Hi Donna and everybody,
This is my first blog, so I'd like to reflect a bit about how I felt creating one.
First of all, I realize now how much I lack computer knowledge. In fact, being from the "older" generation, I've never had formal studies on information & communication technology and the few things that I know I learnt them by doing. Luckily, I've been always surrounded by fairly knowledgeable people who kept teaching me new things.
I think one problem we may all have to face when dealing with ICT is that it moves forward so fast that it is literally impossible to catch up with it at any time, even if you dedicate all your time to doing so. Therefore, I resign myself to learning bits and pieces here, there and everywhere.
I feel there is so much to learn that there's no point in worrying about it. Instead, I'll take every new piece of knowledge as it comes and have a positive attitude towards the chances of developing my computer skills to the standards required by this times of technological aids.
One last thing. If you wonder why I appear playing the keyboards in my photo, it's because I'm also a musician, an amateur one by the way. My band is called "Madera Noruega" (Norwegian wood, the name of a celebrated Lennon-McCartney's song) and - I bet you've guessed already - it's a Beatle tribute band. If I put a sort of emphasis on this, it's because it has always being a wonderful aid to my teaching; the moment my students learn I can play the guitar and sing, they just love doing it together.
Thanks for reading. I'm adding a link to a song played by my band, if you happen to like The Beatles. Madera Noruega plays "Help"
Hi Carlos,
ReplyDeleteFirst, congrats on your musical performance - I really liked it! I bet it's also a wonderful strategy to engage students.
Second, and now concerning your 1st blogpost: just like you, I am an oldie (I would dare say even older than you) and my parents bought our first computer for my graduation dissertation, over 20 years ago. I have been learning all by myself, and sometimes with the help of my eldest son! Yes, my two kids were born and are growing up with technology and my eldest kid is a real digital native - unlike us.
My attitude is similar to yours though I wouldn't use the word "resignation": I keep going, yes, but I do my best to keep up by testing a new tool every week and devising ways to apply it to my classes. Technology, technological gadgets, tools, apps evolve at an astonishing pace and with so many other chores at home and at school (not to mention my reading habit) that's the / my only way.
Greetings from Portugal,
Alex
Hello Carlos,
ReplyDeleteYou band is incredible! Thank you so much for posting the Youtube link. I loved it!
By the way, I'm older than both you and Alex! I agree with you, though. One can't learn or experience all the technology available, so we must appreciate what we do use and know, and make sure that the technology tools we adopt are those best suited to meet our needs. Anything else we can ignore.
Donna