I'm fairly competent when it comes to technology, specifically computers. I'm not an expert, but I can solve most of the problems that I encounter. But sometimes things are beyond my control.
The teacher left an audio file on his computer introducing today's lesson. After that, I was to play a DVD in the computer so that it could be projected onto the white board large enough for the whole class to see. As I've done this sort of thing before, I figured it would be easy enough.
I got the projector turned on. I put in the DVD. I started the DVD. It got about two screens in when it froze.
I spent about 10 minutes trying every trick I know. Ejecting and reinserting the disc. A different program. Cleaning off the DVD. Restarting the computer. After that, it was time to call for help.
(Another teacher came in. 15 minutes passed, but he was no closer to getting the thing to work than I was. Then the tech guy got to school.)
The tech guy started by doing the same things I did. He figured out that the problem was the DVD (it was a copy of a copy or something), so he opened a program that he said will play anything. And it did.
At this point, we had about 15 minutes left of class. Well, it was better than nothing.
During the teacher's prep period, a reading class used the room. I hung out, checking my email and reading blogs. The class read an article on bullying.
Near the end of class, the teacher said she would normally show them some news clips via YouTube, but since there was a sub, she couldn't. I piped up to say that I could work the system.
The teacher found the clips. I got the projector running. The clips played without a hitch.
Why doesn't it work that well when it's just me?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
3 comments:
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I HATED when that happened. Nothing like having your lesson be technology-based, only to have said technology fail.
ReplyDeleteMy night class officially started 20 minutes late because the professor relies on the smart board for the whole lesson. It took 20 minutes before he could get it to work. Then a short video kept freezing. Hard when there's not a plan b.
How were the students?
Ugh, bad enough when my daughter's touchy (and I mean VERY) DVD player spits the dummy on a disc. But it have it as part of a lesson? O_O
ReplyDeleteThink I would've been the gibbering/screaming heap in the corner.
Technology never runs smooth when you are on the spot.
ReplyDelete