Not with a Bang

But with a sigh.

Today is the end of the book study, and I have poured my energy and creativity into this project in ways I didn't think possible.

Never before have I stretched so much to master new technologies or ideas, or to put them into practice. I guess this is where online learning is both challenging and rewarding. 

Like when my 7th grade math teacher was out on pregnancy leave, and our log-term substitute (just someone's stay-at-home mother called in at the last minute) tried her best, but couldn't explain circles and squares and coordinated pairs to a class of 30 kids. It was my best semester in math, ever. I managed to use the resources and discover the knowledge myself, and then in turn, taught it to my classmates who decided then that I would be a teacher when I grew up (I didn't come to that realization myself until my second year of college).

I'm excited about sharing what I've accomplished. I'm pretty sure if age and conditioning weren't a factor, I'd be calling my mom on the phone, going, "Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama. Look!!!" Luckily for us both, she is out of pocket. Because I don't think I have that much control. 

But I am also tired. 

It was hard work. It was long and intensive for me.

So now, I plan to take an hour long nap, at least. 

And read.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
It has been on my to-read list for a while.

Want to join me?

  

Chapters

Whatever else I may be good at, jumping into a text in the middle of the chapter is not counted with my strengths. I need an introduction, a framework to help me order the information I am reading into the existing schema in my brain. 

In other words, I need a very deliberate modeling and "this goes here" for information I am processing. Which may be why I haven't been overly successful at online courses in the past. 

I've been an outright failure. With really good excuses. Oh, I signed up for my catechism certificate and only did one assignment? It's because I just got hit with really bad morning sickness. Going to try to get my masters at ASU (now an online program). Sure... no, wait. I don't have the funds because our car died. 

I could have found the funds, and I had nothing better to do laying on the couch during my first pregnancy. But, I had trouble fitting all the pieces of information together and I missed the accountability and specificity that I found in a physical classroom. 

I missed the modeling and deliberate instruction. The activation of relating schema.

Now, with this particular venture, I have more confidence, because I know most of the people I'm studying with. And, it's only a week. 

How bad can I fail in one week? 

That mentality has given me the chance to take risks. And I think the risks are paying off. I already have more than the three required ideas for lessons, and I'm sure over the next two days I will add to it.

So I am for the first time, feeling very successful in an online learning environment.

And, I'm reading the whole dang book, because regardless of my success with online learning, I still can't jump into a text in the middle of a chapter.

Forecast for San Angelo today was rainy with high mold and grass, which translated into forecast of high productivity on my Writing Project book study and lessons. 

What else can you do when you are forced inside?

My ABYDOS training came in handy, as I built a research lesson using many of the tools they shared: Classical Invention from Elizabeth Cowen and TRIPSQA , a method of organization and research. 

My notebook from the ABYDOS training.

I also played with Wiki, Prezi, Mindomo, and a few other apps to try to get an understanding of them, and how students might be able to use them to write and publish. I discovered, for example, that Prezi is limited in that it doesn't allow the author to embed outside links (with the odd exception of Youtube videos). I need to find a presentation app that will meld with all other forms of multimedia. Preferably one that is free.

And I didn't once get sucked into Facebook's black hole of distraction. 

I think that is the best thing out of the entire day!

Good News and Bad News  

The good news for this week's book study is that I have a great excuse to play at my computer all day. I get to explore and experiment with different types of online content and apps. 

The bad news is that I would really rather have someone walk me through the best examples and platforms, and demonstrate all that the platform can do (you know, the bells and whistles that make it the best). 

I can explore, but what if I find a platform lacking based only on my technological illiteracy? I mean, I was born on the cusp of this evolution, and learned to type not on a type writer or in a typing class, but in online chat rooms running dozens of conversations between many groups of friends (and sometimes, strangers). I got my first e-mail account when I was 12 years old, and my first cell-phone at 15, only to have it taken away one month later due to overage charges. I remember inserting hyperlinks into word documents when I was 12 years old to make a facile of a webpage for my little sister to explore. So I've grown up with computers, internet, websites, etc. 

But this, this is frustrating. 

(Borrowed Stock Image from I don't know where. Please dont' send me to jail!)

There are so many options. The Google store, the App store, and even this text (Crafting Digital Writing by Troy Hicks) and its accompaning wiki page list digital platforms a mile long, and don't explain any of them to a degree that is helpful. 

So, I will be very busy. Hopefully my husband and family will not judge me for being glued to my computer, and I will figure out some websites, or blogs, or wikis and everything else.

2015 is the Summer of Writing.

... well, the summer of writing workshops geared for teaching writing. 

This blog is designed to document my journey through the Pearl of the Concho Writing Project for 2015, as we explore digital writing in the classroom.

I teach creative writing, so the intense focus and rigorous study have been great. Welcomed and appreciated. I'm particularly excited about Pearl of the Concho writing project for two reasons, 1) I've heard nothing but amazing things (hands on, practical, engaging), and 2) I'm looking forward to the team building with SAISD teachers (and Glenn staff, in particular) that will carry this training, this mentality and these skills where they do the most good-- into the classroom next year. 

Combining this week's training with the ABYDOS writing project training from June should give me and my students a solid foundation to experiment with. (I'm all about experimenting in writing.) As both put a heavy emphasis on publishing, to make it meaningful for students by providing a purpose and audience for their communication, this particular focus on digital writing intrigues me. The options for self-publication are amazing with different apps and individual (and free!!) blogs, and while not as vetted or 'professional' as print publication, gives students a real audience. 

I'm on board to see where this particular ship sails, what oceans will be charted, and what discoveries will be made and shared over the next year. 

So, here's to writing!