Brenda's+Journal

6-6-10 I am attempting to follow the directions that Scott sent us to link this page to the Summer 2010 Participant Page. Let's see if I can work it through!! :-)

6-17-10 I am trying to learn this new technology. Made a nicer looking wiki page, and not attempting to link it to our Participant page. Wondering if this is extra challenging right now because it is new, or because my plate is full and overflowing right now with things at work, and homework from all of my classes??

6-20-10 My next venture is to make another WIKI for my final project, and get it linked to this WIKI site. I think I have given up trying to link the "pretty" version with color, graphics and etc. I have tried various ways to do this, but can't get it hooked to the Participant page. Now I understand why my 76 year old Mother has been hesitant to learn more about Word and other programs on her computer. My 75 year old Dad is retired, has a blog, moves all through the internet, and has branched out more. He does get stumped at times, and his computer crashes on a regular basis. I can relate more to him now!

6-21-10 We had a Data Governance task force meeting today at work. One of the agenda items was reviewing Board Policy and Administrative Rule (AR) on technology use. The topic came up about social networks, how they can be used in the work place, concerns with places like Facebook and staff communicating during off work time, and etc. Interesting discussion! We have had a few incidents this past year where teachers have posted video of clips from their classroom on Facebook, and in some cases had dialogs about incidents from school. Ouch!! This is concerning. One suggestion made was that people in supervisory roles do not have Facebook "friends" with any teachers, or staff members that they supervise. I have a few FB friends that work on my team, and a couple Reading Specialists. Since I have a relationship with these folks, it is a great way to keep up with their lives with pictures and etc. Now I am wondering if I need to "unfriend" them, and keep up in a different way?!? I am selective about what I share, and also who I have confirmed as friends. This particular policy document has not been reviewed and revised for about five years. It is going to be about 3 times larger than it was then! A sign of the technological times that we are in.

6-25-10 I am leaving for a night and day away with my husband for our anniversary! We are headed up the gorge to "Bonneville Hot Springs Resort". It is a beautiful, quiet, relaxing setting, and the mineral pool is extremely refreshing to tired muscles! I will be "unplugged" until Saturday morning, in honor of keeping my priorities straight and being able to celebrate our marriage and relationship. :-)

6-27-10 Think I have all of the links back up on my WIki. I was editing it right before I left for home on Thursday afternoon, and wonder if I accidently deleted the whole thing??! Oh my goodness, another thing about using technology that can be frustrating and time consuming. One inadvertent click can change an entire project, website and etc. I did go back on the "Recently Changed" option, but it didn't have the page as it was before this happened. Oh well, I am getting more proficient at linking files and other sites to the Wiki. By the way, being "unplugged" for approximately 36 hours was wonderful! I felt a freedom that I hadn't experienced in a while. It allowed me to focus on thoughts, prayer, conversation with my husband, taking in the beauty of God's creation, and other advantages that being "chained" to the computer, phones and other technological tools. This week's goal is to start linking the EBISS and RTI resources for my final project.

6-28-10 Just listened to a informative and inspiring message from speaker Albert Mohler. It aligns perfectly with our class topic, so I have attached the link on my main Wiki site. He addresses the challenges to parents, to the church and to each of us as believers. Worth listening to!! I will also try to find the text or another related article from his website. The more that I read and reflect on the hyper technology world that we are involved in, the more that I am becoming convicted about my use, time it takes, the "state" that I am in when I get zoned into the computer, and am asking God to show me what he wants me to change in my attitude and dependency.