[Original size] [Original size] What's the Tech T? 2/5 by Tanika Vincent
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Sooooooo...I just added this page to my site today in response to all that is happening is education this week. The "Corona" has me shook like everyone else! Last week, upon politely being asked to refrain from appearing at buildings in my district because I had recently traveled to see a Broadway show, I began to reflect like most people...How am I supposed to TEACH, TRAIN, PRESENT, CLOCK-IN & GET THE DAILY SCHOOL TEA if I can't "switch -n- twitch" through my buildings showcasing what I do?! After the initial shock of the request passed, I immediately started to plan... "Remember! You ARE an ETS! This should be a cake-walk for you, Kid!" Uhhhhhhhhhh...OK...Then I started to add to the numerous emails being flailed through cyberspace about distance learning preparations, reminding my schools of the tools and resources we have already been using in our daily grind and that NOW would be a great time for all of us to actually start using them! Midweek, I had to take a timeout! It seemed we were all REACTING out of fear instead of WORKING COLLABORATIVELY like the professionals we are. I thought about a scene from one of my favorite films, Gone With The Wind. The Corona is coming! Atlanta is infected! And APS wants me to stick around and be an ETS... "What is we gon' do?! I don't know nothin' 'bout survivin' The Corona!!!" I placed a phone call to a trusted colleague to vent... "Tell so-n-so to get this thing under control! There's waaaaayyyyy too much misinformation going around and no one is thinking clearly!!! I can't be physically present at my schools to rep as the confident face of the department and everyone's frantic emails are NOT HELPING!!" She was so sweet to listen. She assured me the department was aware of it all and was handling it. That helped! She repeatedly reiterated, "Don't go to your schools!! I know you! You have to figure this one out from your house, Girl!" DAMN! She knows me too well!!! I sure was thinking about it. I say all of this to emphasize the fact that we're all feeling the pressure of ensuring teaching and learning can continue in spite of "The Corona." Then something kinda poignant occurred to me. I've been telling teachers and students for YEARS about instructional strategies and tech tools to use to enhance lessons and improve operations. I've referred more people to Tanika's Tech Shop more times than I can count for "more details" on ed tech resources but now I need stuff for myself. Where can I go to get info on resources I need? Who would I refer myself to?...ME YOU BIG DUMMY!!! This forced me to my own site in search of answers that I needed to questions i was asking myself. Then I saw my own shortcomings in living Weebly color! Am I prepared for distance learning to start TODAY? NOPE! I was not. And that was the root of my trepidation and anxiety. A week ago, I didn't feel as prepared as I thought I would have been for this experience. Today, after making adjustments to my Weebly website, adding a blog page and reviewing the practical use of tools I promote regularly, I can say I feel more confident and ready to start being a virtual ETS! None of this is perfect. Nothing is set in stone. Our sites, instructional strategies, processes and protocols are being put to the test every second of this experience. But know that (in my Tom Hanks, Toy Story voice) you've got an ETS in me! We're going to be just fine!! Here's to our new "tech" normal! |
Tanika!Let me begin with...I am not THAT chick! You know...that very tech savvy type who has to have the latest EVERYTHING and knows stuff about processors and operating systems. Archives
February 2024
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