Technology is the thing of the future.  Unfortunately, I admire the Amish, love the Little House on the Prairie days and remember reading My Side of the Mountain and thinking how I would love to live in a tree. Not much technology there.  Of course, I also love all of the ideas I can get from Pinterest and other online sources, so I guess I will trudge ahead into this post.
 This week we were asked to evaluate ourselves in each area of a technology integration matrix. The first level of integration is the Entry level.  I would give myself a 4 out of five on my self made rubric.  I use my document camera and computer often in lessons.  We love to use the LCD projector to rock out with The Learning Station on YouTube.  Unfortunately, as we advance, my scores are going to go down.  The next level is the Adoption level where teachers begin to show students how to use the equipment.  Some of my students know how, but not because I have taught them.  I am still learning for goodness sake!  I would give myself a 2 in this area.  From a 4 to a 2 and only on level 2.  We all know where I am going from here!  For the next three levels, Adaptation, Infusion and Transformation, I would have to give myself a 0, 0 and 0.  Luckily for me this is not the three strikes and you're out rule.  I don't feel comfortable enough with technology yet to teach my students to use it independently.  I would love to be able to achieve a 4 or 5 at the Transformation level eventually, but don't feel that it will be this school year.  I just broke down and bought a smart phone and am playing around with the functions on it that I can use in the classroom.  We will be getting some kind of tablet in our classrooms next year and I feel that with guidance and encouragement I will be able to achieve  a 4 or 5 on the Adaptation level.  I am still not so sure about Infusion and Transformation in kindergarten.  I watched a video on a kindergarten classroom studying habitats where they did their own taping and made power points to share their information.   I feel that I would need more guidance and professional development to do an assignment of this magnitude. We do have an E-Coach now who is willing to help us with such assignments.  I think that as a school we are moving in the right direction to help our children and teachers become more divergent thinkers by using the technology that is available to them.