Digital Learning at Grant Wood AEA
  • Home
  • Learn
    • ITEC 2017
    • Iowa 1 to 1
    • Courses & Workshops
    • Free Media
    • GWAEA Badges
    • Learning Archives
  • Think
    • Blog
    • BrightBytes
    • Tech Coaches
    • Blended Learning
    • Think Make Innovate
    • Edtech Take Out
  • Grow
    • #FlipEDU
    • Makerspaces
    • Google Expeditions
    • Defined STEM
    • Breakout EDU
    • #GoOpen
  • Connect
  • Home
  • Learn
    • ITEC 2017
    • Iowa 1 to 1
    • Courses & Workshops
    • Free Media
    • GWAEA Badges
    • Learning Archives
  • Think
    • Blog
    • BrightBytes
    • Tech Coaches
    • Blended Learning
    • Think Make Innovate
    • Edtech Take Out
  • Grow
    • #FlipEDU
    • Makerspaces
    • Google Expeditions
    • Defined STEM
    • Breakout EDU
    • #GoOpen
  • Connect

The 'Magic' of Technology

10/2/2014

0 Comments

 
I have always been fascinated by magic. 
Fascinated and a little creeped out. 
Sitting at a magic show this summer I pestered my daughter to help me figure out how the very tall assistant was not cut in half with those shiny metal sheets.  My daughter gave me a very teenage look and shushed me!

I was thinking of magic today as I helped a few teachers connect to their school's new Google domain.
For some it went seamlessly. 
Type in the new password - start up Chrome and all is well. 
For a few we were worried - they had problems earlier so we anticipated issues. So, we were pleasantly surprised when all went well.

And then we came to that one! 
You know how it works.
We did everything just like the others - well we did add a bit of cocky banter about our new found skills just before we touched the keys.
And them WHAM!
There was an error message we had never seen before and nothing worked!
We backed out of that spot and tried the process again.  
And again. 

And the poor teacher had to keep coming up with new passwords.  
My guess is her final password did not contain fluffy and sweet words! :)

We walked away and brainstormed yet another alternate solution. 
And when we returned it worked - sort of.  For now.

And that brings me back to magic.

I believe. 

I know that technology has been grown in the scientific test tubes of Microsoft and MIT and Apple and Google. 
And I believe that their algorithms are at work. 
But - I believe there is a touch of magic as well. 

For me, there is no other way to explain the capricious nature of technology. 
It seems to be there one moment and the next things have mysteriously changed.

So - it is just easier to believe in magic and move along.

The longer I work in this field the more staunchly I hold on to this truth...
                           Don't ask why it worked - simply celebrate that it did!!
                           (and whisper abracadabra every now and then!)

~Beth Swantz, Technology Consultant 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Connect


    Subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Blog Feed

    RSS Feed


    Like Us on FB

    Digital Learning at Grant Wood Area Education Agency

    Promote Your Page Too

    Our Podcast

    Picture

    Our Tweets!

    Tweets by @DLGWAEA

    Authors

    Stacy Behmer
    Jonathan Wylie
    Gina Rogers
    Jason Marshall
    Amber Bridge
    Beth Swantz
    Mindy Cairney


    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014


    Categories

    All
    3d Printing
    Best Of The Web
    Blogging
    Coding
    Connected Classrooms
    Device Deployment
    Digital Citizenship
    Digital Classrooms
    Flipped Classroom
    Formative Assessment
    GAFE
    Google
    Google Apps EDU
    Google Expeditions
    Green Screen
    Ipad
    ISTE
    Literacy
    Makerspace
    Office 365
    Personalized Learning
    PLN
    Podcast
    Professional Learning
    Service Learning
    Student Choice
    Update
    Video
    Virual Reality
    Web 2.0
    Youtube

Grant Wood Area Education Agency extends equal opportunities in its employment practices, educational programs and services, and does not discriminate on the basis of color, gender, race, national origin, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status or as otherwise prohibited by law. If you believe you or your child has been discriminated against or treated unjustly, please contact the Agency’s Equity Coordinator, Maria Cashman, at 319-399-6847 or 800-332-8488. Grant Wood AEA, 4401 Sixth St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

It is the goal of Grant Wood Area Education Agency that the information on our website be accessible to individuals with visual, hearing or cognitive disabilities. Good faith efforts have been made to ensure that our site complies with the world wide web consortium’s web content accessibility guidelines. Learn more here.
✕