Random Thoughts On 1:1 - Clicking Buttons

by Adam Britton

In thinking about 1:1, I just wanted to talk about a couple of things that will be important in our transition. First off, get to know Google! Secondly, don’t be afraid to click buttons!

Apparently, this Google thing is a pretty big deal. We will be using their services and they offer a wide variety of useful apps. We are only scratching the surface right now. Google has a lot of help menus, but these apps don’t really come with an instruction manual. My advice then is to sign into Google and click something that looks interesting. Take some time to explore. There is no doubt that it will take some time. But there are lots of apps that can do so many things that can enhance what you want to do in the classroom. I think you are going to feel left behind if you are waiting for training for Google features. There are basics that will be addressed and some folks are masters of other Google apps, but you have got to explore for yourself to see what will fit your classroom!

This segues into my next point...don’t be afraid to click buttons. Sometimes I feel like people are afraid that they are going to collapse the Google infrastructure with the single click of a button! Google isn’t stupid enough to give us that kind of power! It is also important to note that the Google products change as they are continually improving and adding new features to what they offer. Be flexible and adaptable!

I think one of the things that separates the “tech experts” in the building is that willingness to try out some new piece of software and click buttons. I don’t think of myself as a “tech expert.” If a student went back in the room in the library and changed on of the network cables and caused us to lose Internet access...I’d be clueless. However, I am definitely not afraid to click buttons. I think that comes from a lack of patience in dealing with my Father. My Father was not afraid to bring in new technology and try new devices or software in our home. However, his approach was to always consult an instruction manual. This was always too slow for me. I’d just think about what the device/software could do and then click on the button that made the most sense. That usually works about 75% of the time.

But please understand, clicking buttons is a frustrating process. It leads to a lot of dead ends and frustration. But eventually you work through the obstacles. All of a sudden, you have become a “tech expert”! This is how I’ve learned to use student response systems, screencasting, and now Google products.

In my latest venture, I am looking to create an app. I was inspired by the potential grant money in the “Straight A” fund that Mr. Hile has referenced in our numerous e-mails. Although I won’t bore you with the details, the short story is that I need to create an app. I’ve never done this before. I don’t have a degree in computer science or programming. Right now, ... it looks like a foreign language to me. But I’m going to be patient, I’m going to explore, I’m going to go click some buttons...

Take a peek inside Adam's classroom and hear how he has really become a "tech genius" ... also, discover what he really thinks of Debbie Fehrman, find out about the "Scott Beery" app and hear why Justin's the guy to go to (at least sometimes)!  ****************************************

***************************

http:

//www.niu.edu/taconnections/images/articles/screencasting.jpg

Some screencasting resources from Adam:

Here's Adam's document with some screencasting tools ... give them a try!

Below is one of Adam's "Math Casts" he's working on for a potential "flipped classroom"environment next year:

Life Savers

Waiver Day # 1:  a warm Wednesday morning, teachers all in their places with bright, shining faces, computers and minds open to what the 1:1 program might bring.  And there I am, the newbie, excited to talk about integrating technology. Couldn’t be more perfect.  Aaaaaand then our internet access point couldn't handle all the excitement and took a dive and our internet provider got cyber attacked, leaving us with only sporadic internet.  Same old story: technology’s great when it works, but when it doesn’t….

I had two lifesavers that morning:  one was Jeff Wills, not only a Master Teacher but an encouraging colleague.  He quietly approached me right after the internet let us down and whispered a reminder in my ear about something I mentioned in my interview for this position, about how when teachers’ technology plans go bust we’re like soldiers after battle, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder:  we’re frozen for a bit, our dreams turn into nightmares, and we don’t want to go back into battle again. Ever.    

As teachers, though, we’ve all had beyond-our-control setbacks and still returned the next day to give ‘er another go, yes? 
 
So I reached for my second lifesaver that morning:  my external hard drive (think flash/thumb drive on steroids) on which I had made a last-minute decision to store all my files for the day and toss into my book bag. Always have a backup plan, right?

The morning went on, a supportive, patient staff continued to be patient and even tried some new things. Later, with the help of some wonderful colleagues from the high school, we got some 1:1 scoop and had a fun live Q & A via Google Hangout.

         

Speaking of the Google Hangout:

... Special thanks to four let's-just-see-what-happens colleagues and one pioneering principal from over the way.  When the idea came to try this format, Wes Weaver said very confidently that he could find some willing participants.  Within a couple of days I had my test pilots: Christopher Clark, Brian Ledford, Andy Zidron, and Josh Caton. 

Although 1 or 2 of them had tested the Google Hangout waters, no one (including me) had gone full on with an audience like we planned to do. We decided just to go for it. The only life savers I had for them were some some tips I thought might help, and help in getting them set up to use the Google Hangout Toolbox  app that allowed us, through a feature called Lower Third, to whip up name banners so we could all be identified easily as we recorded. There were a few glitches, as there might be with anything new, but we did what educators always do... we made it work. I think teachers may find many uses for Hangout: here are a few good ones.

    

So now that the school year has officially begun, and we’re two weeks closer to next year’s 1:1 push out, I’m still thinking about lifesavers:  When it comes to integrating technology, will we depend on each other as colleagues, will we be the calming force for our students who'll be just as new to 1:1 as we will be -- or might the students, who never fail to surprise us, be our lifesavers?  



photo credits: 
LVMS Waiver Day pics: by Bonnie McQueen (thanks, Bonnie!)
Brian Ledford & Chris Clark: Mindy Hanson