Adjusting to Retirment

I am embarking on a new phase in my life...retirement!  However, I find it difficult to visualize life without being involved in some type of technology training and learning.  Therefore, I'm exploring options available such as teaching online classes and/or volunteering at a school.  Hopefully, the summer months will give me some time to explore options and network with other retirees.

Flood 2008

It is very difficult to describe the impact of the Flood of 2008! I was extremely fortunate that my home was not impacted by the flood, but the damage to the Educational Service Center where I work has created a lot of adapting, relocating, and speculation on the future. I believe, though, that most of the roadblocks caused by the flooding can and will be overcome through hard work, cooperation, and creativity.

The floodwaters came close to us, and covered the bridge near our home. I've posted a slideshow of pictures on this blog showing the bridge during and after the flooding. A neighbor of ours who lives close to this bridge sustained a lot of damage to their house, garage, and barn. My husband and I were able to paddle our canoe down to their home and help ferry a lot of their belongings out. We were actually able to paddle down Bertram Road and on to Mt. Vernon Road...something that I never would have imagined would have been possible.

Journals and Wikis and Blogs! (Oh, My!)

It seems like everyone has a wiki or blog these days. Postings range from the mundane (how I spent my day) to the esoteric (what is the meaning of life?). However, are there appropriate instructional uses for blogs and wikis or are they just a fad?

I believe that blogs, online journals, and wikis can be powerful educational tools for communication and collaboration if used wisely. An excellent article on Blogging can be found in Learning and Leading with Technology, Volume 32 No. 6. The title of the article is Blog ON: Building Communication and Collaboration among Staff and Students by Catherine Poling.