Math, technology, education, and beyond

Today, many area schools have gotten together to obtain training on Polyvision whiteboards as well as to begin collaboration between CFF schools. We are meeting at Warwick High School in Lititz, PA. Thanks to Jeff and Fred for hosting!

As we are going through the Polyvision training, we are seeing many great things! One thing that is discouraging is that we are going through a lot really quick, so we don’t get a chance to really sit back and figure out how we might be able to use this. However, our trainer is willing to arrange a time to present a webinar for us, and she also offers other services as a virtual mentor, such as researching virtual labs, manipulatives, games, and activities, provide basic tech support, and help with lesson plans. She has mentioned that she does not get many emails asking for help, but I imagine that the CFF coaches and teachers may actually start sending some info.

I know there is a lot I will be able to do, I just wish there was a way that I could do more hands-on right now.

Time for a short break, so I will return…

We’re back from break and now we’re looking at Easiteach, which we can put on each teacher’s computer who has a Polyvision board.  One thing that I know I need to do when I return to school is to look at working and learning more about both Webster and Easiteach.  This means I have a bit of reading and playing to do, which will be taking up a lot of my time over the next week or so.  We might even want to take advantage of Carissa saying she is available for webinars, which could be helpful.

We have gotten to a point where we have slowed down now, and we all seem to do be doing much better with obtaining this information.  I wish we would have gotten this information when we obtained the whiteboards.  It is unfortunate that, at least in our situation, we were learning a lot of this on our own on the fly.  I had no training on the whiteboards other than walking into our new building with our tech director, plugging it in, and going from there.

This is interesting being on this end of a training.  Carissa is up in front of us going through everything like it is second nature to her, as I imagine it is.  While she is doing that, many of us are working with the programs for the first time, or we have very limited experience with it.  Is this how it is for some of our teachers as we offer professional development?  I think sitting through sessions like this offers insights other than just the training itself.  I have now realized that I need to make sure that, just because it comes naturally to me, it might take time for others.  I think I’ve said that before.