So it has come together for me. Abigail's ideas about design, the first term project and watching Cammie navigate the site, and reading Wiggins' backward design book fit together. It's the learner, stupid. How I have come to realize how NOT learner centered I am. How I think I am. How I am in some ways. How I am not and why that's OK. This is a ripe area to roll around in.

 
Wow! It's been a rollarcoaster. I finished up the last site and collected feedback, an up and down feeling. I did the first presentation which I thought was better than the second. They were 6 days apart and I was really up for the first one. The audience was easy since there were no techies there. For the second I didn't feel as fresh (although people seemed to say I had good energy) but there were IT people there. They are part of my audience, an important part. I was nervous, being more self conscious about the tech end of things. Discussion occurred with the IT people speaking up which was good and I realize later that's their job. They have to have that tech expertise. I don't have to have as much as they do. But I was talking about the teaching end. I felt great when Pam asked if I would do it again in the fall. And I heard from Gary that 31 faculty have signed up to do web sites. Tom told me to draw up a plan for part of my load in the fall to do some tech leadership. So despite all my insecurities about this project and it's products, these recent experiences have been very affirming.
In a big way it, this marlboro program, is really coming together for me. A breakthrough is the research about useability. I had look into this topic before but now I am ready to better realize the significance of it. Using the web in teaching is all about the learner. That's how technology recasts this job. This is the piece that brings the puzzle into focus.