hurdle of myself in my lifelong battle with weight and health. You should check it out….it’s a GREAT group of people!
Ok enough for now….I really am trying to get into the swing of writing more regularly…thanks for reading my rambles!
~Anne
Ann, You need to write a proposal to your supervisor and administration. Explain how you want to change your schedule to make a difference. Try to find a bit of research (from the vendor about effective use of staff development) I have an article about a variety of training from workshop to hand holding…I can try and locate it if you are interested in it. Also, train other teachers who are interested and enthusiastic…a cadre of trainers. This could be a user group and share info. through collaboration groups. Sounds very exciting.
Hey Anne,
Is there a way you can train a few others to also be “board trainers”? If you have 2-3 others, it would help support the learning and growth of the usage of the boards. Being the only one who can provide something seems great, at first. Then as the usage and opportunities grow, it becomes impossible to meet the needs. How about a proposing a series of trainings or an all day Saturday training to train the trainers? I think this is an area the AT team should consider…..we are in/out of classrooms weekly and could offer support. Let’s chat!
Hey there Anne!
If you need another set of hands for PD on Promethean, I have been supporting/training our teachers for 3 years on Promethean and its peripherals. I really like the idea of writing a proposal of some scenarios that would meet the needs of the teachers receiving the boards. If you want to dream or brainstorm some ideas, so know how to reach me.
As I often say, “you’ve got a good problem to have”. It will work out, you will find a way. Please let me know if I can help support your implementation.