Introductions....

Dear Blog,

Let me re-introduce myself. My name is Noel Forte and up to this point, I haven't really cared for you very much. I don't mean to hurt your feelings but I've only viewed you as a "requirement" for a class. You don't reflect my personality....no connection to what I really feel. I've feared for a long time that I would be judged negatively by the things I might reveal about myself. After all, I'm a tech integrator, I should know about the latest and greatest Web 2.0 tools and wikis should fly from my fingertips. But you know what? They don't. And you know what else? That's ok. I am a learner...

I am very lucky to have a few friends who have such passion for technology integration that they devote a tremendous amount of time to learning more and networking with others who share their passions...it exceeds the school day and becomes part of who they are. But blog, that's not where I am in life right now. And you know what? That's ok. I am a wife, mother, home owner, friend....On my lunch hour, I like to go to the faculty room to talk to my colleagues or go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood. Lately, I've been taking a nap in my van! You see, blog, I need some "me time," too! At home, the 3 men in my life deserve my attention. Once they're asleep, I do my homework for grad school.

So blog, I need the cliff notes. I need to feel that I can ask, "How'd you do that? Would you show me how? What was the process you took to get you from A to B? What's the prep time?" I appreciate the amount of time it takes folks to become effective at what they do. I, however, need the condensed version. And that's ok. After all, what's our purpose? My purpose is to help teachers to integrate technology into their school lives, to help them see the benefits for themselves, but most importantly, how it can improve the learning experiences of their students. The students, after all, are the ones who will be using these new technologies in the future.

Once I learn something, I'm off to the races. Once I see how it can be beneficial, I can show others how it can be beneficial. I'm pretty proud of the direction we are going in at my school. It is a slow process, but it is a thoughtful one.

So, blog, I am now looking at you in a new light. I am a learner and this is my process. It's nice to meet you.