New to the PLN

[Emily Priesmeyer]

I am a newcomer to the Educator's PLN, and the reason I decided to join is that building a PLN without the help of this website is overwhelming.  After spinning my wheels for a few months, I've decided to come here and meet up with other educators and share ideas.

I'm a frustrated teacher in a large suburban Texas high school (3100 students).  I teach Graphic Design and Illustration and I am also embarking on a new job as a co-instructional technologist.  What I'd like to know is what are the difficulties instructional technologists are facing these days and how are you overcoming them.  The greatest problem I see on my campus is that technology purchases are made, technology is thrown at teachers with little or no training, and as a result teachers are reluctant to try anything new.  Time is also a big factor.

If there are other instructional technologists out there, let me here from you! I'd love to know what kinds of difficulties and triumphs you've experienced, and how you approach instructional technology integration.