Direction

Wow! I have finally been able to settle down, after the baby, and take a look at the exciting technology that is in our grasp. iPod's, podcasts, etc. are brand new to me and I really didn't quite understand the potential that they have in regards to my professional and personal life. Now I finally understand.

As I was getting to know my iPod and exploring the different options that are now available, I figured out how to subscribe to different podcasts. The first few that I found were just audio...then video. I was amazed that I can watch CNN in my hand. The quality of the picture was amazing and the fact that my iPod will automatically update with new podcasts is crazy. The potential with this technology has no boundaries.

Then, my initial excitement turned to thoughts of who this technology would be perfect for. I picture the typical person using this as someone who lives in a big city. They travel to and from work via train, cab, bus, etc. They have some time on their hands where they can catch up on the news or other items of interest via podcasts.

Now, I think back to my customers. Are teachers or other district employees going to buy into the podcast/iPod swing? Do they have the time to devote to this technology?

If the answer to those questions are both yes, when will our customers access the professional development podcasts that we provide? That is now my focus for my action research. When will our customers access the podcasts we provide? Are they going to do it during a planning time? Are they going to access that instead of reading the newspaper in the afternoon? After dinner? When?

Intro

I am excited about getting involved in this aspect of technology. It is time to expand my horizons and utilize all of the resources that are available. In my 2+ months with HRD, I have gained valuable skills with technology. I no longer just know how to troubleshoot. Recently, I have grown comfortable with Elluminate and Blackboard. I am gaining experience with i Movie and now I am going to learn all of the uses of i Pods. Blogging is new to me as well but Tanya was very convincing and I am excited to learn via this Learning Community.