In the Coming Days June 23, 2009

Whoa! NECC is around the corner. Actually, I will be in DC in less than 96 hours. There is a so much left to do before I depart. Actually, as long as I remember my phone charger, laptop and camera, I should be good. Right?

This afternoon on my ride home I was talking to my mum about my upcoming trip. She reminded me about when I went to DC at 12 years old and how my entire trip was planned for me. I remember it vividly, walking the monuments, going to the Air and Space Museum, and eating gelato at the Museum of American History. As I am planning this trip, I am reflecting on what I did and what I would like to explore this time, this includes how to integrate the conferences. The schedule I have developed is timed exactly, including times of trains and a nightly relaxation of martinis by the pool. I have an extreme type-a personality and this planning has exemplified my INTJ personality.

This is my fourth NECC. So much different then my first NECC when I was in tears in my hotel room. I was scared being at that big of conference but I began to live it up, network, collaborate, and it was the best choice. God bless my former boss who put up with me after the conference, and found herself attending the last two, heading to conference number three.

This year, I have the same fears as I did at my first NECC, I doubt it will send me in tears (I hope). This time I took on a new leadership role with SIGilt (innovative learning technologies). Check out our newsletter http://bit.ly/s1YEY.  I am excited to begin working with Jean, Katie, and Adam to provide our SIG with a cutting edge approach to sharing resources, our meeting is Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM in WWCC 209B.

So going back to that phone call with my mum. I am excited to take the 21st century approach to my trip. I am excited to take pictures on my iPhone and email them back home (including my ice cream gelato from the American History Museum), tweet what I am up to so my coworkers who were unable to attend, and explore D.C. as an adult.

Learning to Skate June 8, 2009

Skating probably has very little to do with Ed Tech, but there is a science to both. For some odd reason this thought came to my mind as I was reading about the digital equity summit.

A couple of weeks ago I was out with some friends, when one reminded me about the time we went skating in Kindergarten. In my mind, I remember the horrible memory of that day. I had double blades to keep my balance and everyone, including her, laughed at me because I did not have the ‘right tools’. I went home to my mother and started crying saying that everyone was making fun of me because of my skates. I remember that she took me to the store and bought me my first pair of single blades, they were a used pair nonetheless, but they were single blades and I was thrilled. My dad took me skating that night on my new pair of skates, teaching me how to keep my balance, so that I could ’skate’ with my classmates.

Fast forward 23 years, I now speedskate and over the years I have captured two major titles: U.S. Senior National Champion in the 25k (twice) and North American Champion in the 25k . My friend who reminded me of that day in kindergarten, still references the story about how you should not make fun of someone who does not have the right tools and finishes the story with, “I didn’t think I’d be laughing a National and North American Champion.”

So I was thinking about how I could tie this story back to technology education. See the pencil and paper, well those are the double blades, absolutely necessary to keep your balance. The single blades are the schools who provide students with a 21st century education, excellent and will do the job. But what is the cutting edge…? What are the speedskates?

How can we insure that you are giving students an education that is like the 17 inch blades that I race around an oval with?

Historic… November 5, 2008

10 years ago I got to cast my first ballot as a registered voter in Minnesota. My choices were simple yet complex for the race in Minnesota Governor.

My choices were as follows:

• A generational politician.
• A party-jumping mayor.
• An ex-pro wrestler.

I casted my voted for the generational politican. Left the polling place and went home to watch the results. Later on that night I watched the bright lime green signs with the name “Ventura” waving feverishly as Ventura was declared Governor of Minnesota. Minnesota had elected an ex-pro wrestler for their governor.

I went on and voted in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. Each time the ballot held no meaning to me. I truly felt that at anytime in my lifetime I would get the chance to vote for history. Then November 4th came.

My ballot was different in 2008 and different in a positive way. Yesterday, I had the choice to choose an African-American president on the democratic ticket or a female for vice-president on the republican ticket. I happily filled in the bubble next to the name Barack Obama/Joe Biden and happily cast my vote. I had the opportunity to contribute to history.

I watched the returns nervously at home at our bi-annual election party. Then when Obama was declared the winner, our house celebrated. I stayed up to watch his acceptance speech and I was mesmerized like many in the crowd. In my lifetime it was a historic moment.

Neat “New” Technologies August 13, 2007

Okay, I admit I am weird. However, this week the Twin Cities Metro area has been pounded by two huge storms. The first storm did some minor damage to our home. This second storm has dumped hail, high winds, and a lot of lightning. I have yet to see what has happened to my home.

So why is technology so crucial? With my cell phone I was able to contact my parents, my husband, and still communicate with work letting them know that I was stranded at a friends house while these storms passed. I was able also to see what NOAA’s radar showed- because I have learned to pinpoint the location of her place, my parents house, and my house. 20 years ago, one had to rely on TV and light sleeping to get information about a storm late at night. I am just amazed at how far we have come and how much safer of a society we are.