By Tracey
I apologize for my absence from the recent discussions, but I’ve been wholly and completely absorbed by two time-zapping projects. Both of which I plan to blog about, and one I’m excited to launch in my classroom tomorrow.
Over two years ago, I was one of many teachers across Washington lucky enough to receive a Peer Coaching grant from OSPI. The grant included lots of training about being a peer coach to help others (and myself) integrate technology into classroom instruction, plus money to buy equipment.
Most grant recipients knew exactly how to spend their money and purchased hardware immediately. I’m not much of a shopper. I never know what to buy. And since my school already had the big ticket items- a document camera, student response system, and an Airliner (a cheap alternative to the interactive white board)- we focused on learning how to use these. We bought some Flip video cameras and rechargeable batteries, but most of the money stayed put. Until, thanks to Mrs. Brown, the laptop cart-hogging sixth-grade teacher down the hall, I developed an expensive dream. I wanted a class set of iPod Touches.