It all began 3 long years ago in Nashville, TN. I was attending Model Schools Conference and all I kept hearing was iPads this and iPads that! Computers enhance learning! Engage kids through technology! I was hooked. What teacher doesn't want to be more engaging?
I returned to school on the prowl for any and all technology. I got a MacBook. Then a class set of iPads. After that, I wanted new programs for screencasting and creating interactive lessons! All leading up to where I am today!
But what really makes this relationship between myself and technology true love is the fact that I keep going back. I mean technology glitches, technology fails, Wi-Fi goes down, Configurator, well it just sucks sometimes…and other times, like lately, it's extra temperamental.
It started with my desktops not working! No network on this one and no internet on that one! #19 turning off and on repeatedly. #13 freezing. The keyboard on one randomly typing. The IT guy spent many hours in my sauna trying to fix the desktops. Now, those are running smoothly.
In the mean time, we got iPads out with the younger kids. Well, I thought I had created a backup and made folders for all the apps, but come to find out, configurator decided to only put the backup on half the iPads. Without the backup, there were no folders, and no guarantee the correct apps were on the iPads. This meant the kids couldn't find the right apps. Trying to teach 20 kindergartens how to find a certain app...whoa, it's like trying to progress monitor half your class weekly, or fitting 26 math lessons into 19 days or taking a class full of kindergarteners to the bathroom! Next to nearly impossible. So I plugged my iPads back in and reconfigured them...it had to work the 3rd time!! Or not! So there I was, trying again to make it easy for the little ones and technology just FAILED me! I'd get frustrated, go vent to the librarian and then go right back to the technology I love.
I'm sure you are thinking one of two things:
But let me assure you, it just kept slamming me; yet I chose to still love it. After I made nice folders on the iPads, (connecting them 10 at a time.) I was sure they all had folders and the same apps. I pulled one out of the cart and played with the app I wanted to teach kindergarten. Notability...kid friendly, does everything I want. I made an example and was ready to go! I got the iPads handed out...low and behold...what do you know...it's NOT there! Seriously?!?
In the mean time, we got iPads out with the younger kids. Well, I thought I had created a backup and made folders for all the apps, but come to find out, configurator decided to only put the backup on half the iPads. Without the backup, there were no folders, and no guarantee the correct apps were on the iPads. This meant the kids couldn't find the right apps. Trying to teach 20 kindergartens how to find a certain app...whoa, it's like trying to progress monitor half your class weekly, or fitting 26 math lessons into 19 days or taking a class full of kindergarteners to the bathroom! Next to nearly impossible. So I plugged my iPads back in and reconfigured them...it had to work the 3rd time!! Or not! So there I was, trying again to make it easy for the little ones and technology just FAILED me! I'd get frustrated, go vent to the librarian and then go right back to the technology I love.
I'm sure you are thinking one of two things:
1. DUH, technology is stupid, I hate it and it always fails so why use it.
2. Nothing else could have possibly gone wrong!
But let me assure you, it just kept slamming me; yet I chose to still love it. After I made nice folders on the iPads, (connecting them 10 at a time.) I was sure they all had folders and the same apps. I pulled one out of the cart and played with the app I wanted to teach kindergarten. Notability...kid friendly, does everything I want. I made an example and was ready to go! I got the iPads handed out...low and behold...what do you know...it's NOT there! Seriously?!?
I decided to plug the iPads in and add the app quickly before class the next day! No biggie right?! WRONG! I plugged them in, downloaded the app, checked a couple, they did their thing, so I assumed they all did their thing. Class came around, kindergartens were sitting in my room and I started calling kids to get their iPads..Sam #1 Tom #2 Betty #3... As the kids began opening up the iPad to start playing, 5/6 of them were on the "welcome to the iPad" screen! (For those of you who don't know...that's like the "your iPad is back to factory settings and you need to set it up because you have NOTHING on it" screen.) Guess we weren't supposed to do iPads that day either. Last week on Friday I ended up plugging each iPad into my computer individually and making it look the way I wanted. (Thankfully a teacher friend (thanks Rudd) stayed and kept me company for the 5 hours it took!!) Once again I was so excited to use the "newly" set up iPads!
Monday rolled around and guess what?!? My kindergarteners were able to practice finding letters on the keyboard by typing their color words. Then they took pictures with of different color objects. SUPER cute and they had a BLAST! Today, my kids wanted to do multiple colors and some did.
Two life lessons and thoughts to leave you pondering as I close this blog…
1. Just think about it, things fail and as teachers we just ROLL with it! The whiteboard markers run out and you can't write on the board! The pencil breaks while helping a student. The book you are supposed to read magically disappears right when you want to read it. You realize you made copies of the wrong assessment after all the kids have started. As much as we teachers plan and like to control, our day is out of our hands. Whether you use technology or not, we are thrown curveballs daily. Remember, be kind to everyone even when you are thrown a curveball. Everyone includes other teachers, students, support staff, and parents.
2. Really, it's true love and love is a choice! Technology makes me so mad sometimes because it fails, just like a human does, but I make the choice to use technology and give it a billion chances. Loving technology is only a silly metaphor, what really matters is loving people! I make the choice to love my brother and give him a billion chances even if he torments me. I make the choice to love my students even when they make bad choices. Are you making the choice to love even when someONE is making you mad? Because Jesus chose us and loves us knowing we would mess up, we should do the same. Even I messed up today! (And probably owe that person an apology!)
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