My ZenPlace

I've been trying to get to this mystical place for some time now. I think we all do at some point in our lives-when we just need something more to give us a feeling of peace and general well-being. Not just an impetuous New Year's resolution that fades after a few weeks...but a feeling that what we seek is close at hand yet still beyond our reach. And when I get this feeling there is only one tangible thing that propels me closer...music.

I've heard people talk about the "soundtrack to their lives" and if i was to score my own, I think it would reflect the ebbs and flows of the pursuit of my ZenPlace. Recently I have been so frustrated and stressed because I just couldn't find the music to match my current state of being. Until, I decided to let the power of myspace (once again) bring "my" music to me. ( No, if you're wondering, and those who know me can attest, i don't have one ounce of musical ability in me....can't carry a note, never had the discipline to learn an instrument...nothing, nada...not a lick) But what I do have is a genuine love of great music and I am forever inspired by talented songwriters and musicians. Tonight I searched dozens of artists and bands on My Space. ( It was my first time because I am an erratic MySpace user....I can hardly believe I was on for 3 hours!) So in pursuit of my ZenPlace...I found some talented folks that I think are definitely worth a listen and who will soon be added to the ipod under 2007 Soundtrack. These artists cross a few genres but their stories definitely take me further on my path. I can tell, it is going to be a great year!

Conya Doss, Alice Smith, Anthony David, Matt Cusson, Ryan Montbleau, The Coup, Warren Barfield, Mateo, Raul Midon, and Cary Brother...thank you for your gifts.

The Elephant In The Room

Technology in education, particularly in K-12, is the metaphorical elephant in the room that is pleading for our attention yet we are often distracted by other obligations. We instead focus our already strained attentions to immediate concerns like assessment, funding, budget, boards, politics, scheduling, funding, lesson planning, funding, apathy, discipline, classroom management, and the list continues ad nauseum. Fingers are pointed, programs are cut, and in the end the people who we work to serve are left out. Our students.

Our students suffer from attention-deficit disorder in an information saturated society. I believe that it is our responsibility as educators to meet their needs which are being constantly shaped and changed by technological advances of our times. My own educational experiences mirror the huge gaps in technology training as a child of the "computer generation" . I can remember the first time I saw an APPLE computer. I was in first or second grade ( circa 1978/79) and we had a weekly class where we entered strange codes ( RT 90, LT 90 for Right 90 and Left 90) on a black DOS screen with a tiny triangle ( our teacher called it a turtle) and the little turtle would follow our commands. Before I knew it...VOILA! Following my commands I eventually "drew" a square. I was brilliant! A computer genius...I could hardly wait for what came next,which was,absolutely nothing! Other than Atari, I don't think I saw another computer until high school!

Needless to say, other than my little turtles, I never had a formal class on how to use technology OR rarely used technology throughout my schooling (except word processing and email in college).

So what's the big deal? I turned out alright. Although the last point is debatable, I will say this, I firmly believe that as a visual learner and an individual so right-brained I'm almost lopsided- I know how my own education could have been enriched if I had teachers that truly embraced technology. Teachers who showed me how to use technology to represent my ideas, express my opinions, and deepen my own understanding of self using this amazing virtual space.

Therefore the impetus for taking READ 600 is to learn the many dynamic ways education can be enhanced through technology. More important, this class is a crucial step to deepening my own understanding of how technology can support fresh ways for students, in particular urban students, can become more motivated and engaged in literacy learning. In the end, I hope we can start "talking" about technology in meaningful ways and implement projects that allow our students to use technology for authentic learning.