I'm glad that I was able to talk to Faye on the phone regarding our Collaboration Unit. I am having trouble with Wiki and we decided to touch base the old fashioned way by using a telephone. Faye Valtadoros is going to be the CT and I am going to be the LMS.
I guess one fear that I have is that the technology will cause us problems as has already happened. I am used to technology problems and I have dealt with quite a few in the past. I was a media center teacher for 6 years, working with kindergarten through 5th grade students and we have had our share of equipment malfunctions, breakage, and problems with the Internet. There is always a way around things. Another fear that I have is working with high school students. I do not have experience with that age range but I am always up for a challenge.
A strength that I possess is to never give up. I keep trying different approaches until I can find a way to make things work technologically. I am doing this right now because instead of waiting until Dr. Kumasi is able to put my name back in the Wiki, I found a way to create my blog and move forward.
One of the best ways that I have found to collaborate with classroom teachers was in the staff lounge at lunch. They don't have their students in front of them and they are more relaxed and willing to discuss ideas. I have learned not to say "can you do this," but instead I would start by complimenting a teacher on something he/she is good at and ask if they would help with ____.
Collaborating on the Japanese era sounds like a good Lesson Plan to me. The students will need help with meaningful research and how to avoid plagiarism.
I look forward to working with you on this project.
Brenda Vaitkevicius
