Maybe I Rushed to Judgment?

I'm a small town guy always have and always will be.  I just like the atmosphere of a small town and thats how I grew up.  In my home county there is not one stop light in the entire county and where I currently live there is not a stop light, I love that.  Now I do live seven miles north of a city that has state university but even when college is in session the population is only 25,000.

That's why ISTE was a bit overwhelming for me and I posted that in a previous blog.  I also stated that I was glad I went but doubted would ever go again, because it was just so big.  I think maybe my opinion may have been a bit premature.  I rushed to judgment, not a good thing.

As I have been able to reflect on my experience and read others reflections, what a great time I had.  The thing I really enjoyed was getting to meet so many people I consider "Rock Stars" in the education world.  Seeing many old friends and meeting new ones was special, after all we are in the people business and its the relationships we develop that makes this such a rewarding profession, whether its with students, staff, or online friends.

So I am re-evaluating my decision about ever attending again.  I doubt I make it to Atlanta but hope the one after that is within driving distance of Kansas.  I don't fly so distance is an issue, the clinical name for it is called "I'm a coward."  See you at some other point in time.

Never Again

In my previous posts I have let people know my age (which isn't young) or referenced how I wish I had discovered twitter earlier in my educational career (which is still true).  I have also used the phrase at the end of my career.  Sounds like I'm using age as an excuse, and I guess that would be the case.

While at ISTE this past June I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of men I greatly admire from reading their blogs.  Both are in the same age range as myself, and I eluded to my age and how I wish I'd started this at a younger age.  One of the gentlemen then stated, "you're never to old to make a difference in the life of a kid."  I will never forget that statement, as long as I live, if I'd been hit in the face with a sledgehammer it wouldn't have knocked me back any more.  What a powerful statement at least for me.

So here is my charge, the district I'm in charge of leading might need to tape their ankles because we are "going to make a difference in the lives of our kids."  It matters not how close I am or am not to the end of my career I will take the approach I have an infinite number of years left in this business.  From this day forward I will NEVER AGAIN use age or length of time in education as any kind of excuse for anything.  Twitter and the connections I've made have invigorated me and my career no matter what stage of it I'm in.

By the way does anyone want to come and mow the yard of an old guy?

Well It Happened

Well Google Reader finally went away.  I'm very disappointed in this happening and posted several tweets going from begging to just being mad at Google.  I loved reader and have chosen Digg as its replacement but doubt if any will really take its place.

The frustrating part for me is we are becoming a GAFE school for the fall, we are rolling out Chromebooks to all our high school students this year and are very excited about the opportunities this presents.  But I have to wonder what Google will pull the plug on next and how will it effect our decision.  If Google didn't get the message from the enormous amount of tweets how people felt about Reader, then what makes me believe they will stay with all their education apps?

We are a small school and I know we can't compete with corporate America, but please Google don't make me regret going with GAFE, as I really do love your products and what you do.  Then again I loved Reader, too, and now its dead and gone.