I spent this past week in a remote area of the Smoky Mountains. I say it was remote because I felt rather disconnected. My cell phone didn't have low signal strength but stated instead, "no signal." Internet was only available via dialing up a long distance telephone number or through a satellite connection. Naturally, I chose the satellite connection. More times than not, however, I would get a "Satellite upload link error. Please try to connect again later." message. And most of the time when I could get a connection, the data would trickle in just one kilobyte at a time--literally!

I realized just how important my being connected, being plugged in, being that "live node on the network" is to me. No, I take that back. It's essential to me. But I think we have to be connected on at least two levels: in our immediate space with those we know and love, and in our virtual spaces (the cell phone and the internet). The substance of both of those levels of connection is vitally important, not just the connection itself. In that regard, I've had some interesting conversations with students about how social networking sites like MySpace an FaceBook are redefining their concept of "friends."

"My mom said that none of my online 'friends' are going to put their arm around me when I'm sick. None of them are going to be there when I really need someone." Seems to me that mom is teaching her daughter balance between being a node on a network and being a human being in the here and now. Finding that wonderful, meaningful balance between all of the things that compete for our attention is increasingly hard to do as the number of things entering the competition increases exponentially along with the vigor with which they compete.

Perhaps because I couldn't be that live node on the network this past week, I noticed a few more things that may have otherwise not caught my attention. About half of the drivers who passed me, waved at me. In the 20 years I've lived in Atlanta, I don't think anyone has ever waved at me as I drove by, except for that one unfortunate incident a few years ago with what one would more accurately characterize as an inappropriate hand gesture! :o)

I also casually noticed a street sign as I drove by, a sign I probably would never have seen in the normal rush of my day, one that demanded I take its picture. Yes, needless to say, this photograph will find its way into a future presentation! I loved it! And one other location required I pull off the road: the old truck in the field of goldenrod set against the backdrop of a cool, cloudless, mountain day. Notice, in the larger pictures available below, someone shot it one time in the center of the hood. If you like it, you can click on one of the pictures at the end of this post for a large version you can use as your desktop picture (Windows users call it Wallpaper.). Yes, the larger version includes an inconspicuous logo for my website. Directions, if needed, are at the end of this post.

The point of this post: Old School Rd. isn't all bad unless it's your final destination. And just as the old truck got put out to pasture, today's technology isn't the answer to all of the complex problems we face in the classroom. (I'm fond of saying that bad teaching with technology is just more bad teaching, faster!) Balance and best instructional practices are essential.

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