Todd Nelson's Page

It seems impossible to me at times, but I am a digital native. I grew up with an Apple IIC in my bedroom that I used for gaming, word processing and even had a very early modem connected to it. Of course, there was no Internet, at least not for public use and certainly not what it is today. But as a *ahem* thirty-something I grew up using computers. However, when I look at my students, their machines and become familiar with their abilities, it becomes apparent very quickly that my knowledge of technology is antiquated. What is that people say? My dishwasher has more computing power than the capsules used in the Apollo missions to the moon. Whether true or not, it does crystallize how far things have come. If I were to go back in time and show an iPad to that 8th grade boy using an Apple IIC to play 'Test Drive', it would probably look like magic.

When thinking about technology and what drives us forward, I consider the life of my grandfather. Born the year of the Wright brothers first flight at Kitty Hawk, he witnessed the dawn of manned flight but also the beginning of the age of the microchip. When he passed away, space shuttle missions were so common that most people didn't even turn on their televisions to watch the launches anymore. Amazing what can be accomplished in one lifetime.

As an administrator, there is limitless uses for the available technologies. I like the idea of regular blog posts by our teachers and the opportunities for collaboration and communication within our community. The blog posts could easily replace the old fashioned paper and pencil lesson plan books. They would be so much easier to look at, identify learning objectives and essential questions so that I am prepared when visiting classrooms. I certainly have teachers on faculty who are digital immigrants, and reluctant ones at that. It takes a lot of positive peer pressure to get them to change their ways and see technology as a gift rather than a curse. I will implement a plan to have our own teachers present about new technologies and their usefulness in the classroom rather than bring in people from the outside. If their colleagues are using it effectively, it will create an air of useability and authenticity that will enable my more reluctant teachers to give it a shot.

I look forward to reading more articles and watching more videos as a part of the technology course I am currently taking.