“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the
steamroller, you’re part of the road” Stewart Brand
Is this
considered public speaking? Because if
it is it would explain why I'm feeling anxious about this blogging.
Anyways here goes nothing.
My name
is Maria L. Ortiz-Viera I am a passionate professional educator with 17 years
of experience. I hold a Master of Science Education from Nazareth
College and an Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership from the University
of Rochester. I have worked in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School #9 for seven
years as a Bilingual classroom teacher and for 8 years as an Intervention
Specialist. My newest role is serving as an assistant principal.
I have
used technology in the classroom since I started teaching. From comparing
weather temperatures daily from Puerto Rico and Rochester during science, to my kindergartners typing the final copy of their narratives on computers,
technology has been a part of my teaching repertoire for quite some time. Although
I have only taken one formal computer course in college, I am pretty savvy and
can find my way around basic computer programs and applications. I was one of
the few teachers in my school who had a Smartboard 10 years ago when they were still
on wheels! I used the clicker system to review materials in class before tests,
had students work on power point presentations to present their informational
writing pieces, and currently I complete assignments in Google classroom. However,
all these endeavors have taken time to develop and sometimes I still feel like
a novice when it comes to technology (compared to my witty daughters).
One of
my fears of technology is digital permanence. Once you put something out there,
it will be there forever even if you delete it. We have to be aware that what
we post will create a permanent footprint. I hope this collegial learning circle will help me to
continue growing and adapting to the ever changing technology so I can further
my practice and support in teachers’ transformational learning.
Outside of school
As my
daughters claim, I am always cleaning and working on projects around the house.
I enjoy spending time outside with my family, running, or sitting by the
fireplace (sometimes even in the summer). I live with my husband who aversion
towards technology is clear (still trying to figure his iPhone), my daughter
Jasiah is 16 and just entered the working force at Wegmans and is pretty savvy
with her digital tools, Jonmarie my gymnast/singer/musical.ly star and our dog
Yankee have also made it into cyberspace. My oldest Jaziel, is 24 and currently
finishing her Master’s degree at Purdue University, communicates with us on a
daily basis through texting and FaceTime (which makes it easier to deal with
the fact that she is nine hours away).
