Today’s Perfect Moment is getting a better handle on the technology I have to employ in my new role as online teacher. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that today’s bike ride really should also win the honours. The thing is, you are probably going to be sick of me droning on about amazing bike rides and things seen on the side of the road –giant stop sign for one–so I thought I would give you a break. However, if you want to read a tiny bit about the ride, just read until the end.
As far as technology goes, I would generally give myself a passing grade. I am not a whiz, but I can generally hold my own. In terms of the stuff I am using for my job, I certainly would be happier (and better prepared) if I had been given more training. Training consisted of a one hour meeting updating us on our work situation using the technology. I guess it was learn by example. It was woefully lacking in strategies, examples of best practice, or even ways to deal with problems. True, teachers don’t like to told how to teach, but this is a bit of a different story.
One of the difficulties I have been having is wanting to split the students up into smaller work groups. They seem to talk more when in small groups and I would rather monitor small groups than cajole a large group. I just didn’t know how to do it.
One of my ex-coworkers (he has been laid-off) offered to give me some guidance, but since he doesn’t even know how to spell my name, and he has been a divisive force in the company, I didn’t really want to give him the satisfaction of helping me. Petty on my part? A little. I am fiercely independent and I don’t want help from someone who is only doing it for their ego and not because they are genuinely helpful. Before this moment the only people he has helped are ones he wanted to control by feeding their egos. And still, he can’t even spell a seven letter name correctly.
The good thing is that this morning, I figured out how to do it myself. I successfully used it in class in a mostly seamless way and had a very good effect on the students and the topic. Cue the Rocky music.
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If you’re still here and wondering about the bike ride. It was a glorious day filled with triumphs over technology. How could I not go on a bike ride? I still struggled a bit out of the gate, but at the turnaround, I felt strong and finished strongly. I also came across the biggest stop sign I have ever seen. I am guessing that a number of people have missed it over the years, and somebody decided to do something about it.
