Yeah.... It's over... For a little while. I am ready for this break. This has been one of the hardest classes I have ever taken, but I have learned so much. I have no idea how much time the others put in but I know that I work M-F 9-3. I can't imagine doing this during school. I know that I have grown during this course. So many things are getting to be instinct. Well, I am off for a couple of days. Then back to the grind stone.
This week I have had more problems. The computer I used for video captured during pre-prep was padlocked by the teacher. I found another but the software was different and the computer wasn't as good. But it will have to do. I used camtasia to demo the AT devices. I got a good avi file from the Inspiration. The file from the LunarPlus didn't even show the magnified screen. I had to video tape myself using it, and it now has the rolling lines. When I started capturing and adding my clips to the storyboard, I got errors about it not being able to add the camtasia piece because of fps. I tried 5 different versions of the camtasia before I found one that would work, but it didn't have the dub it piece. So I needed to voice over. Got started on that and the record time went over to another clip even though I was watching the preview while doing the voice over. Ruined it. Wasted 7 straight hours today. I will have to try again tomorrow. Too frustrated right now to think.
This week has been terrible. I am behind from being on vacation and the technical problems of esc11. The assignments are starting to flow and make more sense. I am already catching myself thinking like a mentor when talking to others about anything.
I am practicing my mentoring on more than just my teachers. The techniques work in so many different applications. Being a good listener is always welcome. Also I am allowing more wait time when talking. Slowing down has helped me choose what I say better which allows me to get my view across with slamming it down their throats. I need to practice more with my teachers to fine tune the clarifying question techniques.
This was a fun week. I really have enjoyed working with my mentee. She has great ideas and I have learned so much. As I always tell my teachers, they are the content experts, my department is technology. But it was Sabrina who came up with the cut and paste activity.
I think I need to work on being more open with my teachers about possibilities of new lessons. Sometimes I get stuck with the problem of not seeing the forest for the trees. I know that confidentiality is so important to the trust issue.
I know that I am a good communicator of my ideas, but I need to work on my listening skills. My teachers trust me. Sometimes too much. Some trust me to have all the answers and refuse to look for answers on their own. I need to work on building independent teachers.
This has been a learning experience. I have really began to understand what I am doing. There seems to be so many new words, I am constantly looking up the terminology. Trying to figure out what in means in the context of this class.
This week has reinforced the fact that successful coaching is built on relationships. I am LEARNING to let the mentee do the work. I have a hard time letting go. Since we have so little time, I am tempted to take over to speed the process along. In fact, I probably have hindered many processes. This will be an on-going goal for me.
The sad fact is my son has been trying to teach me this lesson for the past year. He is 2 1/2 and very independent. So many times I have to force myself to take the extra time to let him to do it by himself. "Me doooooooo IT" is heard at least 5 times each morning before we get to school. This child will not be one to lean on Mom as he goes on in life. I wish the same for my teachers after the experience of being "coached"
Wow!! We don't waste any time around here. This week
has really been a time of reflection for me. A time for me to review all
of the interactions I have had with my teachers. I know that I could bring
more teachers around to technology if it wasn't for the lack of time. Most
of my high school teachers know me and already trust me that I am going to make
learning do able. But with me wanting to move to a new district wide
position, I will really have to earn that trust all over again.
I think that
the key connection for me so far is to respect the relationship. Make sure
that the mentee and mentor both understand where we are and where we are going.