A bit of Google Sites, a dash of creativity and a pinch of TLP

This week in our class we learned about another resource available through Google: Google Sites; we also viewed a video that takes a look at how schools are "killing" creativity; and finally, we were asked to put together a Technology Learning Plan (TLP). As always, I found each of these activities to be useful and relevant to the work I do as a supervisor and trainer.

I just finished reviewing the video: Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY . I thought Sir Ken Robinson had an interesting perspective that made a lot of sense as I reflected on my own experience as a student in the public school system, as well as the students I see in schools today. I have, for quite some time, believed the school structure to be out dated and in need of a revision to meet the needs to today's learners. One of his points in the video is that we start out as risk takers full of creativity, but over the years "we get educated out of creativity." I liked how he described the school system as being set up to produce college professors, whom he described as living "in their heads." His story about the woman who was identified as having learning problems early on in her life ended up becoming a world famous and wildly successful choreographer; all because her different learning style was properly identified and fostered. It makes me think of all of the students I see in our Title I program who are considered "struggling learners" simply because the areas that the schools have identified as important are not how these kids learn.

Earlier this week I worked on creating a Google Site as one of my assignments for this class. I have never created a website because the last time I looked into doing something like this, it was quite the ordeal that required a lot of time and expertise in html. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to create a site--I had some trouble with the layering of the various pages and will need a little more practice to get things right (intentionally). Overall, I am really excited about the potential uses for Google Sites in my work. I plan to continue to work with it and figure out ways I can use this tool to communicate with my staff. I think it could be extremely effective to be able to keep all information in one central location and cut down the amount of emails that are currently our main vehicle for getting announcements out to our staff.

Finally, I worked on a TLP this week, which I think will be extremely useful in the work I do. It seems like things are in constant motion and many times I have to make reactive decisions based on the emergency of the moment. The Technology Learning Plan was a good exercise to reflect on how technology is currently being used in my work, and then to put a plan in place with goals that are reasonable. I find the use of lists and goals help me stay focused and gives me something to refer back to over the long term, which means I will be more likely to follow through with the plan and find success. This is something I can see doing on an annual basis, since I think self-assessment is important in my goal for continuous improvement.