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Ummmm, no. But that was definitely the most entertaining response I got when I tweeted my results from the Learning Style Inventory I completed while taking an online Accommodating All Learners course from Professional Learning Board!

The inventory I took uses the same four Jungian dimensions as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which explains the results I got back from my twitter network all saying something to the tune of “Myers-Briggs, all the way”.

So, the TRUE definition of ENFJ = Extrovert, iNtuitive, Feeler, Judger (NOT Eager New Funky Jaywalker - thanks to @fabgirl for the thought, though!)

Here’s the really cool reason I’m sharing this with you:

(full disclosure - Professional Learning Board is a client of mine***)

Professional Learning Board wants you ALL to be able to take the Learning Style Inventory as a part of the Accommodating All Learners Self-Directed Online Course and they’re going to let you do so for FREE! This is a 5 CEU course that normally costs $29 - this is a great opportunity to get some professional development hours in and join in a great discussion about our results from the Learning Style Inventory! You even have the option of just doing the Learning Style Inventory part of the course if that’s all you have time for (or don’t need clock hours).

How to take advantage of the offer:

1) Go to Professional Learning Board’s Registration Page

2) Register for the Self-Study: Accommodating All Learners Course

3) Enter coupon code E56C85F929 in the Optional Code box during enrollment to get the course for free.

When you’re done with the inventory, head on over to the discussion and weigh in with your results and your interpretation!

****and even if you’re opposed to blog advertising, it’s hard to turn down free stuff!

25 desktop computers
+ 29 6th graders
+ 1 frustrated but trying-to-be-perky teacher (me)
+ 6 laptops (to fill in the gap)
- 8 nonfunctioning computers (that won’t get fixed until summer)
- 3 nonfunctioning laptops (that will probably never get fixed)
+ 3 additional stopgap laptops
- 2 nonfunctioning stopgap laptops (won’t even ASK to get them fixed this year)
+ 1 online keyboarding program
- enough bandwidth to actually LOAD the program
+ 1 offline keyboarding program
- 8 computers that didn’t get the program loaded at the beginning of the year

= The reason technology classes make most “regular” teachers want to scream

Note - these are ALL Macs, before you Mac-fans jump in and tell me what my problem is!

Honestly, I’m the most devoted technology advocate out there, but seriously, sometimes you just need to know when to throw in the towel. I have 3 students using AlphaSmarts (can you BELIEVE that? archaic) and all the students bring books to read while their computers load because it’s SO SLOW. I’m at the point where I really think these students might be better served by spending their time back in their language arts class. I know, I know - defeatist attitude, but we’re 4 weeks away from the end of the school year and this just isn’t working. To all of you with WORKING technology right now, lean down right now and kiss it - go ahead, do it.

After reading so many things lately about the time suck of 2.0 and the stupidity of twitter (and no, I’m not linking to that negativity - nope, won’t do it) I’d like to simply state 2 teensy tiny changes that I’ve made almost without thinking after working in this new world of effortless global interaction:

1) Adding F when I write about temperatures
2) Adding CST when I make plans

These things may seem inconsequential, but they show my shift toward global thinking. I’ve always talked about it and have taken several international business courses, but have never had a need until now to truly communicate professionally with people who don’t know that my temperature is measured in Fahrenheit and who do need to know that when I plan an Elluminate session at 8:30 pm it’s 8:30 pm CST. I don’t think I’m alone in this, although probably many of the people who need to make these same changes aren’t reading here. Call me small-town, call me isolated, but I’m not all that unique compared to the education community as a whole. It truly is the little things that make a difference.

I’d also like to share one of the posts that exemplify my global network - Sue Waters from Perth, Australia just wrote today about her vacation and gave a fascinating look at Western Australia and some of the highlights of her travels. I know Sue only through our online interactions, but she’s bringing me information that I probably never would have gotten without our connection. Isn’t this what we’re trying to do with our students? Open up the world and provide relevant connections to curriculum? I could read all of the textbooks out there about facts of Australia, but what will actually stick with me is Sue’s post, because I could relate to it.

So, I’m sticking my tongue out at the naysayers and am still in awe of my new world. Everything in moderation, of course.

SEE UPDATE BELOW

I just received this comment on an older post from back in January over at my old blog. The post discussed a book I was reading - “A Blogger’s Manifesto” by Erik Ringmar.

Here’s what Erik had to say - good news for all of us and another testament to open source!

“Thanks for reading my book. I’m glad you all seem to enjoy it. Yes, the idea was to write something that could be thought-provoking and important without being boring. It sounds like I came pretty close.

Anyways. The book is now available as a free download from the Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/download/ABloggersManifesto/ErikRingmarABloggersManifesto.pdf). Please share with your students! (I’ve used and loved open source things for years now and it’s only a right that I pay back — besides, as a professor, I have pretty decent monthly salary, nothing to complain about).

yours always,

Erik ”

So, head on over and enjoy this book - Erik put it out there for the masses!

Update 4/28/08 - I checked out what James had to say in the comment here and he’s right - for some reason this is no longer available. I’ll post an updated URL when I find one.