All In the TRC Family...Welcome!

A big, warm welcome to many of the new members of the Kansas TRC Web site! We are excited to kickoff TRC Phase 9 in a few weeks and also know that means that teachers are well into thinking about the beginning of their school year. We have received some questions about how to manage technology expectations along with all of the responsibilities of a teacher, and while there is no one ‘right’ answer, we can provide some good suggestions and people to follow to get the latest and greatest ideas.

1. Follow some well-known experts in the field. One TRC favorite is Richard Byrne who publishes the Free Technology for Teachers blog. His latest post discusses Backchannels in the Classroom, and definitely check out his Favorite Resources.
2. Partner with a few trusted colleagues to navigate the tech world together.
3. Map out a personal implementation plan that supports district policies and focuses your attention on a few, trusted resources rather than EVERYTHING because trying to do too much will get frustrating.
4. Start a blog to share the lessons you learn, vent frustrations that someone might be experiencing too (and potentially gain solace and feedback from colleagues), and highlight the progress made throughout the year. There are others experiencing similar challenges and your insights will be a great help! As a member of the Kansas TRC Web site, you can start your own blog under Blogs. 

~Melanie Farmer, TRC Project Coordinator

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net