…by those edubloggers who are classroom teachers, and still find time, not only to incorporate an engaging and inspirational use of technology in their curriculum, but also to blog about it.  Since I have returned to classroom teaching, it appears that the majority of my energy is consumed in keeping on top of curriculum planning and settling into a new school, and my blogging  (and blog reading) has fallen by the wayside. 

I must also adjust to the change, from a classroom environment with access to technology such as laptops in every Year 7 & 8 classroom, to one that is just starting to build its ICT infrastructure. At this present point in time, I cannot implement many of the ICT activities I would like to, due to a lack of access to technology in the classroom.

I am confident that the coming year will see a great improvement in those areas - we have plans to purchase IWB’s, Data Projectors - hopefully even new laptops.  And I will be working to encourage and educate teachers as to the possibilities of ICT, and hopefully removing some of the potential barriers, such as overzealous Internet filtration.

Unfortunately, I foresee a change in how I will need to direct my energies.  While the end goal of my work as an educational technologist has always been an improvement in student learning and engagement, that has become a much more real and practical priority when I am dealing with my own classes. I am concerned that I will not be able to keep momentum on my personal reading and reflection through the blogosphere.

Hopefully, once I am more settled in my current role and have a handle on the experiential program I am teaching in, I will have more time to explore in writing some of the issues we are facing.  At this current stage, even if we did have easy access to computers in class, it would be hard to include resources such as Web 2.0 publishing capabilities, when the details of the curriculum are, by necessity, being planned only a day or so in advance.

So, I tip my hat to those who, while working on the coal face of education, have also continued to contribute meaningfully to the global conversation about ICT in education.  I hope to be able to follow in their footsteps… eventually.