Grant’s art work sums up that universal feeling we get when technology buffers, and buffers and well yes…still buffers while we are in a hurry!

It L O A D S …. and… L O A D S… and…L O A D S…

Grant was taking an assessment in school when this frustrating scenario with the buffering took place.

• Was this a timed test?

• How well was he able to focus?

• How accurate are his results?

There is no escaping the use of technology in education. It is used for…

• Instruction

• Classwork

• Homework

• Group Projects

• Research

• Assessments

Dealing with the frustrations of using technology such as…

• buffering and loading

• broken equipment or software

• downed websites and

• connection Issues

  are new norms for teachers, students and parents.

What strategies can we use to help kids deal with the inevitable technology frustrations?

• Model and encourage patience and a sense of humor while the computer is loading.

• Don’t keep clicking to get it to load faster. (aka No crazy clickers!)

• Hum or sing your favorite song.

• Have paper and pen near by to jot notes while you are waiting. Maybe write a poem or draw a picture about buffering computers?

• Get up and get a drink, go to the bathroom.

• Take some deep breaths.

• What ideas do you have?

  My favorite strategy is in the last section of Grant’s drawing…put your head down! During an assessment, what else is a kid to do?

  It will give you a break from…

• watching the computer buffer,

• while enjoying the cool desk on your forehead,

• and maybe there will be a bug on the floor to entertain you?

  …While the buffering goes on…and on…and on…

  Thank you Grant S. for this delightful and universal piece of art work.

  Drawing!

  What a great strategy to get out the frustrations from your day!