Stirring Up the Dust

It officially began today - the new school year.  Our faculty returned today for the first of five work days before the students arrive.  The summer seems to have flown by, and I can’t believe it’s time to start another year of school.  I have high expectations for the year and hope to implement many new things I’ve learned about over the summer.  I can honestly say, as far as professional development goes, I’ve learned more this summer than in any other two month period that I can remember.  Blogging has by far been the best professional development activity I’ve ever been a part of.  To read and participate in discussions with so many other professionals in the field of education is priceless.  Although blogging was not something I learned to do over the summer, it is a skill that I became much more comfortable with.  Blogging led to Skyping, which will lead to so many more things in the media center and hopefully classrooms throughout my building.  In addition,  I’m making preparations to begin podcasting this year.  I’ve scoped out some equipment and recruited some help.  My hopes are that through my activities I will generate interest in Web 2.0 tools across my faculty.  While I can dream of 100% participation, I would be happy with just a few teachers jumping on board the Web 2.0 train.

 The dust was definitely stirred in the days prior to the beginning of school.  I began the process of weeding some of the “oldies” from our media center collection.  What was the first to go?  Well, I pulled all of the old read alongs.  You know the red and white striped boxes which hold 8-10 copies of a book and the cassette tape recording of the story.  Yes, I said cassette tape.  Remember, I did call them oldies.  That was the first of a series of updating projects I hope to accomplish.

 Rather than focusing on the elimination of the old, let me tell you about the implementation of the new.  One goal for the year has already been accomplished.  I had a wireless router installed in the media center.  For a school with no computer lab, that is a major step toward technology integration into the curriculum.  Now I just need to find funding for a few laptop computers!  Grant ideas anyone?  It may seem like a small thing to some of you, but my media center is housed in two former classrooms in a building that is over 50 years old.  We’re not “wired” for technology at all.

Tomorrow is our second teacher workday of the year.  The media specialists from our county will be meeting together then.  It will be my first opportunity to share some of the new technologies I am so excited about.  I’ll take my duster and get to work!  Wish me luck!

 I’ll keep you posted!