Adjusting to the Process

I recently worked with a teacher and her students introducing a new app.  The students were quick to learn and anxious to get started creating on their own.  The students had done preliminary work on the information to be shared using the presentation app.  They were still working on their final presentations when I left, but I could tell they weren't going to have a bit of trouble.

A few days later I spoke with the teacher.  She was delighted, and admittedly surprised, by their performance.  She stated that she was the one who had to adjust.  The creative process was a bit noisy.  It just didn't fit into the structure that was normally such an integral part of her classroom environment.  She had to adjust her thinking and her expectation for behavior.....and she did.  Kudos to her!

So many of us that have been educators for years find it hard to let go of the structure that we think constitutes a quality learning environment.   We came from (and created) classrooms that discouraged talking, placed students in straight rows and where the expectation was to receive responses from students that fit nicely into a right or wrong category.

If that's where you are, it's time to adjust your thinking.  Students have tremendous creative potential and their creative process gets a little noisy!  It seems a little disorganized.  But, trust them.  They will surprise you.  Yes, you need to set expectations for an outcome.  You can give general parameters under which their product must fall.  But give them an opportunity to show you how the learning works for them.  Let them dazzle you.  Enjoy them.....and let them enjoy learning!

Hello,

This is a test.

John

Providing a Service

I have spent 32 years in education. Working with students and teachers has truly been a passion for me.   So much so, that I came out of retirement to work part-time with those students and teachers that I truly care about.  Maybe I don't consciously think everyday about what I can do to make education better for these people....and perhaps that's a good thing....that I don't HAVE to think about doing it.  It just IS what I do.  I want to serve and it gives me great joy to do so.

It is a great day for me if I can share one thing that makes the education process better for someone!

I hope that happened today.  I hope that I served my colleagues in a way that made life better for them.

Today I had the great pleasure of providing a professional development session for Cullman High School Social Studies teachers.  They were receptive and eager to try new things. I hope that they found something in today's PD that will make instruction rich and rewarding for them and their students!

Here are the resources that I shared....iPad Apps in the High School Classroom

Who Choreographs Your Happy Dance?

So, when you break into your happy dance, who has choreographed your moves?  Was it you? Or....are you waiting on the actions and decisions of someone else to make you "bust a move"?  Observation yields the following: In the day-to-day of relationships, career/work, spirituality, etc. there are the people who are inventing the new moves, and those who are following the lead of someone else and....unfortunately, the wallflowers who haven't stepped onto the dance floor!

So, when it comes to life, which are you?  Are you making deliberate choices that put you in control of your own happiness? Are you surrounding yourself with others who are doing the same?  Do you find yourself in the middle of a daily line-dance of  happy, positive people? We are out there....those of us who don't wait for someone else to take the lead....heck, most times we don't even wait for the music to start...we are dancing...join us!

And So It Grows.....

I haven't posted about PLNs in a while, but recent events have me thinking about their power again. At this particular time Twitter is my PLN vehicle of choice.  Why? Because it is a 140 character or less synopsis of the who/what/when/where and how of my fellow educators at a moment in time. Their posts may be exactly what I am looking for or may lead me to something that I didn't even know I needed (or existed)!!!

Sometimes my connections are purposeful.  I go looking for people who fill a certain need for me or I respond to people who need something I have to give.  But the real gems are those connections that happen completely by accident.  That's my most recent experience.....

I mentioned in a previous post that I had taken the ThingLink Teachers Challenge.  The facilitator for that event is Susan Oxnevad ‏@soxnevad. She's my most recent "gem."  If you go poking around the who/what/when/where and how of Susan you will discover why I have given her that label.  The knowledge, information and skills she has to share are incredible.

I hope you have a PLN and I hope it is providing you with the support that you need.  Check out Susan and the Thinglink Challenge if you need a kick-start.... you will be glad you did!

Susan's Cool Tools Blog

Accepting the Challenge

I recently accepted the Thinglink Teacher Challenge! This challenge is a professional development opportunity that has been joined by 300+ educators thus far.  I have used Thinglinks for several months and have made quite a few for students and teachers.  I wondered if accepting this challenge would actually provide me any new knowledge....well, it has already....just in week one!

This served to remind me that challenging myself, even in things I THINK I already know, results in personal or professional growth, the acquisition of new skills and a shift in mindset!

If we could just keep that attitude......accept the challenge....have a mindset that we WILL learn something new then we will....just like I did in week one!

I'm ready....let the learning continue!

Today's Favorite!

I'm always checking out tech tools I see mentioned in Tweets, blogs, chats, or even informal conversations, etc.  So, a week or so ago I heard about Thinglink.  I'm hooked!  I can see tremendous potential for the use of this tool in any classroom, any grade level, any subject or even any professional development session.  I have begun to build Thinglinks to share with my colleagues in hopes of encouraging them to use or create!  Check it out.  If you have a suggestion for a Thinglink or would like to learn how to do it yourself,  just let me know!

http://www.thinglink.com/search?query=sharon+drake&list=Search

PLNs + Hashtags = Opportunities for Growth

If you use Twitter as a part of your PLN, you need to know that there's more to it than just following people.  All those @individuals or @groups are important and they help you build connections.  But there is a wealth of knowledge lurking behind those #s.  Hashtags (#) are invaluable for grouping topics and ideas.  One of the most powerful uses of #s is to identify educational "chats".......Groups of people "meeting" together online to discuss topics.  Even if you can't make the scheduled chat time, you can search for the # and catch up on the discussion when you have time.

Below is a link to an article by Jeff Dunn that discusses 20 chats that educators need to check out! So.....get busy....check it out!    #go  #whatareyouwaitingfor   #timesawasting   :)

www.edudemic.com/20-hashtags

A Butcher, a Baker, a Candlestick Maker

"A butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker" - that's how +Bobbi Capwell, (educator, Technology Integration Specialist, SimpleK12 Ambassador, DEN Star, lifelong learner) describes the members of her PLN.  She might have a literal butcher, baker and candlestick maker in her PLN, but what she is really trying to describe is the diverse nature of her group.  There is someone in her group who can provide support no matter what her need or question.

That's what we need to create when we are building our PLN.  Focus on your needs as an educator.  But, don't forget to think about your skills and what you have that you can share with others.  Create a support system for yourself that increases your professional knowledge, encourages you and is (sometimes) just plain fun!

Here's a link to Bobbi's blog.
http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/tiswedge/


Follow her on Twitter
https://twitter.com/BobbiC07

CoolCatTeacher, Vicki Davis, Compares Teacher's Life Before/After Twitter

I include +Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher on Twitter) in my PLN.  Her tweets and blog are insightful and entertaining.  In this blog post she talks about how Twitter has changed her as an educator.  If you've been around a while, you will relate!

http://coolcatteacher.sharedby.co/share/1lr7QY

Adding Podcasts to your PLN

Your personalized learning network should be designed for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. An extremely efficient way to access professional development is to make podcasts a part of your PLN.
This format is perfect for fitting in whenever you have access to your phone or tablet and perhaps a set of headphones. You can even tune in on your way to and from work each day.


Visit the iTunes store, select Podcasts, select the Education category and browse until your heart's content!  Or search for a specific podcast or topic using the search box.  For example, searching for flipped learning yields results that look like this....

Also, the links below suggest numerous podcasts for educators.

http://edupln.ning.com/profiles/blogs/50-educational-podcasts-you-should-check-out

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/teachercast-broadcasting-network/id519685828?mt=2

Alright, LET'S GO....listen to a podcast!

PLNs Aren't Just for Teachers Anymore!

Read this article from Lisa Nielson's blog "The Innovative Educator" in which

Educator Ann S. Michaelsen explains the power of student PLNs.

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2014/01/educator-ann-s-michaelsen-explains.html

Using Google+ as a Part of Your PLN

This video is created by Bob Deneau from Rockwood School District (MO).  It is a five minute introduction into Google+ and how you might use Google+ for developing a PLN.

Cullman City Schools allows for the use of Google+ by its employees.  We are fortunate to have this feature available.  So, take a few minutes to see how G+ can become a part of your professional development.

Google+ Basics for a PLN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivmne_Qj4Eo

PLNs: Helping You Learn, Grow and Share

Great article about Personal/Professional/Personalized Learning Networks (PLNs) and how to get one!!!

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-do-i-get-a-pln-tom-whitby&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-how-get-pln-list-2

How Do You Support Student Learning?

A very good article by Julie Ramsay about "... a quest to discover the best way to meet the needs of her digital-age learners…moving beyond the technology tools to focusing on supporting each student’s learning."

http://www.reading.org/general/Publications/blog/engage/engage-single-post/engage/2013/12/20/teaching-tools-for-timely-personalized-feedback#.UrToSmRDsp9

Beyond Twitter for Your PLN

So, what if Twitter is not your preferred method of connecting with your Personalized Learning Network (PLN)?  Never Fear!! Options are here!

There are other ways to gather and share information.  You are using one right now!  Blogs!  Blogs provide a way for you to share (and gather) information in much more than the 140 character limit of Twitter.

Now, I know, I know.......you are thinking, "Are you kidding?  I don't have time to keep up a blog!" That's okay.  When you move into the blog world, your first steps can be to follow other blogs.  This gives you access to information from experts in your field, but removes the pressure of authoring your own blog.  (However, let me suggest that you keep an open mind about being a blog author.  There is value in it, so don't rule it out!)

Next step, how do you find blogs published by experts in your field?  Well, I am going to help you get started.  I will share some blogs with you and give you pointers on how to find others.


Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator - http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/
Edutopia - http://www.edutopia.org/blogs
Will Richardson - http://willrichardson.com/
Edutech for Teachers - http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/
Diane Ravitch - http://dianeravitch.net/
Edcetera - http://edcetera.rafter.com/
Quests and Treks - http://questsandtreks.edublogs.org/
Evolving Educators - http://evolvingeducators.wordpress.com/
It All Started in the Library - http://lswetnam.blogspot.com/
Teachers Reflect - http://teachersreflect.wordpress.com/

All of these may not be right for you.  And please, don't overwhelm yourself by thinking you have to read all (or even most) of these.  Find what you like and start there.

Here are some resources for finding other blogs:

• Scholastic recommends 20 blogs: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/top-20-teacher-blogs
• eSchool News recommends 10 blogs: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/04/06/ten-education-blogs-worth-following/
• National Education Policy Center recommends: http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog
• Lisa Nielson recommends 10 blogs: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/04/ten-best-education-blogs.html

What happens when you find 3, 4, 5 or more blogs you want to follow?  Do you have to remember the blog websites and visit them everyday to see if something new is posted?  NO!! Thank goodness!

There are services that will bring all your blogs together, as soon as they are updated, and combine them on one page.  

I use Bloglines.  http://www.bloglines.com/index.html

Create an account...for FREE!

When you get started, Bloglines may give you some suggested blogs to follow and they may already show up under a Merchant's Circle tab in your feeds.  You can remove that if you like.

To keep your blog feeds organized, I recommend you add additional tabs beside the default MERCHANT'S CIRCLE tab.  I added EDUCATION and TECHNOLOGY tabs.  To add tabs choose the WHITE PLUS SIGN on the far right side of the blue TABS bar.   A new tab will open that you can rename.

To get started building your own feeds choose ADD on the Bloglines toolbar.

From the drop-down menu under ADD, choose FEEDS.

You can copy the url for the blog page you want to follow and paste it in the first URL bar and ENTER.

If an icon or two pop up below the URL bar when you press ENTER, the service is prompting you to choose the RSS feed (as opposed to the website link).  Blogs are shared by their authors with RSS feeds.   If this choice appears, choose FEED. 

When you select the icon for FEED, a box will pop up asking where you would like the blog feed to appear.  Choose the the tab under which you want the feed to appear by clicking the down arrow, selecting the tab and clicking the green +.

You can now click on that tab on your page and a history of blogs from that site will be displayed in list form. 

BIG TIP!!!  Bookmark the Bloglines page you are creating so that you have easy, one-click access to the most up-dated blog posts.  

Next tip!!! To remove a tab that you don't want...or that you accidentally created, simply click on the drop-down arrow just to the right of the tab label.  You can then rename the tab of delete it.  

More Evidence for Our Twitter PLN!

I told you Tweeting was a good thing.....read on....

"Three Reasons Why the School Principal Needs to Tweet"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-w-guay/3-reasons-why-the-school-_b_4257458.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Using Your PLN to Share Your School Stories

I had an opportunity to observe a professional development conference for principals yesterday.  I was there in a technological role, not as an administrator, but I benefitted from the experience none-the-less. While there, I saw a perfectly demonstrated example of how to use your Personalized Learning Network (PLN).

Remember that your PLN is not just a way for you to learn.  It is also a way for you to share with others so that they may learn.

During the professional development yesterday, one of the presenters was talking about the value of "sharing your school stories."  Sharing your school stories is critical.  Backing those stories with data (creating "data stories") is powerful.  You can say "we have a great school."  But, that type of broad statement could be refuted.  If you share the data that explains why your school is great then the stories are irrefutable.

So, what are your important school stories?  What data stories can you build to make them irrefutable?
How can you share those stories in "soundbites" that seem to be the preferred method of communication these days with the impact of social media?  Make sure your soundbites are stories backed by actual data, but don't bombard your audience with statistics.  People aren't usually open to statistics, but they love a good story.  Sell your school with irrefutable data stories on a regular basis!

Once you decide on your data stories find your method of delivery.  We have talked in recent blogs about using Twitter as an integral part of our PLN.  Twitter is also an ideal avenue for delivering your data stories.  With a 140 character limit, data stories must be condensed to the "soundbites" that are so abundant and seemingly so desirable today.

So, today's challenge for you???....create a data story about your school or classroom and tweet that data story.

What might this look like?  Let's say that you have known that your typical homework completion percentage  is 87%.  On average, 87 out of your 100 students complete their homework, on time, as assigned.  However, since your school started using Google Tools for Education (and your students were trained in using Google Drive for accessing and submitting their homework) the homework completion percentage is now 99%!   Share that as a data story on Twitter in 140 characters or less.

Student homework completion rate is 99% since our school system launched @Google Tools for Ed.  @googledrive makes access & submission easy.

Now, you try!  Sell your classroom or school by sharing your data stories! 

Did You Tweet This Week?

If you've been thinking about that Personalized Learning Network (PLN), I hope you took my advice and used Twitter as a starting point.  Maybe you didn't tweet, yet.  Maybe you just "lurked" during past week and saw what others are tweeting.  Were you able to find people to follow with whom you have things in common? Were you able to find experts in your field?  Sometimes it's a little tricky in the beginning figuring out how to find people/organizations in your field to follow.  Remember, if you do find someone you feel is a good for your PLN, see who those people/organizations are following....AND who's following them.  You might just find a gold mind of tweets to follow!

Let's get basic.....
How do you find people/organizations and see who  is following them or who they follow????

You can always use the magnifying glass at the top of the Twitter screen to search. You can search for names of individuals/organizations or for topics.  But be aware there may be millions of people named Bob Smith, so you might not find your Bob Smith so easily.  It helps to know, and search by, their Twitter name or their @name.  I am @shadrak1, so looking for me as Sharon Drake wouldn't help much.  As a matter of fact, when I search for Sharon Drake, I am offered 10 suggestions of other Sharon Drakes and none of them are me.

Side note:  If you are trying to find THE REAL someone, Twitter does its best to help you out.  It tries to verify Twitter accounts as belonging to the REAL someone (celebrity, athlete, government official). If Twitter feels an account does, indeed belong to the REAL person/group, it will be indicated with a blue cloud with a white check mark.   The Tom Hanks below with the blue cloud and white check mark is legitimate.   The one with the blue bar highlighting it is not, even though the account name is Tom Hanks.  Use caution!

You can also search by # (hashtag).  So, if you wanted to know who won the most recent NASCAR race you might try #nascar. If academia is more to your taste you might try #ccrs (for you non-educators that's College and Career Ready Standards).  When you see # for a subject that interests you, then PERHAPS the person/organization tweeting that # might be someone you would be interested in following.

If you come across someone that you feel might be added to your PLN, check out who they are following and who follows them.  To do this, click on the tweet that interests you.  Then click on the name of the twitter account holder.  This will take you to their profile page.  You can then click on their followers and also on who they are following (found just under their profile pic).   You may find interesting people/organizations in their lists that you want to add to yours.  (You can also click on their tweets and see a chronological record of all of their tweets....often a good source of info!)

To give you a boost I will share with you some of the people/organizations I follow.  You can check them out and see if they have anything to contribute to your PLN.

@AuthorsGuild
@Soc_of_Authors (Society of Authors)
@EdZNearpon
@TheNextWeb
@app4ed (Ed Tech)
@googledrive
@MacLife
@Nearpod
@AppPicker
@edutopia
@willrich45
@aldotcome (AL.com)
@NikkiDRobertson (not of the Duck Dynasty Robertsons.....Hoover High Librarian)
@NASA
@mental_floss
@amlibraries
@IRAToday (International Reading Association)
@AlabamaDeptofEd
@iPadForums
@CollegeBoard
@APforStudents
oh, and so as not to disappoint......@williebosshog (Willie Robertson OF Duck Dynasty). Yes, some on my twitter feed contribute very little to my PLN!

These are just suggestions.  It gives you a starting point to begin investigating possible participants in your PLN.

See you next time!

Thinking More about a Personalized Learning Network

Time to think more about using Web 2.0 tools to build your Personalized Learning Network!  

First, what is Web 2.0? The Google definition is...

Web 2.0

(web to͞o point ˈō/)

noun

1. the second stage of development of the World Wide Web, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social networking.

Second, what Web 2.0 tools could you use to build your Personalized Learning Network?
1. Twitter
2. blogs
3. wikis
4. RSS feeds
5. Google +
6. YouTube
7. LinkedIn
8.podcasts
9. others

One or more of these can provide the perfect framework for building a PLN.   Are you already using one, two, three or more of these? If so, you are ready to move forward with a PLN.  If not, let's get you established with at least one.

For example, if you have a Twitter account (or you create one now) but you aren't comfortable tweeting yet, that's okay. Here's a suggested progression for moving into the world of Twitter....

1. start by observing, "lurking" if you will, watch/read what others are tweeting without worrying about tweeting at all
2. read about Twitter, research how to tweet or use @ or #,or ask for help (I am readily accessbile)
3. check out who others are "following" and follow them too
4. Try it....tweet one comment about what you find interesting or what you are currently reading
5. Retweet (RT) something that you find interesting or worthy
6. Encourage someone to follow you on Twitter
7. Search for (or be on the lookout for Twitter info) for leaders in your field and follow them
8. Reflect on the process

Keep your eyes open for more info on building a Personalized Learning Network coming soon!