Vintage

January 30, 2014 Photo of the day: "Old School Technology"

A pipe burst at school last night causing us to lose all Internet connection for the whole day (so far...). For a 1:1 school with teachers and students so dependent upon technology, today certainly presented unique challenges. As tech coach, I spent the day brainstorming, troubleshooting, and setting up mobile hotspots for teachers and students who didn't even know they had such capabilities. Technology has really changed the way we deliver instruction in Pewaukee. Yet, as I've always said, good teaching really isn't about access to technology. Good lessons have everything to do with good teachers, clear and challenging learning targets, engaging lessons, effective assessment, differentiation, and feedback. Technology is an excellent tool for increasing efficiency and productivity, for making lessons more engaging, collaborative, and authentic. And although, I am the first to look to technology to transform my lessons, today reminded me that sometimes it is cathartic to unplug. Once and a while, it feels good to read a book, to write on paper, to walk down the hall and talk to someone face-to-face rather than simply sending an email. I am a digital immigrant after all! (Shhhhh...don't tell my administrators ;)