I've booked a week in Virginia Beach as a working vacation. I've had one LONG busy school year preparing, researching and rolling out a one-to-one laptop program for our 5-th 8th graders this year. A project that was merely a thought at the start of the school year. I spent the fall researching and the winter preparing. This project has been one of the biggest undertakings I have yet taken in my career, especially in such a short time, but has been well worth the journey. I will share more on this journey in another post. This week, and now I am staying at Ocean Point Beach Club on the 16th floor in a ocean front room with wireless Internet.
I have three goals this week. Create a base for technology plan revision. Complete tech budget for 08-09 school year. Educate myself and make time to explore web2.0 tools. Okay, a fourth goal is definately to take some good walks on the beach, relax and unwind my brain.
My first goal this week is to work on our school technology plan. Our plan has been a bit neglected in light of the changes this school year in our programming. I haven't had (or made) time for the Technology Plan Committee to come together and start our revision which is due in June. There are so many changes I want to make and hope to have a draft with some good ideas in writing by the end of this week. I need to really revamp some of our old plan. I want to be sure to include the new NETS-S, change the vision to include the 1-1 programming, and .......well......I guess I'd better get to work to figure out what else is needed on the revision. Our team meets next week so I'd better have a base for us to work off of to make the day a success.
My second goal this week is to complete the dreaded technology budget for next school year. Why can't we have an unlimited pot of gold to use for our needs as they arise? Wouldn't that be a dream come true? Reality of it is that it takes much planning to assure all costs associated with continued successful operation of all technology needs is met. So I will dredge through my budget spreadsheets, planning quotes, and do my best to spread our dollars for another successful year of technology in our schools.
My third goal is the one I am having the most fun doing! What is voicethread? How do I make this blog look nice? Check out Ning. Flikr. Pageflakes. iGoogle, Del.icio.us, Diigo, Toondo, Slideshare, Zoho Notebook, Ustream, Digg, Flat Classroom, Spokeo, Jott.com, and on and on and on the list goes.
While trying to jog my memory of some of the other tools I want to check out, I accidentally found another blog that sidetracked me, again. It was Barry Dahl's. Never ending stay up all night edumacating (quite the fun word, eh?) myself. So again..........how does one do it? How do I balance immersion into where I need to be so that I can be a good leader with the rest of my life?
Which brings me to that last goal of my working vacation. A bit of resting, relaxing and walks on the beach. Yesterday it rained but it didn't stop me from three short walks in the rain. Today I managed one medium walk and took a nap out by the ocean (bundled in my sweats with a towel over me). It was awesome! I absolutely love LOVE love Love the ocean. I love the smell and the sound of the ocean. I love the feel of the warm sand on my feet. I love the ocean breeze and the sunshine (when it's there). I love my view from my room. What makes the ocean so therapeutic?
I think I have much to get busy with here. So until next time, farewell.
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