Practical Principals 23 – #EduconEnvy, Ten Things, and the iPad
We had some major audio problems in our recording so I had to do a lot of post-production to get it to sound “right.” Long-time listeners will notice something missing in the last second or two of the show…
Links from the show:
Listen now!
I showed the iPad video from Apple to my 4th graders yesterday while my fearless principal (Melinda Miller) was battling the elements to get to Philly. I’m sure it met some Missouri GLE for technology, but to tell the truth I don’t know which one and didn’t look it up. I was excited about it and wanted to share this new tool with my kds. Although they were impressed, I don’t think they were as amazed by it as I was. Later it hit me, they expect this type of technology. This has always been their world. They don’t know any different. They have grown up with it. I guess they are tired of hearing about my first experiences with technology (the microwave and a huge video disc player that played something the size of a record).
So, my question. How do we get this kind of technology into our classrooms and use it? How do we fund it? How do I integrate it with our MO gles? I have a fellow teacher in my district working on a grant for 30 itouch devices for his math class. I hope he gets it, but I’m jealous. I’m growing bored of teaching the same thing the same way. I can’t get my head wrapped around the available tools and use them effectively in my instruction. I admit, I am overwhelmed and don’t know where to go from this point. And my principal wants me to present at our district technology conference?????
Have a great time, I’ll check in on your tweets, but I have to go tend to a four year old, do laundry, clean house, and finish lesson plans and grade papers. How do you all do it?????
Isn’t that how it goes? This kind of thing is just “expected” for most kids. I expect it won’t be too long before they issue a cellphone and phone number to every newborn add a spot to birth certificates for “Twitter ID.”
As far as how we do it, we talk a lot about that in some of our older podcasts. As tough as it may sound — and believe me we both have little ones — you just kind of figure out how to make it work.
I think a Trekkie the named iPad…and I know this because I am one. The little hand-held devices on the Star Trek series are referred to as “pads”. So probably someone at Apple is also a Trekkie and thought iPad is the perfect name for this device.
This is my first year as an assistant principal and I would like to add to the list of things you don’t learn in grad school… it’s okay to say “I don’t know”. Frankly I really don’t know the answers to everything. Frequently, I find myself calling the other APs in the district to determine what they would do in a situation. I also can call someone in the Admin Building and get their input before I make my decision.
Don – Thanks for the comment! I think you’re right on in that so many admins (and teachers!) think it’s a sign of weakness to “not know” something. To add to that, I think it’s worth noting that people tend to want an instant decision when they come to you with a concern and it’s also OK to say, “I’ll have to get back to you on that.” Don’t be pressured into making a snap judgment in the moment without weighing any unexpected outcomes.
Thanks for listening!