I began writing this blog between sessions at the eTech Ohio conference early this month.  It is the third largest educational technology conference in the United States.  I had not been to the conference in 10 years.  Attending conferences like this RECHARGES me as a teacher and advocate for technology.  For those of you who know me, you know I have used technology in my classroom for a long time.  I am never afraid to try something new in my classroom; however, I only use technology that enhances the lesson and provides good instructional practice.  I find myself constantly RETHINKING what I do and how I do it.   Technology in the educational setting is currently at a very exciting threshold. Any device that connect a student to the Internet can be REPURPOSED as a learning device in my classroom.  Yes, I teach my students to RETHINK how they use their smartphone.  If you are in my class, you can take your quizzes on your phone…if you like.   Great things are happening to connect students to amazing learning opportunities, to allow students to access learning according to their personal needs, and to assess understanding quickly.   I learned so many new tools and ideas at eTech.  Most exciting at the conference was how educational practices were highlighted more than the how-to of the technology.

But, while at the conference, I got to do some even more exciting things that were not part of the planned conference activities.  I was able to follow my students working online back at school and offer suggestions and comments.  It REPURPOSED my time between conference sessions.     I also got to visit my niece Kelsey at OSU and help her learn some new online tools.  Her laptop is not working correctly.  So I gave her my Mac Air book as a back up.  In my home, I use Apple devices.  At work, I use PC devices.  I jokingly call myself bi-platform.  A Mac Air book is like a laptop except it has no hard drive.  It is much like an iPad only in computer form.  Google has created a similar device called a Chromebook.  I rarely access a hard drive on a computer anymore and share most of my documents to a cloud-based server while using the applications offered by Google.  (Yes, I have drunk the Google kool-aide).  There is no need to buy software to meet my needs.  I do it all online with free (or low cost) applications.  All this work can also be done from any device that is attached to the Internet.  So, back to Kelsey and the Mac Air book.

I have had a love hate relationship with this device from the beginning.  Like the Chromebooks, the Mac Air boots up in seconds.  Literally, from off to on takes 8 to 10 seconds.  No hard drive to start up.  However, on the Mac Air book, at least my version, the battery life is horrible.  It is a known issue, but one I missed prior to buying the device.  I usually research more carefully.   So my mobile device is not so mobile.  Kelsey has been battling computer issues.  Her laptop is more dead than alive  Today’s college student MUST have a computer that works.  Lecture notes are posted online; assignments are “handed out” online; and assignments are turned in that way, as well.  So I helped Kelsey RETHINK a possible “life” with my Mac Air–a life with Google instead of Microsoft Word, and I REPURPOSED a device I hated in to a device she could love…or at least until her laptop could be properly fixed.

Isn’t  it amazing that our frustrations can be another person’s joy?  And I know God nudged me that night.  He opened the conversation and showed me a way to love my Mac Air by using it in a way to help Kelsey.  She is not burdened by the buyer’s regret I have.  She loves a computer that works.  And to be honest, I am no longer burdened by the regret of that purchase.  God helped me REPURPOSE a computer and RETHINK my regret.  And in the midst of it all I got RECHARGED.  Doesn’t God do that for us every day?  Isn’t God in the business of REPURPOSE, RETHINK, AND RECHARGE?  I cannot help but think of Mom and how she is RENEWED and alive in Christ.  How her voice and mission was REPURPOSED into this blog.  How writing about what seems to matter REVIVES me.  And I am continuing to look for ways to RETHINK, REPURPOSE, and RECHARGE other areas of my life.

I hope this season leading up to Easter… this dark, cold, windy, quiet, prayerful, hopeful season… brings you new PURPOSE, new THINKING, and a new CHARGE.