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Slide Notes

The topic of this presentation is the novel way in which educators are connecting with each other online and what they are talking about in the process. Using Twitter hashtags, teachers and administrators are coming together for hour-long conversations centered on various affinities (location, discipline, philosophy, etc.). Recently, participation in some of these edchats has swelled so greatly that the most popular chats are "trending" on Twitter.
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Connected Educators

Published on Dec 02, 2015

My FacMtg presentation on Connected Educators, 1/13/14.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Connected educators

PLNs, #edchat, SAMR, etc. 
The topic of this presentation is the novel way in which educators are connecting with each other online and what they are talking about in the process. Using Twitter hashtags, teachers and administrators are coming together for hour-long conversations centered on various affinities (location, discipline, philosophy, etc.). Recently, participation in some of these edchats has swelled so greatly that the most popular chats are "trending" on Twitter.
Photo by zimpenfish

A new kind of pD

#edchat #TABSchat #isedchat #21stedchat
Going to conferences is expensive and time consuming, and often there is more in it for the presenters (who are marketing their book or service) than for the audience.

Twitter chats, on the other hand, are free, require nothing more than an internet connection, and only run one hour.

Better still, Twitter chats are democratic and built around sharing knowledge in a conversation. You rarely get bored, and if you do, you can just walk away from your computer.
Photo by Sham Hardy

PLN

Personal Learning Networks
More than anything, the Connected Educator movement is centered on the idea of the PLN. As you read interesting comments from other educators around the country (and the world), you build online friendships.

Several of my conversations during #TABSchat have turned into email exchanges about sharing resources. The spirit of edchats is a generous one; participants are eager to share.
Photo by jenny downing

What are connected educators talking about?

I've learned more about what's going on (cue the Marvin Gaye) in the last few months of participating in edchats than I have in years of reading the glossy journals mailed out by professional organizations.
Photo by Kalexanderson

Edcamps and unconferences

An "unconference" is an unprogrammed professional development meet-up in which the topics are decided on the day of the event. "Edcamp" is an unconference brand run by a 501(c). Visit their web site edcamp.org.

Schoology and edmodo

These are LMS apps that teachers actually like.
Newfangled LMS providers are integrating elements of social media into their platforms. The two popular ones that teachers rave about online are Schoology and Edmodo. I've been experimenting with Edmodo, and the interface is a lot like a Facebook group.

edmodo has a smartphone app

It's pretty slick and easy to use.
Edmodo also has a smartphone app for both IOS and Android (and apps for tablets, too). Imagine how much this could help our students who have executive function shortcomings.

GAFE

Many schools have embraced Google Apps For Educators. (Edmodo syncs with Google Drive, by the way).
Photo by JD Hancock

Stem to Steam

Adding Art + Design (merci RISD)
I hear conversations all the time about whether or not GS should roll out a new, STEM-heavy curriculum (science, technology, engineering, math). I'm glad I'm not in charge of making that decision, but the folks at The Rhode Island School of Design have been advocating adding the letter A to STEM. The A represents art and design, which they feel is badly needed to inject humanity and creativity into STEM. Hence the new acronym STEAM.

Blended learning

mixing traditional classroom techniques + technology
It worries me a bit that this term hasn't come up yet at a GS faculty meeting. The term refers to the mixing of traditional teaching methods with technological delivery (online video, gamification, apps, etc.).

Lots of teachers here at GS are already doing all kinds of blended learning. The Science Dept. is using Phet, Melaina is grading papers through Turnitin.com's interface, Chris Odom is recording video lectures for his class, Ben Croucher has presented with Marion about Libguides, etc. Ari Betof flipped his math class for a term, and that was two and half years ago.

How to Blend your class

S.A.M.R. is an abbreviation for the process by which one might integrate technology into one's pedagogy in order to do some sort of blended learning.

Google the term "SAMR" and read up on the concept. You can quickly find examples relative to your discipline.
Photo by tim.klapdor

#tlap

@burgessdave
Not everything educators talk about online is technologically innovative or paradigm shifting. Dave Burgess' book Teach Like a Pirate is a viral phenomenon among Connected Educators (perhaps because the author uses his Twitter connectedness so effectively to market the book).

Burgess' book exhorts teachers to be more engaging performers for their students. It is full of "hooks" to grab and hold students' attention. I've got a copy if you'd like to borrow it.
Photo by djwudi

Three Suggestions

I don't mean to be preachy, but . . .

Get on Twitter

. . . and try an #edchat
Try participating in an edchat. I've posted a link to the schedule to Faculty Staff News. I know you are going to ask, "How am I supposed to make time for this?" But you are going to do professional development of some sort this year, and at least 50% of it is going to stink, so cut some of that out and substitute it with this. If you don't like what see, well, it cost you zero dollars and one hour of your life.

Reflect on SAMR

. . . and how it could apply to your class.
Blended learning is happening at George School already. Your colleagues are using blended lesson plans every day, and in the coming years I imagine you'll be hearing more and more about them. Why is it important to think about this now?

think about the future of teaching

. . . in light of our next strategic plan.
Because we are writing a new strategic plan this year, that's why. Curriculum and pedagogy are in the faculty's purview. What would we like the board to know about OUR vision for the future? The word "technology" does not appear in our current (expiring) strategic plan. In retrospect, should it have?

Sign up for a slot at one of the SPOC dinners on January 24. Julia and I are hosting one of them. Our cats are adorable, and Joe Ducati is providing the food.

oh, and a plug for Linkedin

Yeah, everyone hates it, but it's useful.
Most people associate LinkedIn with annoying email spam. The site richly deserves that reputation, but it is a more useful tool than you may be giving it credit for. If all of us spent twenty minutes every six months building out our LinkedIn networks by linking up with former colleagues and other connections in the education racket, and then we all linked up with each other, it would improve our recruiting efforts when we have job openings. Given that GS is going to see quite a few retirements in the coming years, taking LinkedIn seriously could have a real impact on who we are as a faculty and administration in years to come.