RE: tictech: end of the year reflections

From: Peggy J. Soong Yaplee (psoong@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us)
Date: Wed Jun 19 2002 - 13:09:53 PDT

  • Next message: Mark Ahlness: "tictech: ** Prototype **"

    -tictech message:

    Thanks Mark for all your hard work on keeping up the Tic Tech List!

    Sharing your Cookie experience every winter holiday and your grocery bag
    project!

    Thanks to all who shared on Tic Tech and gave so many good ideas and help.

    Peggy J. Soong Yaplee
    Infotech Teacher
    Cleveland High School
    psoong@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us

    -----Original Message-----
    From: owner-tictech@learningspace.org
    [mailto:owner-tictech@learningspace.org]On Behalf Of Mark Ahlness
    Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 9:24 PM
    To: tictech
    Subject: tictech: end of the year reflections

    -tictech message:

    Hello All,
    I did not post a "Rules of the Road" document in May or June, so this email
    will hopefully fill the void you might feel for things rulelike :)

    First, I have been corrected by someone with a clearer memory than I about
    what cks stood for - it was "common knowledge seattle". Please unsubscribe
    yourself from this list if you're still receiving this on a cks account - go
    to the web site at the end for directions.

    Reflections on the year, the classroom: It has been a very good one. As a
    classroom teacher, I took the chance on having a student teacher - and had a
    very positive experience with a sharp WSU grad. She was a real tech champ
    as well. It was great to have the opportunity to discuss just exactly what
    they were being taught in terms of tech integration. Was pleased to hear
    that for the most part, technology was not taught separately, but was
    integrated into all her methods classes. Interesting for her, as well, to
    see the real world of tech integration. For all the pushing of technology
    I've done over the years in my building, I felt like I was actually
    defending the slowness of tech adoption in our classrooms - how strange and
    uncomfortable! It was good to have a fresh, unbiased, outside perspective.

    It was also a good year as a classroom teacher. I had a wonderful group of
    24 third graders. I've mentioned recently their PowerPoint prowess, only
    now they are even more fluent and sophisticated - to the point where they
    are able as a class to critique each others' work - and learn from that
    process. Tomorrow I say goodbye to a very special bunch.

    Reflections on the year, the tictech list: A good year, I guess. The switch
    to the Learning Space server was necessitated by the end of the Challenge
    Grant. Tictech was just a small piece of the many good things the Challenge
    Grant brought to this district. I thank those who worked so hard to bring
    it to the district and to make its contributions meaningful.

    As moderator, it was a slow year. Not as many conversations as in years
    past - I do not know why. Maybe people used OWA and thought they were
    replying to the list - when they were just replying to the person who posted
    the message (this is a problem with the "reply to" field that is still
    unresolved). I have essentially approved ALL messages sent to this list
    (with the exception of those who accidentally sent personal messages to the
    list). I myself wrote at least a dozen messages to the list but trashed
    them before sending. Those were the messages where I was just fed up with
    the system, the red tape, or the lack of communication in the district. I
    thought better of sending them - concerned about offending people or
    departments, I guess. I told myself that next time, I would _for sure_ send
    my thoughts, and not worry. Hang onto your hats :)

    The state of tictech: This list is hosted at no charge on a server provided
    by the Learning Space, a nonprofit organization. The Learning Space also
    provides an archive for all list messages. I moderate the list on my own
    time. There about 230 members.

    Reflections as an unofficial tech leader in my school: A very frustrating
    year. I have no idea what is in store for us next year, who is to do what,
    etc. Despite the most sophisticated of networks, critical information about
    technology in Seattle Schools does not get to our staff or our classrooms.
    The good news is most teachers are much more comfortable with the new
    technologies. People help each other. We have also had a great U-Wired
    student to keep the ship afloat. Staff training has not come as far as I'd
    hoped - but we have created a wonderful lab out of thin air, almost :)

    Tictech will be in operation through Friday, June 21st. Feel free to post
    messages until then. It will resume again the last week of August. Have a
    great summer, everyone - moderator Mark

    Mark Ahlness
    mlahlness@seattleschools.org
    Arbor Heights Elementary School
    http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/

    -end tictech message. To join, leave, or visit
    the message archive, go to tictech on the Web:
    http://www.earthdaybags.org/tictech/

    -end tictech message. To join, leave, or visit
    the message archive, go to tictech on the Web:
    http://www.earthdaybags.org/tictech/



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