Dropping the old stuff

My old friend Miguel Guhlin at Around the Corner, writes in Open to Possibility! that he is changing the equipment he uses daily.

• High powered Mac laptop to Chromebook
• iPad to Kindle Fire
• USB drives to The Cloud

He writes 'As I reflect on the other changes, I'm reminded of the old saying, "Drop the old stuff you are carrying so you can pick up the new."'

As  technology director, I've always felt I should use the same equipment that our department asks teachers to use. If we go cheap. If we go less powerful, if we skimp on memory, if we buy heavy devices, if we don't upgrade operating systems, if we don't replace on a regular basis, I believe I should experience the consequences. I would hope all school leaders would adopt this practice.

So I'm a little nervous. We're seriously talking about moving teachers to Chromebooks. And if we do so, I need to go first.

I admire Miguel's positive attitude toward changing his personal technology operating systems. "My hands are empty, ready to pick up new ideas, new technologies, explore different avenues of accomplishing my life goals." My mantra might be "My hands are full learning new programs, managing work-arounds, finding and installing new apps to do common tasks - what was I thinking in changing!"

I can't say that I use many programs anymore that are not cloud-based. Powerpoint is still my presentation tool of choice but I also use Google Slides. I occasionally open Adobe Elements now and then. But that's about it. So when my Macbook Air (3 years old?) dies and goes to computer heaven, I will seriously look at a Chromebook as my personal computer. And I am ready now at work to turn in the Windows laptop for the same 360 degree convertible Chromebook we are giving our students.

Giving up the iPad for a Kindle Fire (or just using the touch screen on the Chromebook) may prove to be more difficult simply because I am so addicted to the cellular data plan I have on my iPad. Conference wifi overloaded? No problem, go to cellular. I don't know that there are any non-cross platform apps I use anymore.

And the only thing I've used a USB drive for in years is transferring a file from my home scanner to my computer.

So, it's time to make the change. I'll go first.

Thanks, Miguel, for the inspiration.

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Comments

[Karen Durham]

I agree with the comments that director's should use the same technology that teachers use. If the teachers are having problems using what they have then maybe everyone is having problems. Using the same technology opens a new communication avenue that can be used to discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the technology. With that knowledge both sides can decide if the technology is helpful or if research needs to be done to purchase something better.