What technology do you “know” the best?

I was asked this question the other day by a college student interviewing me as a Technology Coach. Believe it or not, I actually struggled with this question. I know so much “stuff” about technology, what do I actually “know” the best?! I have many projects that I work on, but in my opinion to know something the best, you must have mastered it, right? I know and love Moodle, but can I say I know it best? I am still learning how to use it in a non-hybrid classroom structure.

Could I be a whiz with using the TI-84 calculator with the TI-Navigator system? Not sure, especially I can confess that I don’t use it everyday to get the official guru hat with that system. Hmmm… Could I be the master Smartboard ninja? I can say I know and shared some advanced techniques using this IWB, but there are other electronic IWB that I haven’t even touched. I can go on and on about my lack of mastery of technology, but as I concluded with answering this question. I stated that…

The lesson that I have learned that technology is evolving so fast, what you may “know” the best today; you have become master of an archaic/obsolete piece of equipment the next day.

SB Technique: Maginifier/Slider

Ode to The Ditto Machine

I remember my first year of teaching, when I had use the Xerox (showing my age) machine, there was none. As a rookie, I was introduced to this beast….

Mimeograph machine (Photo provided from http://bit.ly/fIL66g)

I was given some paper that was in duplicate carbon form. When had to make a copy, I had the opportunity to either type out or write my own master sheet. Once I learned how to attach my original master to this device, I was literally able to crank out my copies. I remember how I despised the ink when it got on my hands. However there was nothing like holding fresh moist copies with the powerful purple fluid aroma. Its amazing how the classroom and it’s tools (such as chalkboards, and overheads) has disappeared over the years. Believe it or not, some educators may have not even touched a piece of chalk in their academic background or educational training.  If you have seen, touched, or even used a mimeograph machine, you are truly “old school.”

The reason for this throwback blog post is due to me going through my old teaching materials and I ran across some old (mimeographed) DITTO sheets. I will be in the process of scanning them and recycling to help the environment and minimize my pack rat corner of my apartment.