Tech Tool 2: Google Docs

It is now February and our tool to learn and work on this month is Google Docs. I have had some training and experience in using this tool before. I have found it doesn't work so well for me in my position at Park Center because all the docs I would love to collaborate with others online are way too big and the formatting gets compromised.
I have used Google Docs for smaller tasks and for other jobs outside of school. For example, I created a whole Google Site for my kids' daycare/preschool which incorporated uploading some Google Docs as well.

This month, so far, I created a personal spreadsheet including sites I want to visit while I am in New York City over spring break. I have shared it with my husband for him to view and add his input as well. It will be nice to have easy access to those things we want to see and do including neighborhoods, addresses, phone numbers, and websites.

I will have to think of something work-related to share with some of you to officially complete this task. Stay tuned...

The Joy of Books

OK I just discovered this video this morning, and I love it! It doesn't really have to do with technology and education directly, but I thought it was a great use of technology and creativity and still speaks to new technologies in that the end message is "There is still nothing quite like a REAL book." I completely agree!

Use of Technology in Education

Here is a quick video I found that lays out what they consider the "Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in Education." I realize it is an ad for their products in the end, but I thought the reasons they laid out to use technology in learning were important points and communicated effectively. If you ignore the last 20 seconds which are meant to sell their products, I think they make a good argument---whether you use their products or not.

Teachers, what do you think? Are these valid points? Do you find technology helpful in the classroom? Or is it a hindrance to you?

Teaching Tools

Just got an email about new technology training that is of great interest to me. The first step is to create a blog...DONE!

I guess that means I'm going public now...with co-workers nonetheless! YIKES. 

Anyhow, here it is...I'm looking forward to trying all the other tools in the coming months as well. I'll be sure to share any cool things I discover and hope to keep this up more regularly during the duration of this at least.

Just breathe...

As I departed for our Disney vacation in January, I had some health scares which I had to deal with through the spring.  By the end of May, I was given the "all clear" and had to scramble to get my head back on straight.  As a Busy Bee, I have a constant buzzing in my ear.  I think about a million things and have a never-ending to-do list.  When your health is in jeopardy, things slow down and often, the things you thought were important, fall to the wayside.

I am one of the most laid back people you will ever meet.  Very little can frazzle me.  But when you mess with good health, I think that can put anyone in a tailspin.  For the first time in a long time, I felt tremendous stress.  And it would ebb and flow with results of weekly medical tests.  How did I get to this place?

Now that it is the middle of summer, I finally feel like I can breathe again.  I feel like I am getting as close to "normal" as I can.  I am getting better organized and sorting things out to keep my crazy life running smoothly.  The Busy Bee is back in business!

True Princess

An item on my so-called "wish list" has been one of the Disney-themed Dooney & Bourke handbags.  I love purses!  I love Dooneys!  And everyone knows I am a HUGE fan of Disney!  So what could be more perfect? 

They have been out for some time and were initially only available at the Disney Parks.  They created a huge buzz once released and had an immediate fan base.  Now they are availble online at the disneystore.com and it seems they have been releasing new designs like crazy.

I always had the original Sketch design on my list---in white.  It just spoke DISNEY to me---Mickey & Minnie, Cinderella's castle, Mickey balloons, Dumbo, Bell's rose, Tinkerbell, ear hat, and much more!  I liked a lot of the designs that have come out since then, but I always found myself going back to the Sketch (which now also comes in an assortment of colors).

I had planned to make it a splurge purchase on our trip planned for January.  I was so excited to go and see them all in person and make just the right selection based on size and design placement (no two are alike!).  Then Cyber Monday comes along.

I got a notification from my Disney Dooney fan board (yes, there is such a thing!) about people going crazy ordering their Disney Dooneys. I just had to click and see what I was missing: 25% off and FREE SHIPPING.  Oh, and you can also add a Disney Dooney cosmetics bag for only $15 more.  WOW!

So I started browsing and while I love all the rich content on Disney sites, they often also irritate me because that causes them to run slowly.  I simply couldn't make my decision and decided I would browse from home that night.  I couldn't decide which size I wanted (I like a big purse, but not too big) and it is hard to tell online even when they give the dimensions.  Then, the design: did I want the white sketch (as I always thought) or the white Mickey balloons which is just so fun and colorful????  Such decisions!

After much pondering and clicking back and forth...GASP!  The site goes down.

Just my luck!  I kept clicking for a while hoping my Disney Dooney would reappear and knew that I had to order it then and there in order to get the price while the site was up and running.  So what did I choose?

Why, the Disney Princess Tote, of course!  I decided that since I was spending that much money on a DISNEY bag, I had to now officially be a Disney Princess.  Right???

I just hope I like it in person!  If not, I know they sell on ebay.  ;)

Vegas, Baby!

Getting ready and feeling scatter-brained.  Tomorrow I leave for Las Vegas for 5 days.  I am both excited and nervous.  I am going to be attending a travel conference and bringing my husband along for the ride.  I am super excited to have a getaway with him and also to learn even more about my business and network with others.  I am nervous and anxious to leave my kids for 5 days.  I have never left them both for more than one night and it is hard to think I can't just run to them if they should need me. 

The sad thing for me, as a travel agent, is I have not been on an airplane in over 3 years.  Shhhhhhhhh!  That is pretty embarrassing for me in my profession.  The great thing about me for my clients is that I am very organized and thorough and love to keep up on the latest and greatest news online and in training. Even though I am not out roaming the world currently, I feel I have a lot to offer. 

I am excited to board that plane with my husband and look forward to a busy weekend full of fun.  While I am attending meetings and training sessions, Tony has a full list of things he would like to see and do.  Lucky him!  We have a few items on the list to experience together and I am pretty certain I will not be sleeping much all weekend long.  So much for a vacation!

My parents are kind enough to watch our young kids while we are gone.  They love it, and my kids love being with them.  They spoil them as grandparents should, so everyone is happy all around.  My almost 5-year old has been planning what she wants to pack and which movies she wants to watch with Grammy.  My almost 2-year old is generally very easy going, but he has been very clingy in the last few weeks.  I am worried for that separation, but I have no doubt that my parents will be able to distract him and keep him busy and he will be surrounded by fun and love. 

I have most of my clothes packed up so tonight will be scramble time getting my toiletries and business stuff ready to go.  I am trying to organize my work space at school so that I don't return to co-workers that hate me.  I need to get the reports done for my kids' school so that I don't return to work waiting for me on Sunday night.  Finally, I still need to pack my kids up and we will be on our way.

I have a lot to do with little time now and, on top of it all, our dryer went out last night.  Luckily, we had completed all of our laundry for the trip so the concern will be if it is fixed before we return home---returning from a trip without working laundry could be a real headache.  I might just have to call in sick on Monday with nothing to wear!