...Sharing Google docs?
...Creating a Google Form?
...Creating a table in Word? (Word? Youch.)
...Embedding a logo in your email signature?
...Mirroring laptop during presentation?
...Connecting to WiFi?
"Ask Petra. She's super techy."
"Petra, since you're so techy, can you fix/load/delete/change this for me?"
I hear phrases like these pretty regularly. And when I do, I cringe. Silently. Inside. By no means are people trying to be sarcastic or rude; they genuinely consider me a resource in helping with tech-y things. When I hear the word "techy," I can't help but picture:
The tape on the glasses and suspenders. Seriously? How many people actually wear tape on their glasses like this?
I digress...
Being "techy" isn't really a thing. Can I navigate my way through Google Apps? For the most part, yes. Do I know how to embed things? Of course! Can I connect to WiFi and mirror my laptop? Indeed.
Skill set? Maybe. Degree? Hardly. Necessity? Absolutely.
See, the thing is, I know how to navigate through technology since it is such a HUGE part of my life AND my kids' lives. Example: Learning how to mirror my laptop has come out of necessity. And paying attention as a colleague mirrored my laptop, I paid attention since I knew I would need to do this again one day (without the guarantee someone around would know how to do this).
So, yes, after 15 years in education, I know everything there is to know about technology. Ask me any--(record screech) --how to upload a new font into Google Docs? Uhhh...I'm going to need to do a Google search for that. True story.
In preparing for a little known event called, "The Price is Right," I wanted to create matching shirts for our group (collective awwwww...). I needed the "Price is Right" font. Lo and behold through a Google search, I found it was called "pricedown" and immediately downloaded it! Woot! This would be perfect for my shirts. Now...how to use this font in Google...that's right! Google search. And then. Then...
Oh.snap.
To clarify, this is maybe a...10? 12? year old showing me the ropes on YouTube.*
But that's just it, right? Not only does this, I'll call him 11 year old, know HOW to find new fonts in Google docs, but can create a Screencast for it!!
And I'm supposed to be an instructional leader!? So, that's part of being "techy." It's about being RELEVANT. When a 3rd grader shares her Google Slides with me to collaborate, I know what she's talking about.
When my 6th graders show me the new social media app of the week (and who can keep up with it these days), it's good to have a general concept of what they are talking about. Adding stickers to pictures? Ok. Yes. I know how to do this. What's that you say, 6th grader? An app that switches out your face with another student's face? Hm, ok. I don't know how to do that, but show me!
There is no.way I can ever catch up with the rate at which our kids can weave in and out of new technology. But like building background knowledge to cement new learning, I must have some baseline to even continue learning.
As lead learners (principals, VPs, instructional leaders, coaches, etc.), it's important for us to continually learn new things ourselves, not rely on others to fix, solve or troubleshoot things for us.
Don't know how to...
...Share Google docs? Google it!...Create a Google Form? Google it! Ask someone who does AND PAY ATTENTION!
...Creating a table in Word? Search in the Help section! Google it! Also, please switch over to Google docs. No, seriously.
...Embed a logo in your email signature?
Google it! Poke around in settings! Ask someone who does AND PAY ATTENTION!
See where I'm going with this? As lead learners, not only do we need to model continuing our learning, but also using our resources! Be the model for your teachers, staff and students and learn your way around technology.
It's not about being "techy."
It's about being self-sufficient AND relevant for our kids!
*New learning: through a Google search after this YouTube video, I learned you can't actually upload a new font into Google. I did, however, find a work around where I could create text using a website, then copy and paste into a Google doc. I'm happy to share more specifics, but you have to promise to PAY ATTENTION and add this to your new learning. :)
