Lesson Nine- Technology Keeps Memories Alive

For my "Digital Writing Class" we created personal stories with Photo Story 3. My story is a tribute to my grandmother, Winnie Holt Turner. She was a precious soul who taught me so much and loved me unconditionally. I love you, Grandma Winnie.

Lesson 8- Use Technology To Preserve Memories

My niece "googled" me a few days ago and found my blog. She read the few that I had written, and she was excited that I mentioned the "texting" lessons she gave me for Christmas. I think she was just excited that I referenced her. She said that even though I didn't give her name, she knew that I was talking about her and that she would be sure to tell her friends.

So I have decided to let this blog be for my niece who has taught me so much about the teenage- 13- perspective of technology, who reminds me daily of how fortunate I am to be part of a wonderful family, who giggles when I try to be hip or cool but say the wrong thing only to sound lame and outdated, who still thinks, even though I am not the greatest cook, I make the best mac and cheese in the world, who thinks that I am the coolest aunt in the world- she's been conditioned to think and say that from birth- who promises to take care of me when I am no longer able to do so, who loves me warts and all, and who still asks me to read her favorite book to her before she goes to sleep when she visits me.

Tay, now I can read to you every night. Good night; sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite. I love you!

Brown, Margaret Wise. Good Night Moon. 1st Board Edition. New York: Harper Collins Publishers- Harper Festival, 1991. Print.

Podcast created as class requirement:

Lesson 7 - Use Technology For Good - Not For Bad

For so long, I thought that because of my mature age and because of the few years I have left before I can retire from teaching, I only needed to know the basic programs required to enter data into a grade book, to take attendance, to word process a test, and to create a PowerPoint when necessary. Watching the news and hearing all of the crazy stories about computer programs, people hacking into accounts, students plagiarizing papers, etc. made me skeptical of what I could do with all of the Internet tools and of what I needed to do. It seemed as if technology's reputation was not so good, and I didn't really want much to do,if anything, with it.

However, learning to use various programs and devices over the last few weeks in the "Digital Writing" class has opened my mind and my eyes to the world of technology. The experience has been scary, exciting, overwhelming, fun, confusing, exciting, - oh, said that one already. I have really learned so much by reading our assignments, playing on the Internet, experimenting with my new-found knowledge, and blogging. For me, the scariest part has been the blogging. I fear saying something stupid, but blogging and putting it "out there" for any and everybody to see is just, well, I can't even come up with a word to describe the grip that seizes my heart once I press the "publish" button.

I know that I can delete the blog, and I know that I can edit it to take out the crazy sounding statements. But at the end of the day, I "get" that blogging is real and authentic, and if I delete my post or edit it to sound different, then I am not being truthful. This is me. Crazy ideas, dumb statements, mistakes, etc. Blogging has made me take a good hard at myself, at my teaching methods, at my technological skills and the lack thereof, and blogging has liberated me- (I didn't even have to carry a protest sign or burn anything.)

As trite as it may sound, I have grown and continue to grow in the area of technology. The mere fact that I took the chance to record something that I wrote and embed it in the last blog for the good Lord and everyone else to hear is a miracle. Thus, with this new found freedom of experimenting, researching, and integrating new technology in my life and with a new found courage, I vow to use technology for good and not for bad. (Cheesy- I know.) I want to use it to improve my life and my teaching practices. I think I have just enough time in life and in teaching to do so.

Wish me luck!! :)

Lesson 6- Just Breathe

The first five lessons of this blog have all had to do with technology in one way or the other. This lesson is about life in general- not necessarily technology- although technology does have a part to play in the lesson I am currently learning.

These last two and a half weeks have been so very stressful and crazy. I am not complaining; I am so very grateful for my family, my job, my friends, and the many opportunities and blessings I have been given. I am just overwhelmed. When I finally sit down at night to fold clothes, read classwork, grade papers, talk to my husband, I literally fall asleep. I feel as if my head will explode, my heart will burst out of my chest, and my eyes will pop from all of the tension. I can't really explain from where this tension comes- a combination of lots of things.

So today, I claim peace. I will do my best not to let things get to me as they have in the past. When my computer goes nuts- as it has in the last three weeks- I'll make peanut butter and look for smoother days. When the clothes pile up, I will wash and fold them one load at a time and be thankful I have something to wear. When the papers bury me, I'll dig my way out, one essay at a time. And when I feel my heart begin to burst out of my chest- I'll just breathe. I will take a deep cleansing breath and be thankful God has given me another day to breathe. I will take a deep cleansing breath and thank God for all of the blessings He has given me (especially my understanding husband who takes the ink pen or unfolded wash cloth out of my hand when he finds me asleep on the couch, or wherever I may be, and covers me with a blanket in case I get cold during the night.) --- I'll just breathe.


In response to the stress I have been feeling, I wrote a poem of sorts, just for fun. As part of my "Writing in the Digital Classroom" assignment, I have created a podcast.