This fall I finally took a mini course (See the blog entry "Now I See the Light") that sparked my desire to branch out into deep, sometimes unpredictable waters of technology. Correction. I meant to say semi-deep waters because right now I am not touching anything that looks like programming, coding, augmented reality, etc. Do you feel me? So, I dove in feet first eagerly wanting to know how to use and incorporate various technology tools. You know-the ones that are trending in education. Remember I did say, and I quote, "My desire to learn, share, and incorporate technology has been rejuvenated, and I thirst for more." Well, that thirst isn't always easily quenched, especially when I realized I didn't have my life jacket, my life saver, my "go to" tech person: my youngest son, who is in another state doing "the college and football thang." Go MTSU Blue Raiders! Nonetheless, I am a fairly resourceful person. I am a media specialist after all with a technology background similar to most educators. (Don't laugh. I know what you are thinking.) Just the other day, a teacher needed a video clip on the "Red Summer of 1919," and I found a few "lickety split" and showed her how to embed them on Edmodo. Yea, Rocking Media Specialist!
But now I am treading into deeper technology territory, and self doubt slowly rears its ugly head from my right shoulder and says in his Freddy Krueger's voice, "Embedding videos is child's play. You're gonna have to come with something better than that if you want to play with the big dogs!"
"But I don't want to play with the big dogs," I say in my little girl's voice.
"You heard her! She doesn't want to play with the big dogs. She's in the Army now, and we are at war," says a little G.I. Joe figure marching on my left shoulder. "O.K. Private. Repeat after me: I-Can-Do-This!"
Shocked at the fact that I am going to comply with this loud-mouth faerie sporting pretty little wings, I whisper "I-Can-Do-This."
"Say it like you mean it, soldier!" Sarge says while giving my ear a shower and a "deaf" sentence at the same time.
I yell, "I-CAN-DO-THIS!!!"
Sarge salutes me and says, "That's better. Now, let's get this party started."
Mission: Demonstrate how to use the Alabama Insight Tool
Weapons of choice: Screenr and MentorMob
Screenr and MentorMob are straight forward programs to use. Both require registration and are web-based. Screenr is a screencasting program which video-tapes your computer screen along with any audio. MentorMob allows you to upload your Screenr videos into a step by step playlist.
Mission Completed.
Debriefing: When I say I am not a perfectionist, I mean it. It is too stressful. However, most people would like for his/her presentations to be flawless. Initially, that was my goal for my mission, but after exhaustion and frustration set in, it slowly gave way to "anything will do right now." So in my pursuit of flawlessness, it took me four and a half hours to create two 5-minute videos which are full of flaws. With blurry vision (hence the imaginary friend and foe) and a grumbling stomach, I came to two conclusions: 1. I am not "cut out" for the military. 2. Perfection is o-ver-rat-ed.
Classified information for us mere civilians: Quest for perfection at first is not recommended when using the above tools or any technology tool. No one wants to become discouraged and waste a lot of valuable time educators do not have. If using technology (even when the use of it does not go exactly as planned) helps to accomplish educational goals, then the mission is successful. Thus, here is my video demonstration with flaws and all.
Side Note: Later I added two more videos to complete my playlist.
