As an educator, what are your present strengths and weaknesses in technology? How do you plan to use your strengths? How do you plan to address your weaknesses?
I think when it comes to technology that I'm pretty good with using the programs. Over the past few years teaching middle school theatre and theatre design, I've tried to utilize technology in class, whether it is having the students research on the computer, creating videos in class, or trying out a lesson with a Smart Board. I'm not the best by far, but I manage to make it through, and when I'm trying to fix something and can't I know who to call. On my campus, I'm one of the stronger teachers at using the Mac computers that we have in our class. As a librarian, I think being good at using technology is important as many campuses are getting away from strictly having a librarian to having a "library media specialist". Now librarians are expected to know how to use these programs and what applications it can have in the classroom. Because I've already been trying out different programs, I think (hope) that I'm slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to that aspect of being a school librarian.
As for my weaknesses, a big one is that I'm better with Mac's then with PC's (I haven't used a PC on a regular basis since Windows XP). And while I use Microsoft Office on a regular basis, I just can't bring myself to use the school laptop that has Windows 7 on it. This is something that I know I need to work on and plan to in the coming school year, especially given that our computer labs at school are entirely PC. Additionally, I think that I need to work on my computer troubleshooting skills, especially since, as I mentioned earlier, a lot of schools are essentially combining their librarian and their campus technologist. I'm not strong in networking and troubleshooting and I know this is something that I need to get better at. I'm hoping that this coming school year I can work closely with both the librarian and CT on my campus to help strengthen and round out my computer skills in order to not only make me a better teacher, but also a stronger library media specialist.
