Who Has Time to Blog?

Between lesson planning, assessing student work, blogging on mrsrudd.net, and all the rest, I just haven't had any time to blog here. I admire teachers who can do all they do and keep a professional blog. I'm struggling.

I will report, though, that I attended my first MTAC meeting on Thursday. Our MTAC group serves both SILSA and Asheville High. I came away from the meeting feeling especially thankful for some of my technology, especially my LCD projector. I have been using my projector every class period. In fact, I make an inelegant PowerPoint which serves as a visual lesson plan. So far, the PowerPoints are completely bare-bones, just black text on the white screen, but I appreciate not having to write the same notes over and over. I also appreciate how easy it is to share a day with a student who missed it and to develop CLOZE notes for students who can't do all the transferring or writing for themselves.

The MTAC meeting highlighted all the exciting things that are happening with learning and collaborating and integrating technology on our campus. We are going to have access to ePals, and I signed up to pilot the blogging feature for SILSA. I can't believe that blogging is now within reach for my students and me. It's so basic, but so powerful. My students and I will be able to offer written feedback to one another's work fairly effortlessly. There will also be email for students which I think will be helpful for kids since they aren't allowed to use thumb drives on school computers. For my part, though, I am much more interested in the public discourse.

I am somewhat puzzled by a comment that I hear repeatedly from various school leaders that IMPACT is about teaching not about technology. They really seem to want to downplay the tecnology component. I think I understand the point, that the IMPACT model is about collaboration between teachers, media specialists, literacy coaches, and writing coaches. I know that it's about collaboration, but, since we are getting a huge grant for technology, then I think it's obvious, to all parties, that access to technology will facilitate collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning. I don't know if the comment hopes to soften the blow for those who won't receive an LCD projector the first go-round or what.

My mission is clear. I must do all I can with what I have.