Follow Me
  Janine Campbell
  • Home
  • Blended Learning
  • Assessment
  • Thematic Units
  • Publications
  • Lights, Camera, Learning
  • Get Your Grant On

Paris unplugged

7/25/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Drawings from my sketchbook. I did not do nearly enough, but at least I tried.
Bonjour! I arrived home a few days ago and was struggling with what to include in this post. There was so much that I experienced and saw, great teachers that I met, and there was even time for just sitting and enjoying a cool breeze as it passed by my way. As I reflected on my three days in Paris, I realized that I was able to truly enjoy those moments because I allowed myself to be in there without any distraction. I left my computer at home, my cell does not work over seas, and when I did call home it was via pay phone at 6 a.m. Paris time. Each morning I managed to get up at 4 a.m. and was ready by 5; I used the time before our group met to walk to the nearest pay phone and call home to recap events. Luckily my husband didn't mind the midnight call and it was really great to be up and about before anyone else, walking the streets while listening the the birds chirp awake the day.

I am a huge advocate for using technology. I blend my classroom online and I am an avid user of social media. But just like anything else, there should be a balance. I am very thankful for having that and taking a break from the computer last week and I think I need to do this in the classroom as well.

No one should only teach using one method because not all students learn in one way. I hope to keep that in mind when my students enter my classroom in the fall. I will take my experience of being unplugged and use that same spirit when we go outside to be inspired or start a new project and take time to just experience the act of making art. Art is about being in the moment; so is living a full life. If I spend all of my time online and plugged in, then I am probably missing out on a chance to be out there in the world doing something. If I am always checking my cell or twitter or facebook, then I am probably missing the chance to really be in a moment with the person or people I am around. It might sound like common sense, but sometimes a trip to Paris isn't a bad way to be reminded that it is true.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Janine Campbell

    Visual Arts Teacher at Byron Center West Middle School. Check out their classroom blog.

    Archives

    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Assessment
    Awards
    Blog
    Chicago
    Choice
    Classroom
    Conference
    Connections
    Display
    Drawing
    Ecet2
    Education
    Exhibit
    Flint Institute Of Arts
    Fraggle Rock
    Grades
    Home
    Inspiration
    Keynote
    Labels
    Learning
    Macul
    #macul16
    MAEA
    Materials
    Moodle
    Movies
    NAEA
    #NAEA15
    #NAEA16
    Paris
    PBS LearningMedia
    Reflection
    Sub Plans
    Teaching
    Technology
    Travel
    Turtleman
    Twitter
    WGVU

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.