The teaching toolbox. Be brave, take a risk, it's actually fun!

Just like that, the click of a button and I became a writer with my first post. That was a feeling I will always remember. It was like always having that one item on the list of things to do, trusting that it will happen someday, but when and more importantly how? Eureka!

This week's exploration of Curation and Collaborating has unleashed many more possibilities for me. I had preconceived ideas that Using ICT in the classroom would be dry, appeal to those who are self-proclaimed techies (not me), and that I would be forced to perform tasks just for the sake of being able to say that I know how to integrate technology in the classroom. The words personal and creative did not seem to fit here for me.

Boy, was I ever wrong! Instead, I have begun an online presence that is growing and growing. Among my family members near and far, I am now at the frontier and that is astonishing. I now know what RSS is and how to use it. I would not miss conversation and collaboration with class members on Thursdays where they share with me how they use various software applications and what excites them. Is 'Sphero' going to come out to play? I watched my son score the winning goal for the Bobcats on Twitter while I was working on assignments for my teachable subjects of french and English language arts. I am keeping up with classmates' progress on feedly.com. I checked out a site called VoiceThread.com, it attaches voice over threads to images, creating accessibility for students who can benefit from this visual application such as English language learners. At the coffee and conversation session, I attended with the Brandon School Division EAL specialist Joanna Ford, it was suggested that teachers have a survival kit on hand. Wouldn't it be great to have a google drive folder with suggestions for the kit to share among staff members?

I spent last Friday at my next placement getting to know my class of kindergarteners and as I was researching more suggested sites and information I had an idea for the class that will tie in nicely with what I will be doing. The smart board can be used as a dramatic play background that will get the kids talking and thinking of things outside of the classroom! How cool will that be?

When the opportunity presents itself to me to teach high school I will aim straight for the yearbook committee to see how to produce a yearbook. I produced yearbooks the old fashioned way for a couple of years when I was in high school. Furthur research is needed but I think I'll start by typing in the term eYearbook.

This has been a surprisingly creative and personal experience and one that I will document, curate and look forward to sharing with my future colleagues and students.

The hurdle that I have overcome is that I now have a rudimentary understanding of how what I do with my pens, notebooks, file folders, sticky notes etc can co-exist with the 'integrated' presence of online technology. Let me just reach into my 'pocket', there, the term for someone who likes paper, papryophile...