Response Item: Identify yourself in one of five categories and provide examples.
I would have to say that I consider myself to be an "early adopter" in regards to most of the technology out there. I am definitely not that teacher who has what appears to be (to those of us not as technologically advanced) some sort of bizare technology set up in the room with cords and speakers and monitors everywhere ( I keep all of that hidden in a closet!). I was one of the first in my department to start using the LCD for powerpoints, eventually hooking it up to the screen and the TVs around the classroom. I was one of the first to start using the parent connect option for our grading program, creating and using a parent email contact list for students in my classes, and even going so far as to create a link to my own class webpage (GASP!). Even though it is nowhere near complete I definitely feel like I am farther along than the early and late majority but not quite an innovator. Another example of why I feel like I am in this category is that for some reason, pretty much everyone comes to me for advice when something goes wrong with their technology. I do not mind this at all, however sometimes I wonder (and laugh..) why in the world would they be coming to me?? I can barely keep my wireless working at home sometimes! Of course I do not share that with them :) I definitely feel that I would not be as comfortable with the technology I use on a daily basis if I had not seen the effectiveness of it in other classrooms first and the overall benefit to the students.
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I think you could even fall into an innovator category becauseA you were one of the first ones to use the LCD and parent connect technology at you school.
ReplyDeleteWho would you categorize as "innovator" if not you? You sound like the kind of person I place in the first category- first out the door with the most effective use of a technology. What technology that you are not already using would you implement today, if you could? Answer this $24,000 question, and I would say you were an innovator more than an early adopter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris and Grace because you are doing all that you can do with what you have. The only reason that maybe we don't want to be considered a geek or excentric. Remember when Dr. Newberry was talking about how sometimes the innovators are not very good at relating to their counterparts or being able to instruct them about how to use the new technologies. Maybe we need to create a new more positive name or image for the person who is out in front but is showing leadership qualities and doesn't want to leave colleagues behind.
ReplyDeleteI like how you explained your reasoning why you chose to put yourself in the early adapter and not an innovator. At first when I read your post, I thought you were putting yourself down, no offense. Using a web page and e-mail list to keep in contact with parents I would see as an innovator at my school because it does not exist at my site. Since you said you didn't feel comfortable using without seeing it first does put you in the early adapters. At this point I would probably come to you to see how to get the e-mail and web page communication started and how to use it effectively.
ReplyDeletethanks bigbill :) I am glad you understood my post! I would probably never have begun to use the technology I do if I had not already seen extensively in other classrooms and the positive effects it had on student learning.
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