Buzz Killers

So as I was saying, it's so much fun teaching.

However, I have discovered that when you know how to do things on a computer some folks automatically think you know how to fix computers -- not just computers, but any machine -- even TVs, smart boards, printers, handhelds and computers. Pa-leeze!!! Do I look like I know how to do that? I'm just a little old computer teacher, trying to achieve happiness and self-fulfillment in my lab.

Sometimes I'll get lucky and the problem will be a switch, battery or cable, and I can make myself look like a wizard without too much trouble. I once saw a T-shirt on Cafe Press that said, "No, I won't fix your computer." I should get that. Either that or get my own little pink toolbox and go to it. I guess this is why I get the big money.

Picking it up where I left off..

Mrs. Kelly -- the introduction:

Okay, so the last time I tried this was two years ago. I've been busy.

Changing after 30+ years of teaching music to technology has been interesting to say the least. On one hand, it's like a mental water ride . Educational technology is changing so dramatically and so quickly that I'm having a hard time keeping afloat so I kind of bump around the twists and turns and hope I don't hurt something necessary. On the other hand, I think it's been good for me. If I don't do new things I may as well start interviewing nursing homes because my brain will stagnate.

I've tried to twitter -- even found a few friends. I've come to the conclusion that I really don't care what people are doing nor do I particularly care what they think about their dinner or whatever. For that matter, I may not want anyone to know what I'm doing nor do I feel like sharing all the time.

I'm afraid of Second Life. I'm turning 55 shortly and I'm still trying to get a handle on this life. I'm afraid if I go there I may not come home, especially with some of those cute avatars running around.

I think what's most exciting, though, are the kids. As I was saying to Nino, my hairdresser, I think kids today are way more fun to teach than in the past. When I taught music I found a few kids that I could really connect with and the rest just kind of took up space for 50 minutes while looking at me like they wished I was in some other life but theirs. Kids that I teach now -- even the little ones-- are so excited by everything. They grab ahold of new ideas like they were legos (sometimes they are) and try to see how far they can run with it.

From my experience with my own kids and grandkids, I know they need to touch and hold and smell and taste everything to really understand what it is. Unfortunately, in this world there are priceless Hummels, glass lamps, sharp things, hot things, delicate things and things that will cause a grown-up to go into apoplexy if it's touched. Not so technology. It was made to be messed with. I think that's what I like the best. I think that's how I learn the best. The kids and I -- we can do it together and it's fun.

Anyway, I'm in this unique balancing act of trying to grow older gracefully yet not giving in to the temptation of slacking off and becoming granite. I need to keep playing with these toys and learning. So I'm going to add my two cents to the blogosphere and poke around other people's blogs and try not to be boring.