How are South African schools implementing technology integration?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; line-height: 115%;">Every now and then we will feature a post about a school that is taking brave steps in that direction.  Today’s post is a guest post written by Arthur Preston, Headmaster at <a href="http://www.lannerhouse.co.za/site/home">Lanner House</a>, a private co-ed school in Worcester. He is a passionate educator and school leader who is determined to see schools learn to utilise social media and technology in better ways inside and outside the classroom. Arthur writes a blog called <a href="http://headthoughts.co.za/">Headthoughts</a>. His school uses Twitter and Facebook. He is also a co-founder of <a href="http://www.edtechconf.co.za/">EdtechConf</a> which is an organization that assists schools in holding seminars and workshops in the use of educational technology.  </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Lanner House (Worcester) - from computer lab to classroom</span></span></b></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">Back in 2008 our computer lab was filled with 10-year old machines which, quite frankly, had been neglected and were no longer fit for proper ICT instruction. In 2009 our pupils raised money through a project we entitled “A Time For Change” and by collecting R5 coins managed to raise enough funding to set up an entire computer lab complete with flat screen monitors and new CPUs – no small feat for a school of 120 pupils!</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">We have never had a specialist ICT teacher and we recognised the need for our pupils to learn ICT skills. Classroom teachers did not feel they were properly equipped to teach ICT and so I ended up as the ICT teacher. Our pupils learnt basic HTML, keyboard skills, blogging, wiki building and so on. As the months wore on I became increasingly unsettled about the status quo. On reflection I realised there were two main reasons for this :</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">1)</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">So much of what I was doing with the pupils had obvious application in various learning areas and was cross-curricular in nature. However I was operating in isolation from the class teachers.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">2) </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">By keeping the teaching of ICT to myself I was robbing our teachers of the opportunity to expand their professional skill set by embracing technology in their teaching practice.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">The question was how to equip our class teachers with the skills needed to begin to use technology in their lessons. They also needed to be exposed to the myriad tools online, many of which are free and quite easy to use. I mainly used three strategies to do this :</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">1)</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"> I</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"> developed a Lanner House staff website through which our teachers could access their school email, online class admin and so on. On the front page of this site I placed a widget showing the latest postings from a Diigo group (social bookmarking) I had set up for our teachers. I encouraged our teachers to join and contribute to this group. This kept new tools and websites visible to the teachers. <a href="http://lannerhousestaff.yolasite.com/">http://lannerhousestaff.yolasite.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">2)</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">I offered staff workshops for those who wanted to learn more. These were optional and gave me a good idea who the people were who would be the Early Adopters.</span></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">3)</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">I made it my business to speak regularly in casual conversation with the teachers about the use of technology in the classroom. This helped to keep the idea of tech integration active.</span><br /><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"></span></div><br /><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">By the end of 2010 I was certain that the time was right for us to move the computers from the lab to each classroom. Early this year we took the plunge, arranged for the necessary network cabling to be installed and moved PCs to each classroom. All but three of our classrooms now have at least three internet-connected computers which may be accessed during the day. The remaining classrooms will be equipped during the first month of the 2012 school year. Our small classes, largest class is 15, make it possible for every child to have regular time on the computers.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">We sent a delegation to the inaugural EdTechConf conference in May of this year which exposed our teachers to some wonderful and exciting ideas for ICT integration in the curriculum. I have not made it compulsory to integrate technology into the curriculum this year but have encouraged the teachers to experiment with this and with classroom strategies which ensure the best use of this resource. 2012 will see the compulsory integration of ICT into various curriculum modules.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"></span></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"><br />Although it is still early days I have noticed the following consequences of our decision to move the computers into the classrooms :</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">a) Teachers who had previously avoided ICT are now experimenting with integration of IT into their teaching, resulting in an “If she can do it, so can I!” ethos amongst the staff.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">b) There are no longer timetable conflicts which result from having one venue in which computers are situated.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">c) Teachers have begun to experiment with different teaching strategies in their classrooms now that <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>they have immediate and easy access to computers.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">d) Three of our teachers have now set up class websites, two have begun e-pal correspondence programs with schools (both local and overseas), one has her pupils using glogster and there is an overwhelming acceptance that we have turned a corner with our use of technology in the curriculum. This is accompanied by a general sense of excitement and wonder as teachers begin to realise that embracing technology in their teaching practice is neither scary nor difficult.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">Our computer network is simple, our resources limited and yet we are moving into a reality which was unthinkable even four years ago. Our decision to move computers into classrooms has helped move our school towards becoming a true 21^st<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>century learning environment. There is of course much more in becoming a 21^st<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>century school than simply moving computers but it has moved us closer to that goal. If we had more financial resources at our disposal we may consider moving into a one-laptop-per-child scenario or beginning a project which equips each classroom with an iPad-bank. However I believe that we have made a necessary and important adjustment to our curriculum and teaching practice by abolishing the formal computer lab.</span></div><br /><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaXEu3fTVs7nA1N-fr59S3RVtzKWZJ12XeEoxpl_cY1bAnZY6wLC0lnlQvgv-6hx6g2szxDwEpq1sUCGnFwolHhZC2cgTvnxrj-LZq1NCVbFi1f-uQpRT7KwD4mPMeCx2kPes5CtYYUA/s1600/Grade+3s+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaXEu3fTVs7nA1N-fr59S3RVtzKWZJ12XeEoxpl_cY1bAnZY6wLC0lnlQvgv-6hx6g2szxDwEpq1sUCGnFwolHhZC2cgTvnxrj-LZq1NCVbFi1f-uQpRT7KwD4mPMeCx2kPes5CtYYUA/s400/Grade+3s+at+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;"><br />We have noticed that children who are not exposed to computers at home learn how to type and use the mouse as they participate in ICT-linked class activities. The teacher facilitates the learning and skill development. The use of spreadsheets, databases, word processors and so on becomes an outcome of the task set by the teacher in a particular learning area and those pupils who are not proficient have an incentive for skill development and their teacher assists them in learning that particular skill. With computers in the classroom, pupils needing extra assistance may work on the computers at times other than the official “Computer Lesson” time ensuring maximum exposure to IT skill development.</span></div></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><br /></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><div style="border: currentColor;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d;">Is there place for a computer lab in a primary school? I know there will be those who disagree vehemently with me because of the particular circumstances of their school, but I believe that we need to be equipping classrooms with computers, training teachers in their use and making the integration of technology into the curriculum compulsory. The abolition of the computer lab may be a process which takes several years but I believe the computer lab as we know it today, is (and perhaps should be) an endangered species.</span></div></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><br /></div><div class="standard" style="margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 6.6pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br /></div></div>

case study Guest post schools How are South African schools implementing technology integration?

Every now and then we will feature a post about a school that is taking brave steps in that direction.  Today’s post is a guest post written by Arthur Preston, Headmaster at Lanner House, a private co-ed school in Worcester. He is a passionate educat…

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BodyMedia weekly summary - I love this thing!

Just a quick evening update (2 posts in one day typed with on hand!).<br /><br />This is my BodyMedia's "Performance Summary" for the last seven days. I can get a 7, 14, 21, or 28-day summary. Very cool.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W0BfXEpj1XF4cFcRcVY4IB5CzcVhEI5LzFA5F8C7_J4ndXTPSODjCZYJxRt-UsHgf_zmq31V_cTt3O-jqdO_hfmworvIrOB_eOvv8A1TT3BYx-Dlw5YAHW9-X5kOUzYhQfaaYRyZUFD2/s1600/body+media+summry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W0BfXEpj1XF4cFcRcVY4IB5CzcVhEI5LzFA5F8C7_J4ndXTPSODjCZYJxRt-UsHgf_zmq31V_cTt3O-jqdO_hfmworvIrOB_eOvv8A1TT3BYx-Dlw5YAHW9-X5kOUzYhQfaaYRyZUFD2/s400/body+media+summry.png" width="400px" /></a></div><br />Sleep isn't as bad as it looks because I didn't wear the BodyMedia one night. Too uncomfortable, and fighting with cast and the BodyMedia was too much! I'm getting use to it and sometimes I even forget I have it on (the BodyMedia, NOT the cast!)..<br /><br />I love this part:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSH25IgnQ_tojnP3wgoJTw6Mw4g-E0EJcuj5OshfuRTLFClyuUPE3av0lWrri4_-EOahgwpJLuJ0BvKnoAK2xcs4PU9RKfBZy0QpzVeXwsOIWtvtPOkvbngSKXoKNQ4NUw8jUPAzg8HTUw/s1600/bm2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSH25IgnQ_tojnP3wgoJTw6Mw4g-E0EJcuj5OshfuRTLFClyuUPE3av0lWrri4_-EOahgwpJLuJ0BvKnoAK2xcs4PU9RKfBZy0QpzVeXwsOIWtvtPOkvbngSKXoKNQ4NUw8jUPAzg8HTUw/s400/bm2.png" width="400px" /></a></div>And this one (missed my average daily calories burned by 19 calories...not bad):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLImBXAlMzD17aKGMiqn8Zpgz_l3rKQRMugABOXUMw4uZs_c20WADkErF-y0BqSc4SZ2aNA6jE4EHufYivHVjW2hP-8KKBAzpUFa27SbHpDp2gTSqveim0zDmfD47okdu0K_fa1E8U85MN/s1600/bm3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLImBXAlMzD17aKGMiqn8Zpgz_l3rKQRMugABOXUMw4uZs_c20WADkErF-y0BqSc4SZ2aNA6jE4EHufYivHVjW2hP-8KKBAzpUFa27SbHpDp2gTSqveim0zDmfD47okdu0K_fa1E8U85MN/s400/bm3.png" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this one too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yzv3F3aMEC7xWPbZhz1b7sfaoFkPM-AVbmGqVobdxbfX9inJl2xf1kXoHE7-xtjSBSH6zhbuENYu64LVKjLEVXVYKmNxJIdgUHBSO0qqofJwI983gPsxIgDengZwCf_Z2Y-chJxKMu6M/s1600/bm4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yzv3F3aMEC7xWPbZhz1b7sfaoFkPM-AVbmGqVobdxbfX9inJl2xf1kXoHE7-xtjSBSH6zhbuENYu64LVKjLEVXVYKmNxJIdgUHBSO0qqofJwI983gPsxIgDengZwCf_Z2Y-chJxKMu6M/s400/bm4.png" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>You can see why I'm in love wiyh my BodyMedia. It's a super cool weight loss tool. There are other parts to the report. Every category is broken dow.. <br /><br />Well, my right hand is complaining so bed time!

BodyMedia weekly summary - I love this thing!

Just a quick evening update (2 posts in one day typed with on hand!).This is my BodyMedia's "Performance Summary" for the last seven days. I can get a 7, 14, 21, or 28-day summary. Very cool.Sleep isn't as bad as it looks because I didn't wear the Bo…

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I found an advantage of having only one good arm--upper body workouts take half the time!

I Googled "one arm cast workouts" and found several sites suggesting to keep training the arm that isn't in a cast. I had been wondering if I should just let both arms lose their muscle tone (which was killing me). Almost everything I read said that it's best to continue to work out the good arm. They suggested to not increase it's strength but to maintain it. That made me very happy.<br /><br />Today was my first right-arm strength training routine. I did it at home with 10- and 15-pound dumbbells. It seemed really weird and only took 20 minutes for six exercises (3 sets each and 12 to 15 reps each set).<br /><br />I have to keep my left arm with the cast up in the air so it doesn't swell. The cast is very snug around my wrist to keep it totally immobile (at least I guess that's why, or maybe it was just to just torture me!). If it swells just a tiny bit the pressure is almost unbearable.<br /><br />I've been keeping up on the cardio workouts on a regular basis, mostly by walking, but also the gym. I can manage the stationary bike (funny, since I'm this situation because of my bike) and the crossramp. I could probably do the treadmill but I hate that thing. If I'm going to walk, it'll be outside as long as the weather is nice. I can also do the lower body weight machines.<br /><br />Yesterday I walked to the clinic to have the lab take my blood for a follow-up visit with my regular doctor to check my cholesterol, glucose and all that other stuff. The weather was perfect, about 62 and overcast. Three miles one-way, so it was a nice six-mile walk round-trip. The sun came out on my way home, but still cool. A really nice day.<br /><br />Since my favorite blood giving vein (my geyser vein for donating blood) is in my left arm which is in the cast up past my elbow, the phlebotomist  had a terrible time getting one tiny vial of blood. She couldn't find a vein inside my elbow that would give more than a few drops of bood, She tried the back of my hand. Major burning pain. Then she tried my arm again. Then she  give up and got another phlebotomist that found a vein in my forearm. With three bandages on my good arm I walked the three miles home. I'm pretty sure people that saw me on the trail thought I'd been run over by a train or something.<br /><br />The good arm after the <strike>vampires</strike> phlebotomists got done with me at the clinic:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOeY7-doavkevNrHb6GiJBzf5tsTlmt7P1-dpoiN9V2AQBrqpNFlk3i7zu9xB_9kgNPhdzaAeIVuB8-zeXMsFwaUZ_hnnyyeq2ehf12-7RUdWbiGoUynArdroeWz_WIIqB81V9tGSQ1dW/s1600/P1030410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOeY7-doavkevNrHb6GiJBzf5tsTlmt7P1-dpoiN9V2AQBrqpNFlk3i7zu9xB_9kgNPhdzaAeIVuB8-zeXMsFwaUZ_hnnyyeq2ehf12-7RUdWbiGoUynArdroeWz_WIIqB81V9tGSQ1dW/s320/P1030410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Below is what was on the sign at the clinic when I arrived. I never mentioned this but when I got up to 199.8 a few weeks ago I was actually giving some thought to the lapband surgery (only for a few minutes, then I came to my senses). I'm not sure whether to credit my BodyMedia (which I still totally love!) or my broken wrist for my new lack of obsession with food. Maybe it's a little of both. It's something I'll write about in my next post, but I'm still trying to figure it out. I was 187.4 this morning (with my cast which is approximately 2 pounds I think...per Google 2 - 3 lbs.).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY6RQRCmBlEo8VRZG_8b2bCz28KZOmsgobkgFFKaGcPfQiLGOyueJv4HJa017hGJ3JFXCI84HtnoUVWTLFSfEiqD6ibfv7_M-_0UDYAWDF1jT-ejphzzDya1aqxYt1DeiMrzwZw_Z4LQ9/s1600/clinic+wl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY6RQRCmBlEo8VRZG_8b2bCz28KZOmsgobkgFFKaGcPfQiLGOyueJv4HJa017hGJ3JFXCI84HtnoUVWTLFSfEiqD6ibfv7_M-_0UDYAWDF1jT-ejphzzDya1aqxYt1DeiMrzwZw_Z4LQ9/s320/clinic+wl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5fI3_ttp9JnlGXewyt3wlU4hW80ojkTbtvZ2mZYLIC07NfUrvHRy8dZUupU2vYaSIEmWlinYvkgOAxeANQW1kAbUa0Z_8L9wAsFu-sUi3ocdECqFulodI7J9blPTns0NiPiSN5zZ_oJO/s1600/wl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5fI3_ttp9JnlGXewyt3wlU4hW80ojkTbtvZ2mZYLIC07NfUrvHRy8dZUupU2vYaSIEmWlinYvkgOAxeANQW1kAbUa0Z_8L9wAsFu-sUi3ocdECqFulodI7J9blPTns0NiPiSN5zZ_oJO/s320/wl2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJPHnlGEkz3lTkZjUUc6zuqlaj17JknprA1vD-ri20o2VcFoKRrhJd7DjCNdWJshrhMR176bNP8WvPUd0vf3W5fmd09tRAVGs_FCO85tDieP8He75K79g05QYsmBljxIjLkbh_DFp3YRj/s1600/scaphoid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Pretty flowers I saw on my way home. I would have barely noticed these if I had been on my bike. Someone told me they're a butterfly bush. I thought they were so pretty we should plant one in our yard. Turns out Washington has deemed them a "noxious weed". Still pretty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4WAwBafgS6-irUkHY9zB18CJdU60h5vC9wH0g35GCgd-i2XgnFX2bdMYWAUbqh2vRotNH2PXGpOhF4xXbhe3VOrpgXwIJ_yPss6wI8bqfu5EYVM4BRoQG8xm3TkIQnS5nusQC_X_OAY4/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4WAwBafgS6-irUkHY9zB18CJdU60h5vC9wH0g35GCgd-i2XgnFX2bdMYWAUbqh2vRotNH2PXGpOhF4xXbhe3VOrpgXwIJ_yPss6wI8bqfu5EYVM4BRoQG8xm3TkIQnS5nusQC_X_OAY4/s320/flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is the spot on my trail where I crashed my bike two weeks ago. The crash site is located where the person that is farthest away in the picture is standing. There weren't any people on the trail when I crashed. I walked by it yesterday and looked for a pothole or something that made me lose my balance. Nothing but smooth pavement. It doesn't even seem that steep (although I know going up it is really difficult on my bike).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__M9FZxn_oODl6n0oEINrmZWdZ9I8hIw0E0wrybIWLxVFNR8Lx3wF-xZoxqnhMekgrvgVXdE3zkxsMGwBzARPa1RJG63PBOb7ErdRdC6r_SBrt46vBeYk927TWqgFgHRRpumeehqcMzHT/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NwCC7MCDaFRUmr0hmHqJQwVg9IESHyuuzZgOU53UmJWbd6LiGGyfUM5pmBaSWwrTwhppbGt0cT_nd5qV1kwDzM_1PDQviKjiTW1aTJJ9uOL6VL1TsNEByatzknXQ5gqHlvIEFg2tkICl/s1600/scene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NwCC7MCDaFRUmr0hmHqJQwVg9IESHyuuzZgOU53UmJWbd6LiGGyfUM5pmBaSWwrTwhppbGt0cT_nd5qV1kwDzM_1PDQviKjiTW1aTJJ9uOL6VL1TsNEByatzknXQ5gqHlvIEFg2tkICl/s320/scene.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but not least, a sketch of a hand and the scaphoid bone. It's the kind of peanut shaped bone, bottom left in the picture. Mine has a major fracture near the forearm and that's why I have full cast from my knuckles almost to my shoulder (which, if I haven't mentioned, is miserable!).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxCGpPt4rNSJmwcESDDIsTEFDokUtH_wIR0NlnPLAxdChN3rb-POGjpWwW8G5b82a9bWv-e1rKyUmsa6FRRb56hfaIKYYKF9iWlCjWQy0sq74fw9XafXzMq6CJlzNMYO09DnX4VxCOYCM/s1600/sa2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxCGpPt4rNSJmwcESDDIsTEFDokUtH_wIR0NlnPLAxdChN3rb-POGjpWwW8G5b82a9bWv-e1rKyUmsa6FRRb56hfaIKYYKF9iWlCjWQy0sq74fw9XafXzMq6CJlzNMYO09DnX4VxCOYCM/s320/sa2.png" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's taken me several attempts to write this post. Typing with one hand is extremely frustrating and s-l-o-w!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCynMUOOIme6sCM9DyaNtSKacTwwkZq7MUcfs6vh6mJx-3hOja349lUMM8ZtrJ2Nif_q64R1CFfx2SDlDrdZMcSf0QF3KyD-Mmbz4Tc_sqaDQ8uSbB4XyI6nn2RspaSlBUgRlWaYQSB_l/s1600/scene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6sbvPhH46r9uXsDK88IPuV4BbpO-eiSfndkPSPgeEafVC9kmeZrphYGOzvKkanXF7rvo7bOpiAj_9l_GP0tnvlHHrffpl71paH8BrVRXep5O02Mc6hhI7x5Y1r9oGnExIkQrVwf95rIV/s1600/sc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><br />

I found an advantage of having only one good arm--upper body workouts take half the time!

I Googled "one arm cast workouts" and found several sites suggesting to keep training the arm that isn't in a cast. I had been wondering if I should just let both arms lose their muscle tone (which was killing me). Almost everything I read said that …

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Is it time to reassess your job search plan?

<div class="ArticleHeadline"><div class="hdr_org_bld"><h1 id="articleHeadline"><span id="cbArticle_lblHeadline2">Telltale signs that your search tactics need a makeover</span> </h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b> <br /><br />It's easy to get frustrated with your job search, especially if you've been searching for a while. But not making headway can mean that you need to reassess your approach. Not sure if your job seeking process needs a makeover? Here are eight telltale signs that it's time to rethink your job search approach. </div><div class="ArticleHeadline"></div><div class="ArticleContent"><b>You're not hearing back from employers</b><br />If you've spent months applying and aren't hearing back from employers, it's time to reassess. Most likely, you're not tailoring your résumé and cover letters enough to warrant a response, explains Heather Huhman, founder of Come Recommended, a career consultancy. Also, check for other errors, such as spelling, in your documents.<br /><br /><b>You're landing interviews but no offers</b><br />Not getting an offer means your interviewing techniques could be out of date. Do your due diligence to find out what interviewing skills you're lacking. "Identify your weaknesses during interviews and improve upon them," Huhman says. "Do this by practicing interview questions with a friend or family member, attending mock interview sessions at a career center or videotaping yourself answering questions."<br /><br /><b>You're reaching too high</b><br />While it's always recommended to go for your dream job, those dreams must be realistic. Applying for jobs "without the necessary qualifications" can be a waste of time, unless you're willing to take time and build that experience, Huhman explains.<br /><br /><b>You're focusing on job roles not companies</b><br />Instead of conducting a broad search based on function, tailor your search to specific firms where you'd really like to work. "Focusing on five to ten specific companies of interest in your desired location allows for a much more focused job search," Huhman says.<br /><br /><b>You're depressed</b><br />A job search is never fun, but if you find yourself getting sadder each day, it's a sign that you need a new approach, says Dawn Rasmussen, founder of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services. "If you start to feel down, try volunteering in industry organizations to help increase your visibility, make yourself a known entity, and help build skills during a job search," she adds. <br /><br /><b>You're unaware of your web presence</b><br />If you've never paid attention to how your name appears online, it's time to start. "Nearly every HR professional now will check Google and Facebook to research potential candidate," Huhman says. Complete your LinkedIn profile, check privacy settings for Facebook and Twitter and make sure any other online forums you've involved in are appropriate for a professional audience. <br /><br /><b>You're not circling back with contacts</b><br />Whether it's a thank-you note after the interview or a simple email to check in with someone in your network, it's important to keep an open channel of communication with those who've been helping you with your search. "No one wants to feel used, so disregarding new contacts after the initial contact is a huge problem that many people don't realize is killing their job search," Rasmussen says. <br /><br /><b>Your network is not helpful</b><br />Just because you're spending your time talking to contacts, doesn't mean these are people that can actually be useful in your search. Instead, reassess your network and find contacts that are a match for the industry and position you're trying to pursue -- even if it means approaching well-regarded experts. "Swallow your fear and pursue meaningful connections with contacts relevant to your area," Rasmussen says. <br /><br /><b>You're ready to take any job available</b><br />Even if you're desperate, announcing that you're looking for any paying job can actually hurt your chances. Take time to figure out the specifics of your job search and ask for assistance based on these requirements. Even those closest to you who would really like to help feel lost without any direction, Rasmussen explains. "Many job seekers fail to understand this basic rule of asking for help: Specifics get you farther in terms of assistance from your network than vague <a href="about:blank" name="_GoBack"></a>generalities," she says. <br /><br /><i>Alina Dizik researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter</i></div>

Is it time to reassess your job search plan?

Telltale signs that your search tactics need a makeover Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder It's easy to get frustrated with your job search, especially if you've been searching for a while. But not making headway can mean that you need to reassess…

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