I'm DONE LIKE A TURKEY!!

It feels good to be finished! Today I had my Informational Technology Workshop after school from 3:15 - 4:30. I had 11 participants. Everything seemed to flow really well that was planned. I wish we had more time to show everyone a little more about all of the equipment, but the whole point of this workshop was to inform everyone of the many things we can do with the technology we currently have. I opened the workshop with letting everyone know what the workshop was for and encouraging them to be more proactive with technology. I felt like it was all worth it, when one teacher said, " OH..I didn't even know we had an LCD projector that you can check out!" I think everyone walked away with a little excitement about using technology. We started out with a demo of the LCD projector, then to GPS units, and information on Microsoft Publisher. I thought it was great to talk about Publisher because it was just recently installed as of this past Monday. So maybe the word will spread about that. The next presenter spoke about United Streaming and everything that is cabable with this program, such as sounds, lesson plans, video clips, and much more. He also briefly touched on Windows movie maker. I was the next presenter with talking about Wiki's. I actually didn't make one, but I had an example to show everyone and how it could be best used. And where to find how to make on our county website. The server was actually down to show our example of a blog, but another presenter talked about how she incorporates into her classroom. The last presenter finished everything up with an Intergration technology power point. She showed examples of how she adds sound clips, movie clips, and much more. This teacher actually has her own Mimeo Board from a grant that she received. Many of the teachers were impressed with this equipment. This presenter also showed everyone an example of a claymation project her students made last year.
Once the workshop was all over with, I received a lot of good feedback from everyone. They thought everything was really interesting. I was so appreciative of everyone that came and everyone that helped me to present this workshop. One teacher gave me the idea if I have to do anything like this again, then she would like a whole workshop on just one area. Maybe I will be able to do that in the future. That is actually something I think a media coordinator should be required to do is offer certain learning experiences with the technology that is available.

What I have left to do....

In the past few days I have been working on my portfolio and my tri-fold board for Thursday's class. I really wasn't sure what I was going to put on the board until about a week ago. I was driving to Raleigh and thinking about what could I do that is related to my AL project. My whole AL project is basically informing teachers what Burke Co. has to offer and to get them more interested in using technology. So I thought I would create a board that listed a definition and a picture of all the materials that are available. I was able to get everything cut and pasted. I even included what a blog, wiki, and website is on the board. It's very simple, but informative. I hope! I am having a meeting Monday with my presenters for my workshop on my Monday. I will feel better once that is over and things are organized a little better. I have an idea of what I want...now it's just getting it all out of my head and into real life! I can't believe I'll be finished with my first semester of grad. school after this week!!

Updating

Today I worked on getting some things organized. It's slowly coming together. I went to the technology department and I thought the lady was going to give me a lot of technology equipment. The only thing that I got was the temperature probes and laser pointer pens. The laser pointer pens would be really cool in my art classroom to work with. I am going to set up stations that show small demostrations for everything that will be there. I think I'm going to have an LCD projector station, laser pointer pen station/ whiteboard, blog example, wiki page example, claymation example, United Streaming example, microsoft publisher example, and I don't know what else! I've set up a meeting with the people that I'm working with for Dec. 1st. It will all come together!

Still organizing

I am still doing some organizing with my Action Learning project. I sent an email to the technology coordinator for the county and she never responded. So I sent another email this morning and she called me right away. I was able to get some questions answered. Tomorrow I am going to pick up some materials from the Tech department that I will use for my workshop. I am going to play around with some of the materials so I will be more comfortable with telling others how they work. The tech coordinator gave me a few suggestions...like giving a time limit to all of the presenters. That way everyone there will have time to look at all the technology available. I found out that I am not going to be able to have the GPS units. Which stinks b/c my librarian knows a lot about them. I think I will have plenty to show to everyone. Still a little nervous......

Tonight's Class

Tonight we had a great seminar discussing the "Whither the Postmodern Library". We split up the class into 2 parts and we started out with a debate. We began the discussion by asking ...are libraries on a downward spiral or deconstructing due to the rise of technology. I don't think that technology is taking away from libraries, but patrons need to learn how to intergrate technology more in their daily lives. Technology is something that isn't going to every go away, but will continue to get bigger and bigger. We need to learn to embrace technology and to be the captain of learning new tools! I'm preaching to the choir here about embracing technology and understanding it more!

AL project still going.....

Things are starting to come together. I have just emailed the person in charge of the Burke Co. Technology Department about descriptions on everything that is available for checkout. I made a poster listing everyhting from what is available to how contact information and how to learn how to use the equipment. I would also like to put together some descriptions of some of the equipment of some lesson plans on how to integrate the technology. I have decided on Dec. 3rd from 3:15 -4:30 for the workshop. I have about 4 people signed up so far. I also made a sign-up sheet for the workshop to keep all organized. Everyone that comes will get .1 CEUs. I'm so glad that went through because everyone needs sometime of an incentive. I also bought a notebook today to start putting some of this paper information in order! HOpefully I will get alot accomplished between now and Thanksgiving so I can actually enjoy Thanksgiving!!

Action Project continued

Currently the update on my action project is...I am trying to decided on a date to do my workshop. I wanted to do it on Dec. 4th which is a half-day for students, but of course my school has some writing workshop already planned!! So it looks like Dec. 3rd it is. I wish I had come up my ideas a little sooner so I could get this thing finished. Oh well... Friday I emailed a little in the county to check on CEUs, b/c my principal didn't seem to think it would be possible. I'm glad I did b/c she gave me the go ahead. Now I just have to get it all set it stone. I just need to come up with a timeline or something to organize everything I want to happen at the workshop. I am having 3 people to help me present this workshop. I need to get all of the little details worked out. It's just finding the time to sit and talk with each of these people! It will all work out!