Integrated math 1 for eighth graders (read: advanced eighth grade math). They had a test.
The whole district is adopting a new textbook that has an online component. When I covered that co-taught class a couple weeks back, one of the days the class was logging into the website for the first time. So, I wasn't unfamiliar with what the kiddos were doing.
But new programs mean glitches...
The whole class logged in and got started on their test. Then one boy raised his hand. There was no test for him to access.
He explained that he had switched classes, so he was still enrolled online in the teacher's second period class. He logged into that, but there was no test there.
I don't have access to the teacher's view, so there wasn't a lot I could do...
It took me longer than it should have to remember that I could email the teacher.
(I mean, seriously, I email teachers all the time about the crazy that goes on in class. Why it took that long for it to occur to me that I could email her during class time... *facepalm*)
The teacher was on campus. She explained how the test was going to work to me before she left.
So, I sent the email and went about my business. I hoped she's answer me in a timely manner as to what to do with that one student. About the time I thought to check back with my email, the classroom door opened. Ms. J was back.
She conferred with the boy. I caught enough of the conversation to hear that she had him create a new account. Then she had to fly out to go back to whatever it was that was the reason she was out of class in the first place.
It took the boy several minutes to create the new account. And then... The test still wasn't there. Sigh.
By that time, there wasn't enough time in class for him to get anything done, so we just left it as it was. At least next time he shouldn't have any issues logging in. I hope.
The down side of technology in the classroom ....
ReplyDeleteYup. This is why many teachers still leave book work for subs.
DeleteUgh... I always hated software updates. Wait. I still do. ~shakes head~ I struggled with home electronics today to the point of blogging about it. Heh... Anyway, don't beat yourself up for not acting quicker on email.
ReplyDeleteI'll get to the point where sending an email or a text (sometimes the teacher does leave a phone number) immediately comes to mind. It's just a shift in my mind.
DeleteUgh, new programs. Places don't pay for beta testing anymore. They just have the users do it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes technology is more trouble than it's worth. We have so many computer glitches (especially after an update) and slow internet issues at the pharmacy.
ReplyDeleteYup. But they're trying to get the kiddos to do more on computers as that's the world they'll graduate into.
DeleteOh my the digital age, gotta love things when they work correctly and not so much when they don't.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is great, but there are so many ways it can go wrong.
DeleteGlitches, thy name is every single time a new program is installed. Nothing ever goes as planned.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in the classroom...
DeleteTechnology works 99.5% of the time; seems like this student found the 0.5% when it didn't (I'm not sure the numbers I quote are correct, but you know what I'm referring to).
ReplyDeletebetty
So annoying when "new" technology is so much slower than "old" technology. When I worked in an office it seemed we spent half our life waiting for the IT people to fix something!
ReplyDeleteAlways glitches with the bright, new, shiny thing :)
DeleteThis is why books are often better. i feel bad for the student
ReplyDeleteIf that was me, I'd want to be reassured, maybe even put in writing, I wouldn't be penalized for not doing the test. But then I'm older now so I know to think like that. :-)
ReplyDeleteQuite the glitch. At least he tried to get it sorted.
ReplyDelete