Well, that statement is not entirely true - but I was without Internet access for most of my 3 week trek through Massachusetts - but right before I left I got a new toy - a Blackberry pearl phone - through which I was able to keep up with my e-mail, Facebook obsession and Twitter, but found it too hard to type whole blog posts - but I am sure with practice I can update the blog too. Of course while I am somewhat obsessed with this new toy, I do have to wonder if it is all too much. Do I REALLY need to be connected 24 hours a day/7 days a week, even while at the beach?? One of the strangest things I saw this vacation was at Nauset Beach on Cape Cod, the snack bar area had a picnic table set up that had a sign on it that said Free WiFi - I never saw anyone sitting there with their computer, but gee, if you can't unplug at the beach, where can you? I found that even my kids were feeling technology deprived while we were internet-less - especially my 11 year old daughter (she does not have a phone, so texting was out for her, her 13 yr old brother texted to keep up with his friends). I would love to try and go TOTALLY unplugged one weekend, but truthfully, I am really not sure if I could do it.
This got me thinking about how much technology is too much. I have found that I do tend to spend too much time checking Facebook/Twitter/chatting online at night when I used to use that time to read, but then again using my phone to keep up with e-mail and things while sitting at football practice has been a great thing.
On another note, I am scheduled to give the teachers a short talk during pre-planning (which for me starts Aug 3rd) about what is new in the media center and also give them some technology tips that they may be able to use in their classrooms this year. Not sure yet what I am going to talk about - if you have any great websites/equipment that I might want to take a look at please leave a comment!
Even with my Blackberry obsession I did manage to get some reading in over vacation and I think that we really lucked out and had the best 2 weeks that Massachusetts has seen all summer (it is raining there today - again!). Here are some pictures from our trip.
on the boat going to Martha's Vineyard
Gay Head Cliffs, Martha's Vineyard
Tall ships, Boston Harbor
Jason Varitek up at bat, Fenway Park
2 comments:
Glad you got to go to Fenway, Kathy!
I struggle with that unplugged question, too (and Sara Zarr also just wrote about it). I have a Treo, which is imperfect for surfing, but good for reading and filing my email, and reading Google Reader. I know that I use it too often. But it's a great way to fill dead time while in line, etc. I have recently been trying to spend a bit less time on the computer while at home, though. No success as yet, but I think it's the right direction to go.
August 5th now, thanks to our gov. Anyway, tech tools for the teachers? At the end of the year I finally got the idea and benefits of Delicious.com across and there were some great links being shared. Now if I can get everyone to realize the joy of Google Apps I think we'll really be getting somewhere...
Post a Comment