Growing up — I was Jennifer — never Jenny (ugh). Occasionally I was JW or FerFer but mostly I was Jennifer.
3 years ago, I became Jen. Not sure how, not sure why, not sure when….but I became Jen. Wasn’t what I was used to — but it felt okay….so I accepted it.
In 1999, I started my projects and chose the catchy name “Technospud”. Mostly because I had become an overnight couch potato of my computer and it fit.
In 2007, I started questioning Technospud. First of all, it was not professional – though I struggle with professionalism versus personal-ism all the time. But also, it just wasn’t what I wanted to be equated with……so I changed to Jenuinetech. Yeah — that’s it……Genuine Tech (whatever that is) with a cute twist on the spelling. And, it fit…….or did it?
As you know, those of you who read my thoughts, I have been struggling — severely struggling — with the emphasis on tech and my desire for that emphasis to be diminished. The emphasis needs to be on Teaching and not on Teching. (My profile on Twitter states this as well!)
So — as I wrote out my posts about taking the emphasis off Tech — I realized I did so on a blog who’s website address was Jenuinetech. And I cringed – hoped no one would notice — and continued on.
But — if I am going to practice what I preach – if I am going to walk my talk (with education in mind) — I had to make some changes.
So as of today — August 27th — Jenuinetech.com will be moving to ProjectsByJen.com.
It is what I do — I host projects. Projects By Jen. Yep, it fits.
You will not need to do a thing……the old site will redirect you and the only thing you will notice is a new logo up on the left.
Residues of Jenuinetech.com will still creep up — as residues of Technospud still do. But I think this move makes sense and helps me stay in tandem with my thoughts of NOT putting the emphasis on tech.
The move will take a few days — but ProjectsByJen.com will be where I will now call my home on the web.
If you mention Jenuinetech.com or Technospud.com on your site — please consider changing it to Projects By Jen. Thank you!
In the last few days, there have been a lot of “new school year resolutions.”
I am going to start a blog.
I am going to start a wiki.
I am going to use skype.
I am going to …………(insert ideas here)
And I look at that list – and have to honestly shake my head. Because as long as we emphasize the Tool – as long as we put the importance on the tool – as long as we accentuate tech – our learning objective becomes blurred and undefined.
I challenge you this year to NOT share the tool – but share what is being accomplished.
If you are an elementary class that is blogging – share about your students writing, their correspondences, their vocabulary use, their spelling…..
If you are an elementary class that is using a wiki – share about their collaboration, their teamwork, their editing skills…..
If you are an elementary class that is inviting others in via skype – share about you breaking down traditional walls in the classroom, opening your students’ ears to new voices, learning daily from “experts” in their field…….
And as an example, I will do that myself.
I create daily word puzzles and invite students and teachers to use any available resources (prior knowledge, conversations, and internet) to find the answer by using daily clues provided. You are invited to view each day’s image at http://www.jenuinetech.com/GTW
Learning Objective: Students Will:
Use critical thinking skills, Apply existing knowledge, Interact and collaborate with peers and teacher (and others), Process data and share results
I encourage you – I challenge you – to start looking beyond the tool and instead look to the learning objective – the WHAT instead of the HOW – and then start sharing that.
I encourage you – I challenge you – to start asking back, when people mention “great tools” on twitter or at conferences to ask “really, what is the learning objective?”
I encourage you – I challenge you – to hold those of us who speak at conferences accountable when we start “tool challenges” to also ask us to showcase more than just the ooohhh and ahhhs of the tool.
…..in 2010, I am going to emphasize the learning objective.
What about you??
For the past 3 months, I drive each day by a construction site…..
and I am fascinated each day to see the development.
The framing, the watering of the ground, the landscaping, the widening of the road, the replacement of a light instead of a stop sign….etc etc etc.
Today, they were outlining the area for the flowers to wind around the cement sidewalk. Two men working together to achieve an outcome necessary for the next person to do their job.
And I started thinking about school.
We are a group of people working together for a common purpose…some of our jobs will be very visible and others might go unnoticed but still very very important.
But we are a work in progress — as are your students.
Building takes time and sometimes cannot be rushed. Sometimes missing a step can impair the entire outcome. Yet, things need to stay on track and it is important to get your job done well so that the next person can do theirs too.
In my opinion, the words “IN PROGRESS” are the most important words to remember. For ourselves, for fellow teachers, for our students.
Those days when we get frustrated because they just are NOT where we think they should be. Those days when we get frustrated because we are NOT where we think we should be.
In this world of “everything is instantaneous” and “get it now” mentality — I think we are forgetting that things do take time. And that we are not the only piece of the puzzle to get the job done.
For me, the in progress time is the most exciting time.
Are you a work in progress and are you encouraging the other works in progress on your campus?
Jen
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