Melia Tauvela

Powerful!!!

http://www.adnstream.tv/video/nilSqaMboM/HISTORIA-DE-UN-LETRERO-THE-STORY-OF-A-SIGN

Hey Newbies to Blackboard,

Here are a few articles which may help you on your quest to learn Blackboard more efficiently.bb_setup-teachers.pdf
bb-ins-and-outs.pdf

Please email me to let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Blackboarding!

Thank you Darrin Sato for sharing this moving video clip. I was moved to tears after 15 seconds of it.

http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

Hawaii Burglaries Bulletin:

Due to an increase in burglaries & thefts on the Big Island, the Hawaii County Police Department has sent local residents the following bulletin to inform them on how to protect their most prized possession…

Here is something I created for the teachers I service. I tried to keep it simple and generic so that it can morph to each teacher’s needs.podcast-rubric-take-2.doc

In my quest to become an effective ITRT, I have learned this week to never assume teachers know much about technology. They are essentially content experts at the high school level and often want to know how to incorporate technology into their curriculum but find it as another language. Thus, through my teacher lens, I am trying to create resources they may use in their class to help communicate ETSL (Educational Technology as a Second Language) not only to themselves, but to their students as well. Once they understand the language and how that language can help better the communication in their own world, they are motivated to learn that mode of communication as fast as possible.podcast-training-lesson-plan.doc

I wish I had this video when teaching Pregnancy Complications because this is a good lesson on checking the side effects of your meds BEFORE you take them. What is even cooler is how God uses things just like this to bring Him glory! Wow! Check this out…

This week I have learned the following:

1. First skill to being an ITRT: Time Management! Time Management is key when servicing so many teachers in need. It is essential to maintain a sense of balance between meeting people on a one to one basis and answering the 50+ emails we all receive each day and then carrying out our own research, curriculum development, and professional development. Whew! What a week!

2. Never judge people. Despite the amount of years of service some teachers have, they still may be very hesitant in their approach to technology and will even admit that they are “dumb” about technology. I have learned that by encouraging them to simply take a step back from their machine and know that man is still in control of the machine so far, there is always a solution to their problem. By maintaining a positive outlook towards the problem and the teacher, the teacher walks away with a sense of dignity and worth. They do not feel judged and are more apt to tackle the next technological problem with a newfound confidence. They will also not hesitate to call me the next time concerning their technology issues because they know that it is OK and we can do tackle things together. And, that is where it is at…encouraging the confidence to simply try…even if it takes them three times to do the same task!:)

3. Sitting with people. I have found that the people I have serviced this week were very appreciative of me sitting down right next to them and not being afraid to walk them through things step by step. Having taught Child Development for the past six years, I understand the power that a person can lend to a situation if they just physically get down to a person’s level. It might sound very rudimentary however, although I am trying to help solve these teachers’ technology problems, my real motive is to build relationship with them because it is in that relationship that we will be able to make beautiful music together.

4. Always look forward positively. Stepping out of the classroom has given me some sense of freedom to try something new however, being at the bottom of the learning curve, I am humbled…frustrated…encouraged…ahhh, forced to be out of my comfort zone. Thus, I look forward to the day when I will feel comfortable in my own skin with this new position. Perhaps it may come even sooner than I think if I simply keep looking forward positively.:)

5. Setting Up Blackboard: My challenge this week was to help set up a bunch of Blackboard requests and even though I am still working at it, I am excited to empower teachers to take their classrooms beyond the four walls. I believe as more and more teachers understand the power Blackboard can lend to their curriculum, the more ready they will be for our movement to a 1-1 laptop program. As I was making my rounds today, I have already gotten 2 more teachers to request Blackboard accounts for their classes for the first time ever! It is exciting to see where they will be able to take their curriculum now!

Thought you all might have already seen this but I wanted to put it out for those of you who haven’t. This is great information! Watch the clip!! 800-GOOG-411 or 800 4664 411. Here’s a number worth putting in your cell phone. Awesome service from Google, it is free, and it also works on your home phone!