Technological Sweet Spot

Ok, so I am not exactly sure where this post is going to end up so I am not going to give it a title yet. The title you see at the top wasn't thought of until much later in this post... Let me tell you where I'm at (figuratively, not literally) right now, and we'll work our way backwards or maybe forwards. Oh, I don't know, maybe even a bit sideways...

As I sit at my desk, typing away at my "main" computer, writing this blog, I have our newly acquired iPad remotely connecting to my other desk top teacher computer, which has a program called iTALC on it that allows me to view all of the student computers in the lab. While I remain productive, I am able to monitor my students, making sure they are staying productive. What inspired me to write on this topic today was from my recent experiences, using the iPad to remotely monitor my students. Now, instead of being stuck at my desk to monitor students, send messages to students, and be able to click into their computer to directly help them, I can do all of that from my iPad as I walk around the room. Now you might say, "Why don't you just walk around the room doing all of that directly with the students' computers?" A valid question, and I often do that, but it is often the case that I will be in one area of the room (and it's a big room) helping students and I have no idea what the other students are working on or if they need help. I can even take a step outside for a bit of fresh air and still make sure they are on task. And if you know anything about teaching middle school kids, that bit of fresh air might just be all you need to get through the day with smiles on your face. So, this newest connectivity that I have been able to acquire has allowed me tons of new possibilities. Above, I have only given a glimpse into the possibilities. Maybe in future posts I'll share more, but for now I am in a bit of a technological sweet spot, enjoying the labs new capabilities!!! I think I've found my title...

Do you ever get excited about a new technological experience or capability?

Perseverance

You want to be a success in life? You better be able to persevere! From getting through school to interviewing for job after job, dealing with a teacher you can’t stand to finishing your homework late at night. It’s how you handle these challenges and whether or not you let them affect the way you treat the people you care about that matter. Personally, the DVD Yearbook that my class is making is making me and my staff of editors crazy. Premiere Elements (the software we are using to edit the video) is very finicky and crashes often. There are ways around it and if I had been more hands on in the beginning of the school year, we wouldn’t be struggling nearly as much to finish it, but that is neither here nor there. The bottom line is we have problems and we have to fix them one by one until we figure it out. The issues are very technical in nature, so I am not going to go into detail, but all I can say is video editing can get complicated! What are we going to do? Give up? I don’t think so. I am not going to let this yearbook class be the first one in my five years here at Balboa to fail to provide the school with a DVD yearbook full of great memories, great music, and hilarious moments. Anyway, enough writing, I have to get back to fixing the problems, one by one…


Do you have the patience and mental toughness to persevere when things get tough?