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What is one to do when the school filter system refuses to allow you to utilize the tools needed to make class interactive? I have been banging my head against a wall since changing school districts, but have somehow been able to work a solution to most problems. That is until now. A couple of years ago a district employee was found to have inappropriate material on their computer, so much so that the legal system stepped in and the educator was stripped of their license just this year. As a result, technology has been put in what can only be described as “Big Brother” mode.

I can no longer use Google tools at school. That is right, no Google documents, no reader, nothing. So much for collaboration. It is so bad in fact that I couldn’t stream a session of the US Congress into my classroom. We meet resistance at every turn, and what was once used is no longer an option.

We have one computer lab, zero laptops or mobile labs, and it is a battle to get to use it at any given time. I have a teacher computer in my classroom, but nothing else. My desire to enhance learning is doomed to remain a desire.

Our technology coordinator does the best he can, or at least based on the information I have he does, but is dealing with the fact that we are a poorer district and that he has to cover the district legally.

What is one to do when in technology jail?

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Over the past few days the Masonic Technology article on FreemasonInformation has ventured into basic tutorials ranging from registering and using GMail to most recently how to join the Masonic Central podcast on BlogTalkRadio. I have to admit I have rather enjoyed making the tutorials, and have been beating the idea of proposing a repository of technology how-to’s for the site. I really think a collection of articles and videos would be extremely helpful, and could serve as a starting point for Lodge Education.

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Twitter is proving to be an outstanding resource as both my personal networking tool, much better than FaceBook I must say, and my Professional Learning Network. Through experts like Vikki Davis, Eric Langhorst, and Wesley Fryer, just to name a few, I have been exposed to techniques and tools that I otherwise would never have experienced. Their knowledge and expertise in the world of instructional technology is awe inspiring, and truly motivational.

Thus, I am going to begin a total overhaul of my classroom site to better utilize the tools that I have already posted, and create a proper place for those that I am about to create. Like most of my years in my current school district, a new year brings the opportunity to create new courses. At times it is disheartening, but I must admit that the addition of History Through Conspiracies and History Past and Present has excited me with the technology possibilities (more to come on this later).

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As of late I am realizing more and more that my desire to be in the classroom is diminishing. My love of education in general has never waivered, but after 14 years I NEED something else. Ideally I would love to find a job where I can utilize my Master’s degree in Computer Education and Technology. Oh to be a fulltime integration specialist or better yet a director or coordinator of technology integration at the university level.

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As I am in desperate need of a SmartBoard, I finally got the support of the administration to try to acquire one via a grant. I have to admit, I really do not like writing grants. Call it nerves, call it lack of experience, or call it laziness it still equates to the same thing….I want the money.

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I would like to invite all Freemasons to join us at freemasoninformation.com. The site is an online only Masonic magazine that consists of many different talented, and in my case non-talented, authors sharing diverse ideas and topics under one roof.

Yours truly is a co-author of Masonic Technology, a column that focuses on various technology tools that can be used to increase productivity and brotherhood in the lodge. If you have an idea for a topic just let me know and I will put it on my list to get to as soon as possible.

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