Last week I was caught flat footed in the tech realm. You see, I am using Google Apps through my classroom domain name to have the kids utilized Docs and Sites and such. It’s AWESOME except that since I have to use standard (they don’t give full education to classroom deployments) I only have 50 user slots available. Not so handy for a teacher that has 120 kids per quarter.

What I was doing was having the kids share a login. That is that I had 30 logins per period, so 4 kids had access to 1 login. Not the best way to go. There was a little bit of abuse unfortunately. Somebody went in and put up some R to X rated stuff on other’s Sites. As it stands, its hard to nail it down to one person since they used 8 different logins. How they got the information, I’ll never know.

So, Sites got shut down. I’m going to try PBWorks and see how well that goes. At least there I can create usernames for the kids and be able to track them that way.

The thing I really have to comment about is that I am extremely annoyed that kids couldn’t possibly handle a little bit of responsibility and went nuts. Even after repeated warnings that I closely monitor the Sites and any malfeasance would result in loss of privileges.

Really, it would be much better if the district would adopt Google Apps. That way user names would work. I know its complicated. I know they don’t want to do it. But, really, the hiccup I ran into was easily removed, and I would have definitely known who to drop the hammer on if they had to use their network logins. Whatever. We’ll see what the AP does.

What is that? Really! I mean. C’mon!

Things that have changed:

• New Job
• House search
• More kids at work
• New co-workers

I changed jobs from social studies to technology education. Its different, but nice, I really enjoy getting into the techie stuff. The nerdy kids really look up to you and the other kids are afraid of what you know about computers. It’s pretty cool.

I’m looking to buy a house. It’s a long process that costs a grip of frickin’ money in the end. But I think it will be worth it in the end for equity and such.

School got bigger. Doubled in size. There’s some issues there but we’re adjusting pretty well.

Since we doubled in size, we had to hire a ton of people. All pretty cool, although one of the language arts teachers I’ve only talked to like once. Very private person I guess.

I’m aiming to get back at this blog since I keep my classroom one updated so well. No really. I update that one every day.

Do I do something memorializing 100 posts? No.

I need some advice on Wikis. What’s the best route to take? Try and hack my way through some random wiki software or just bum it out and go with a hosted service like PBWiki or wikispaces?

The district seems to be centered on both those services, but I’m not sure they’ll be flexibe enough. So…what to do.

I’m kind of weird. Yeah, you did know that. But lately I’ve been turning on the Today show in the morning right before I leave just so I can get a brief on the news and so forth.

Anyway, I was up early this morning for a meeting and I clicked it on. Boy howdy.

The people are amatuers! I was shocked how bad it was, but when I guess your follow up program is about a dragon, it’s hard to have hard hitting news. These jokers are going to be the next Matt Lauer and Al Roker? Hardly. Anyway, I’m going back to grading.

I plugged my iPod in at work to have some background working music while the kids are doing their projects and it wouldn’t play. So I reset it. Then it wanted to be plugged into my home computer to reinitialize it.

Then when I got home and did that, it seems to think it’s the biggest iPod ever built.

Yeah. A 16 TERRABYTE iPod. That’ll hold your music collection no problem.

Yes, my computer’s name is Murphy.

As a teacher you are bound to be able to guess that I do not get paid spectacularly. Especially in the first year of work. But, I personally think the buckage I make is totally BANK. Now, that being said, I figured out the hourly for myself based upon the amount of time I am in the building (and not getting extra duty pay) and the amount of work I do at home…annnnnnnd yeah. It sucks.

Now this may not seem like a giant revelation to some but, let me tell you it was a striking blow to myself. Well, I’ve decided to crack down on the amount of time I spend at work and have a bit more me time. The primary reason I spend a lot of “Me-Time” at work is because I totally goof off during my two hours of planning period.

And I would normally argue that I especially need that time to relax for a little bit for the next set of kids, but if I’m going to do the things I want to do in the future I can’t have the precedent of being at work until 6 or 7 at night.

What’s the best way to get back in?

Certainly not with that lame post from the other day.

Here’s what’s been up. Finally feeling super comfortable in the classroom and the kids are too. Implemented som new systems over break and things have run that much more smoothly! And you thought just because you get a masters’s degree you get to stop learning. Ha!

I’ve also been contemplating the possibility of saving to buy a house (or more likely a condo or townhouse) and seems as though it may be a possibility within a year or so. Although trying to ferret away cash is sometimes difficult when there’s so much cool stuff to buy. (And student loans to pay off)

Finally, and most importanly, I’m now an Uncle! The brother and Sister-in-law have a delightful new additon to the family. My contribution is super cute baby onesies. I was inspired by the creations of a certain other blogger. I’ll put up pictures on Flickr or Picasa or something real soon here…maybe even tonight even if the return of a friend from a Europoean vacation is being celebrated before he moves to the West Slope.

And I’m lazy.

I have a few posts started, but I don’t know where to take them.

Oh, and I’m busy. I blame work, extra curriculars, and a new family member.

Quite Possibly the BEST THING EVER ON THE INTERNET

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam Oh. It’s live. Oh, it’s adorable. Reminds me of Foxy.