Standard Goodbyes

I just realized this is the last blog I will be writing for this course. I am certain it will not be the last time I return to "Ye Olde English Ant" (not sure why we're British now) but at least in the context of this wonderful world of Digital Literacy, this is the last one I will be writing. So how to end it? Should I summarize all the crazy and innovative technologies we've covered over the course of 12 weeks? I could and believe me there have been many I have literally drooled over the prospect of using in a classroom. I could do that, but what purpose would that serve? My fellow colleagues had the same discussions and read the same articles and reviewed the same technology that I did. A recapitulation of this would be wasted air. So then synthesis! How has this course changed me as an educator? Surely that is the proper route to take right? And of course I have learned and grown from this course. To say otherwise would be at the very least a lie if not worse. I have always thought of myself as technologically savvy in my teaching and in my life. I will say this course beyond simply showing me shiny new tools and literacies has allowed me to see how others might use them. Here is where I feel I found great worth. How I would use an online class blog is different from how Corri or Nina might use one, but knowing these differences only expands my knowledge. And that I think is the keyword when it comes to how this course as changed me as an educator. I have expanded my knowledge and expanded my understanding and expanded my horizons for using digital literacies and tools in my classroom. Irrevocably changed? I cannot commit to that. Altered for the better? Most certainly. So what then shall be the shining prize I take from this experience? What is my climax? To be honest there is no climax, there is only a hunger. This class has been absolute torture. A torture of the best kind to be sure, but torture nonetheless. As the dozen or so individuals that peruse this blog know, I do not currently work with students. I work with check fraud. Slight difference. And while each day I, in a general sense as my soul and mind both yearn for more fulfilling work, clamor for a classroom of my own, no experience and no class since leaving my undergraduate experience has fueled that hunger more so then this one. The things we have discussed, the possibilities we have opened through these amazing tools, and the innovations we have witnessed is more exciting then anything I could fathom. And so this class has tortured me everyday to create, to dream, to think, and to wonder how amazing it will be to use these things in a classroom and not yet have that chance. I know it will come, but it cannot come sooner. To my fellow colleagues, I am sure I will see you in the coming semesters, although I have but two left so get your fill quick! Dr. Oldakowski, Tim, thank you for everything, it has been a pleasure learning from you. You mentioned you had some friends in Florida, keep me posted on anything happening for next fall, rest assured I will be ready and waiting.

Nervous.... Updated

So this is a second post in reference to the lesson I taught for one of my other grad classes. In this post I will talk about the digital tools and literacy I used to finally get this blog a little more on point. If you hadn't checked out the previous blog, basically I was both ecstatic and terrified that for 42 glorious minute I was going to be a teacher again. I was tasked with teacher a grammar lesson and recording myself for feedback. I was able to secure some time back up in Indiana where I went to IUP and where I did my student teaching at the local junior high. It was a wonderful experience to get to see my old cooperating teacher.

So first the lesson and the digital aspects. The classroom had a smart board that I was very well acquainted with from my time there. I was using a Prezi presentation; for those of you who do not know Prezi makes Power Point look like an overhead projector. It is free, web based so you can create them anywhere, and incredibly user friendly. If you've never used one I definitely recommend making one some time they can be endlessly entertaining and engaging.

Within my presentation, I was teaching a basic introduction to Points of View, I used various youtube clips that I had embedded into the prezi to introduce the various viewpoints. For example those funny slippery slope Direct TV commercials to illustrate second person.


Continuing on I used several movie trailers to further illustrate how point of view can be used in cinema (thanks Kist!) and other forms of media.That was about the extent of the digital aspects of my lesson. Not incredibly complicated but it worked for my purposes.

On an emotional note, I wont lie I was nervous right up until the very second I started teaching. I mean the situation was less then ideal. I didn't know this kids at all, I hadn't been in front of students since last January when I started grad school full time, and I was basically invading their classroom for my project. I can proudly say however that at least for me teaching is like riding a bike. The second I started talking and the hands started raising to answer my questions I felt right at home. I got a chance to chat with my coop, who knows about my struggles to find a job and how long it has been, and she told me "You look like you've been their teacher from day one."

So I have something to share with you all if your so inclined. It is a cut up ten minute version of my lesson. Just in case you wanted to see the man behind the whiny give me a job blog.

*For anyone concerned I have video releases from all the students and only people who physically have this link can see the video, so beyond my classmates here I doubt anyone will see it. I will remove the video embed in a few weeks once the class is over just to be cautious*

Nervous...

Tomorrow I will be a teacher. For 42 glorious moments I will get to be a teacher. I will be teaching a lesson for one of my other graduate classes and recording it. I have to hike all the way out to IUP to do it, but it will be worth it to see my cooperating teacher again, see the school that I took my first steps as a real teacher in, and most importantly, be with students for the first time in over nine months. It has been too long.

So just one question... why am I nervous?

Is it the situation? Yes it could be. I am basically abducting this class for one period and using it for my own purposes. The lesson is approximately grade level appropriate so it is not a total waste, but god bless my cooperating teacher for letting me abduct her classroom. The students do not know me, and I don't know them. Hopefully my lessons is at least somewhat engaging.

I teaching basic point of view, first, second, and third person. I have some funny you tube videos and commercials, some funny passages the students will rewrite, point of view charades which should hopefully be fairly fun to watch, and then a good culminating assessment where the students rewrite a journal entry in a different perspective.

And yet, I am nervous.

I know I shouldn't be. It kills me everyday to read all your blogs about the exciting things you're doing with the content of this class. I should be chomping at the bit!

Either way tomorrow by 8 am this will all have transpired. I will be in my car hopefully both reinvigorated by my brief 42 minutes and crushed by the realization that I am driving back to my cubicle. For right now, I just wish I wasn't... nervous.

In Flux

This is a weird week for me. My focus has been shot. My confidence is see-sawing between King of the World and Tiny Ant. It's taking a toll on both my personal and professional life. Sorry up front this post may not be relevant and/or interesting. I have always been a opposed to using a blog as a possible outlet for personal thoughts and feelings as well as a fuel for some small narcissistic urge to vent your problems on the world. Every now and again though I just need to indulge. Tune me out know if needed.

So I had an interview for a long term sub position at a school relatively close to Pittsburgh. It was about an hour drive from my apartment, but since my desperation for finding a job has grown I could handle nearly twice that. I spent the first half of this past week preparing myself and my materials. Unfortunately in a recent move I lost my teacher portfolio that I usually brought. This was more an annoyance then anything as it was in dire need of updating as my skill as an educator has grown immensely since I started studying at Pitt. I spent two solid days creating what I think is, to be frank, a kick ass unit plan outlining the use of a digital text Inanimate Alice (see previous post) as well as a classroom blog and a podcast project. I created about half a dozen lessons as well.

The interview went about as amazing as it possibly could. I can always tell how well I do in an interview by how much the interviewer writes down. The more they write the less interesting I seem. The principal of the school was interviewing me and she didn't write a single thing down on her little questionnaire. We were basically just having a conversation. When she asked about what I had brought I whipped out some awesome digital literacies pedagogy, (Thanks Dr. O) and thoroughly impressed her. I'm serious. She actually said "I'm very impressed" and "This is so impressive." So confidence level King of the World.

Then the waiting. Unfortunately the interviewer is never the hirer. I am convinced if I EVER get interviewed by someone who can also hire I would have the job. I have never been turned down by someone I have met. It is always someone higher up. School Board, Superintendents, people who HAVE NEVER MET ME! ALL THEY HAVE IS A PIECE OF PAPER! HOW CAN YOU JUDGE A PIECE OF PAPER!

Every job I apply for goes like this. I just manage to get an interview because the school I am applying for is far enough away or small enough that not every teacher in the tri-county area is applying for it (I actually stopped applying to North Allegheny after a friend of mine told me they had over 200 applicants for one job). My resume usually manages to get me an interview which I destroy. I am sorry, I do. I won't be modest. I have spent hours practicing. Ask my fiance! She could pretty much work for a school as an interviewer now with all the time she has put in preparing me. And it pays off. I have never left an interview feeling like anything less than a champion. The interviewer tells me that they will be making recommendations from there to the board.

And then I wait. And it's deadly. Like a knife blade slipping out of my stomach an inch per day. I don't know why it hurts the same every time. You'd think I would be used to it. So far though without fail I get that phone call a week or two weeks later saying the same thing. "You were an impressive candidate but we've decided to go with someone more local." That's code for sorry you can't tie a relation to someone on the board.

I WAS TOLD BY MY HIGH SCHOOL THEY WANTED SOMEONE MORE LOCAL!!!! I literally responded by saying "I graduated here." She apologized and thanked me for my interest.

So thats my world. I am currently still waiting to hear from California School District, but I don't have my hopes up. How can I? If I don't get this job that will make 10 interviews, 0 jobs.

0-10. Ironically that was my high school football team's record my senior year. I knew because I was at every game... you know being LOCAL and all.

Rant over. Sorry everyone. Had to be done.