Comments on: Fact or Fiction: What’s Your Story?

By: Pamala

Pamala — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:18:17 +0000

I’ve read three of your articles tonight and just came across this one last. I got teary eyed from hearing you were pausing WoW after having spent 15 minutes on your blog. So, best of luck! I’ve learned so much in just 5 minutes and I thank you for it. Your writing skills are unmatchable. You must make a wonderful parent!

By: nchenga

nchenga — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:17:22 +0000

thank you for linking back to my flickr stream

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:40:11 +0000

This is becoming more of an issue every day. I’m also amazed that when I go to conferences, that wifi is not available in the conference center. I was told at our state CEC conference that it would have cost us hundreds of dollars to give people access to wifi. And I don’t understand why it should cost that much other than for them to make money.

By: Vinnie Vrotny

Vinnie Vrotny — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:28:27 +0000

I love the story. The last minute planning and expectation that technology would be instantaneously available made me chuckle. All too real.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:28:51 +0000

That senario goes to show that technology is growing rapidly within our communities. Teachers cannot continue to ignore it. Technology is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity when it comes to teaching, and we have to make sure that we are equipped for today and tomorrow. Thanks for posting this blog.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:56:06 +0000

Another take is the idea that WiFi is a panacea. At my soon to be former school, we have three WiFi access points on the back hall and 100 laptops for the sixth grade to use on those points. Now, I spend a good chunk of every day getting calls about why the laptops are so slow or why the internet keeps timing out. No matter how hard I try, I cannot explain to these teachers the difference between 54mbs on a wifi signal and 1GBs on the wired fiber network. I just hope wherever I land next has done their homework before turning teachers loose. Oh, and next year, they are adding 100 wireless MacBooks via an E2T2 grant to an already overloaded wifi system. Chaos reigning anyone?

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:53:43 +0000

Sadly, this situation is typical in most school systems. My district wouldn’t have allowed access to the network, wireless or not, by any outside computer. We do have wireless laptop carts that can be used in our gym, but it would require the visitors bring their materials on a thumb drive and they would risk sites being blocked by our filters. Especially sites that have ANY social network features, forums, or chats on them. Thanks for bringing this scenario to my attention. I’ll be better prepared if something like this happens at my school.

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:34:49 +0000

My principal assumed it was something available, and is more than ready to have this conversation at a higher level on the food chain of school admin. My joy comes from her first hand experience. I do realize though that many schools and districts are no where near this conversation.

By: diane

diane — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:30:50 +0000

Your story just points up the lack of administrative leadership that so many of us experience. The principal should have anticipated this need, not just reacted to it. We are crippling our staff and our students by a lack of basic 21st century tools for information access, collaboration, creation, and communication.

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:37:09 +0000

Hope and pray I can bring that vision to my new job. I do believe my current district as a whole is on the brink of this revelation. Strong leadership is expanding the vision for sure.