Technology at The Farm

 Coming soon: 1850 meets 2023 in Technology 

Turning 70 and Technology

 So turning 70 is really not that bad.  Age is really a state of mind and nothing stops it except death.  Technology becomes more important as time goes on.  Digital blood pressure kits, telamedical Doctor visits, MRI and Cat scans, and other types of medical devices are in high demand.  Communication devices enable people to keep in touch, and "Star Trek" type of devices are just around the corner.  

The question is, "How does Technology improve our lives?"  Some might say that it complicate life as we know it while others laud it's positive influence on our lives.  Every age had it's technology that changed how we live our lives.  Communication, ease of completing tasks, and automation of tasks are just a few of the ways technology makes it mark.  Only time will tell if it is good or bad.  For now, at age 70, using technology on a daily basis makes the trials and tribulations much easier to bear.

So what do you think? How has Technology change your life?

Christmas Tech

It’s Christmas time and technology comes alive.  I know what you are saying....what else is new.  Everything is now connected.  The TV can think on its own, the refrigerator can tell you what you need on your shopping list, and Alexia controls it all.  I just finished connecting all my table lamps to remotes.  As crazy as it sounds, I love this concept.  My iPad talks to my Mac Book, which is connected to my Apple watch and finally all my info is stored in the cloud.  When I was a child all the toys needed my imagination, not batteries.  They didn’t talk to you or follow you around.  Now many of them are worth a lot of money if properly kept in pristine condition. Collectors pay big bucks for some of the toys that I threw away.  I wonder what will become of today’s toys? My guess is once they become old and no longer needed, will they fill our landfills?  I now work for a Museum and what I have noticed is that what remains is those items that bring memories to light or those items that made a difference in the lives of those viewing the displays.  As I look around the living room just a few days after Christmas I see the ghost of Christmas Past laying alongside of the present nd maybe the future.  What will last and what will fade away? Only time will tell.

It’s been a long time???

Have you ever forgotten an important part of your life because, as they say...time marches on.  Since my retirement from Education, my life has taken several twist and turns.  Leaving the Educational Field and moving into my second life has allowed me to see technology in a different way.  Once you get out of the day to day focus on useable technology ideas, it becomes much harder to keep up with the current latest and greatest software and hardware.  This is when you think outside the box and find those who still have that daily focus.  While it is very humbling for me to ask others for help, I have found that it enables me to now focus on the big ideas and let my “experts” figure out how to make it happen.  I currently work as a tour guide at a local history museum.  Once they found out that I have a background in technology, the game began.  We focus on a guided tour through seven museums. After taking our visitors through there museums, I discovered that technology was not being used to enhance the experience.  Over the next few weeks, I will talk about how we use. Technology at our museums.

Avoiding Pitfalls PART TWO

Avoiding Common Pitfalls PART TWO PART TWO Wrong selection of Technology Lack of follow up In today's Technology World, we see changes daily.  You buy a piece of hardware or the the latest software only to find that all has changed overnight.  I remember buying my first computer, an Apple IIe, and having the sales person, who knew that this was a big decision, understood the problem. He said to me this following statement which summed up the general feeling of so many, "If you wait to buy that 'perfect' computer, it would be like waiting to marry the perfect wife.  Each day that goes by will make you change your mind and you will never get married or buy that computer". I have never forgot that. Technology Pitfalls are all around us.  If it's not money, it's appropriate selection issues; or it's lack of training or follow up.  These pitfalls, while are easy to overcome, will doom any project to failure.  So often I hear Educators say that they struggle with this issue at budget time.  The Pitfall:  Wrong selection of Technology "We really need this"!  How many times have you attended a conference or sat through a sales pitch and got so excited about a piece of Hardware or that "just got to have" software only to find out after getting the items that you can not use it.  If they tell you it is "the only thing you will ever need", don't buy it.   The Solution:  This goes back to The Plan.  You need to really spend some time working on deciding what you need.  Remember it what you need and what will effectively help your students.  We began out planning process with the focus on what we felt would be a good place to start.  The Lap Top Project is a good example of beginning with the basics.  A lap top, video projector, and a ELMO.  This was the jumping off point because the requirements for the teachers were to utilize the lap tops for imputing grades, keeping attendance, online training, and other types of jobs.  The projector would allow them to use one computer for whole class instruction, and the ELMO would be a great tool for students.  We knew that if we could get the teachers to use these tools, it would be easy to move to the next stage. While we had a nice technology and for the first time we could have outfitted the classrooms with a lot of technology, we didn't want to just have it sit  and collect dust.  It was the right amount at the right time. The Pitfall: Lack of follow up Most systems do provide the initial training but most don't utilize effective followup.  I have found so many times as I travel around to classrooms, I see the stuff we just trained the teachers and students on, not being used.  The  main reason for this is, most teachers didn't remember what they had learned in the initial training or once they go back to the classroom and have problems.  I can't tell you how many times a teacher will become so frustrated when they hit the wall and refuse to use the technology.  The next time you attempt to train or require them to use technology, they will always remember the unpleasant experience.  This usually is the killer for technology usage.   The solution: As for the followup training, it should be provided also in a variety of methods. Usually you can tell what works and what doesn't.  I have found that following up at least two or three weeks after the initial training is about the best time for followup.   This period of time allows then time to play with it and get to the point where they want to start using it.  The period between the initial training and the follow up will also provide you with compliance.    "Don't expect what you don't inspect".   Compliance is always required when monies are used.  Also you didn't buy the technology just because you could.   Follow up also allows you to make up for the gaps in training.  Not everyone is a born trainer.  Some trainers know all about the product but do not know howmto explain it in terms that the 'non technical' person can understand.  Don't expect the teacher, student, or parent to always pick up on using the devices without followup.   Tomorrow's topic will be "Technology on a Shoestring Budget"

Avoiding Pitfalls PART ONE

Avoiding Common Pitfalls PART ONE

Lack of A Technology Plan

Tight monies restricting buying decisions

Lack of effective training

PART TWO

Wrong selection of Technology

Lack of follow up


In today's Technology World, we see changes daily.  You buy a piece of hardware or the the latest software only to find that all has changed overnight.  I remember buying my first computer, an Apple IIe, and having the sales person, who knew that this was a big decision, understood the problem. He said to me this following statement which summed up the general feeling of so many, "If you wait to buy that 'perfect' computer, it would be like waiting to marry the perfect wife.  Each day that goes by will make you change your mind and you will never get married or buy that computer". I have never forgot that.
Technology Pitfalls are all around us.  If it's not money, it's appropriate selection issues; or it's lack of training or follow up.  These pitfalls, while are easy to overcome, will doom any project to failure.  So often I hear Educators say that they struggle with this issue at budget time. 

The Pitfall:  Lack of a Technology Plan

This seems to be one area that most people attempt to complete but usually fail.  We are all aware of how important a Plan is but we fail to properly construct a Plan that fits our needs.  Copy and Pasting just doesn't get it.  This is not really the time to attempt to 'fit' another plan created by someone else into 'our' plan.  Templates are great but only if they are blank to begin with.


The Solution:

Do your homework first.  Review several Technology Plans and then take the FIRST STEP: Assess Your Needs.  I have always felt that spending time on this Pitfall will be the most important thing you can do.  "If you FAIL to PLAN, you PLAN to FAIL.


The Pitfall: Tight monies restricting buying decisions.

This is probably the killer for most buying decisions that you will face.  On a personal level, I have found that most decisions about technology is based on funding.  You either have to limit what you buy or it forces you to spend the monies on things you really don't need.  It really all goes back to your Plan.  What is needed and what is the level of experience of the user.

The solution:

The first step of the Major Plan is: Managing the funding source.  This will require you to identify monies that you are going to use for technology.  This decision MUST be FINAL.  You can always add to your budget but you can NOT take away.  In my previous system, we utilized ARRA Funding as our source for technology.  This was a land fall of monies but that presented us with many problems.  Since there had been a lack of technology for our Special Programs, it would have been easy to go overboard and spend, spend, and spend.  Here is the key: Match the Money with the Need.  The NEED must be based on the teachers, the students, and what you need to be able to integrate technology into the classroom.

The Pitfall: Lack of effective training

As far I am concerned, this ranks as number one.  The key is 'effective'.  Hands-on Training, before implementation, and followup training to provide problem solving.  Most systems do provide the initial training but most don't utilize effective followup.  

The solution:

Provide various methods for training such as, Hands-on, online, video, and additional types of training on the Hardware and Software you want them to use.  Small group training sessions seem to work well.  Make sure you have enough hardware and copies of the software for each trainee.  As for the followup training, it should be provided also in a variety of methods.  Don't expect the teacher, student, or parent to always pick up on using the devices without followup.  

Tomorrow's topic will be Pitfalls Part Two

Reinventing The Wheel

Reinventing The Wheel

They say that just about everything has it's origins in in just a few inventions.  Most people do not like change and will say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  My experience is that taking what is already there, changing or, in this case, reinventing the the process will allow you to get the job done.  In the case of the MAJOR PLAN, which was a system-wide process for utilizing public funding for effective Technology Planning, was adapted for personal home use.

The MAJOR PLAN,

Managing the funding source, 
was changed to: 
Making a Budget Item for Personal Technology Usage.

Analyzing the needs through the use of assessment tools,
was changed to: 
Assessing your Personal Inventory to determine what is still working and what are your current needs for Technology.

Jointly utilizing existing technology resources and personal, 
was changed to: 
Jointly combining your current knowledge and utilizing online sources, seeking out reputable computer repair services, and finally, focusing on only what hardware and software you really need to use.

Offer adequate Training,
was changed to: 
Organizing friend, other family members, and existing user groups in your area to learn tips and techniques.

Revaluate the Process,
was changed to: 
Reinvent the Wheel.

As you can see, while the process might seem detailed, it really will save you time, effort, and most importantly, money, in the long run.  My experience is that if you follow the MAJOR PLAN for determining your needs, you will avoid many of the common pitfalls that tend to derail you.

Tomorrows blog will be, Avoiding Common Pitfalls.  Let's see now, where do I begin?  Oh yes, what is my focus and how much will my wife let me spend.  Have a great day!