Just to set things straight, I've made a lot of stupid, terrible decisions.  That time when I trusted an agency to find me an apartment for only $200 upfront? Stupid. Backing my car up while wearing slippers? Way to go, John. Changing a diaper with a crying baby and no wipes in the holster? GENIUS (not really).  Sure, I've made those awful, no good decisions.  With any fork in the road, there will always be a part of me that wonders if the alternate route would've been easier.  In this case, it was classroom vs. instructional technology coach.

I love math.  I love teaching.  I love kids and the interaction that they provide.  I love the struggle of figuring out how to reach "that kid" or how to make teenagers thirsty enough to request a drink from the fountain of mathematics.  It was, and hopefully always will be, a passion.  With that, I've moved out of the classroom and into a much bigger one- the district.  For a while, I've questioned if it was the right move.  Is my impact still valuable since I'm not working with kids? Is my voice still useful?

Today, I was asked by the principal of one of our 8 high schools to sit down with a couple of her students and chat about an app that they have created.  I won't pretend to know the first thing about XCode or Java in general, but I know what a good app looks like and how it could function in a practical manner.  So sure, I'll sit down, chat, and give some feedback.

These two young men personified what education is all about and reignited a passion for me to help kids find their own path to success.  Here they are, a senior and junior in high school, and they are ready with a marketing plan and an app that will help change their campus.  For fear of sharing too much, I will limit my explanation of the app to the concept of sharing school news, pictures, and events.  Hopefully I'll be able to say more when the app is released.

What really became evident during our meeting was how ambitious and opportunistic these two young men really were.  They are creating a product for their peers and looking for feedback and approval when necessary.  It's true that apps are a dime a dozen, but seeing something like this start from the foundation, and have the potential that it does, is an exciting time to be in education.  As long as we can continue to facilitate opportunities like this, the future of education in America (and beyond) will be just fine.

All in all, the decision to step out of the classroom and provide support for the entire district became validated today.  I hope to see that this continues to be the right decision as more students like these two gentlemen begin to show up and show off the work that they are doing.

Happy Fishing

I'm currently dealing with the nasty flu/cold bug that's been flying around, but I wanted to reflect on a few observations from the past couple days.  As new tech coaches, my partner and I are trying to distance ourselves from the perception of coach and allow teachers to view us as supporters.  We are here to support teachers to enhance instruction through the use of technology.  

To start off this new position and new relationship, our goal is to go around and shake the hand of every teacher on every one of our 10 high schools (we are a high school district).  So far, we've gotten to two schools and, if our numbers serve us right, we've met with about 80% of the teachers.  Some are absent, some are at trainings, and some were simply out of their rooms when we stopped by during their prep.  If we can get 80% of the district to know who we are, that's a pretty good start.

Having someone new come into your classroom is similar to an uninvited guest walking into your home.  You get territorial.  You question motive.  You want them to leave.  Which, oddly enough, was not the case in our first two days of introductions.  Granted, the principals sent out a warning email, but still.  The welcome that we received was so positive that it's obvious we are wanted.

One of the really cool things about being a tech coach and meeting all of these new people is the fact that I get to learn SO MUCH more than I could have in my four walls of a classroom.  Today, Mr. Martinez taught me about Verbally, an app that speech-impaired students can use as a way to verbalize their thoughts.  Here I am, tech guy, and I was blown away by this.  Sure, it's a simple app, but the uses for it in a Special Education classroom are aplenty.  

The second great thing that I learned today was that I need to get Google Glass.  Not just because it enhances my geek cred, but there are educational applications.  After meeting a teacher who was raving about hers, I now have to convince my wife that $1500 for a pair of glasses is a good idea.  Any help here???

All in all, it was a great day.  I got to introduce teachers to Desmos, had the chance to answer a few basic tech questions, and, more importantly, enjoyed meeting new teachers who are thrilled to be in the field of education.  I guess a simple "Hello" really does go a long way.

Happy Fishing