System Crash.

Today's entry may be a little shorter. I have a feeling that if I let it go on too long, I may truly just let The New IdeaList become too much of an "op-ed"/personal journal blog. But fear not -- today's brief content does indeed relate to our intended topic of blogs/technology in the educational realm.

The long and short of it is this: I'm troubled. OK, now I'll clarify. I am absolutely positive that technology can be used for the forces of good in the world of education. I've already seen a handful of ways via a class I am currently taking at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, in which I've gotten the opportunity to explore how blogs, wikis, the Invisible Web, Inspiration, PowerPoint and much more can be applied both in the classroom and among educators.

And I'd be a fool to say I haven't seen the utility and potential in these tools. (And there, I may have hit upon something for myself: these are tools. These programs and devices are not the basis of effective teaching or meaningful learning, but I see how they could, in this day and age of ours, be a valuable part of it.) But here is my difficulty: it's July 28, 2007. The summer is now two-thirds over, and because I have chosen to finally get my PA teacher's certification online (thus allowing me to maintain my current job at the Wilkinsburg Academy), I find myself spending mind-boggling hours in front of a computer, typing and reading and pointing and clicking and copying and pasting before I've even really fully read what I just copied and pasted. ( I know, horrible behavior). But here's the reason: this is the medium I am required to learn through for these classes, and so the assignments are, of course, centered around interfacing with and utilizing computer skills. However, what I am discovering is that -- while I can easily see how software like Inspiration and PowerPoint can make for more interesting classroom presentations -- I am growing more and more leery about the use of blogs and wikis for students. And the reason for that is because I myself am not too excited to interact in virtual terms anymore than I have to.

I know the situation would be different when using these tools as supplements to an actual classroom, in that students and teachers would already know one another, and so the isolation I am currently feeling from my classmates and professors would perhaps not exist. Also, real world conversations could continue discussions that began online, thus permitting for the development of actual interpersonal skills.

For now, I'm going to just accept that these are tools I should, as an educator, be aware of and willing to experiment with. Just because I do not consider myself a "computer person", there is no reason I cannot use computers to enhance students' educational experiences. Do I have much of a desire to create more reasons for myself to sit in front of a computer? Not really, but I will, if it means a better opportunity for students to learn. Also, and as a final note, none of these concerns really relate to how I feel concerning the use of blogs or wikis among educators. I still see them as a huge resource, albeit one that I cannot honestly say I would want to be responsible for consistently maintaining, updating, and monitoring.

Now, to lessen these technological woes, I think I might head out into this rainy, hazey July evening and go listen to some friends play music, talk to some people I haven't seen for awhile, and enjoy some good food and drink. Sometimes, it feels so good to shut the laptop, walk away, and remember to be here in this world that surrounds you.

And that, my dear readers, is a lesson we could could all stand to learn as often as possible.