I love learning and and am insatiably curious. I want to learn, learn all about it, how does it work, how can I make it, how can I use it? I imagine when students and colleagues learn something that excites them, they feel the same way. My primary contribution is to my immediate 5th grade Professional Learning Community. We meet this year every other week on Zoom, but we are in daily communication. I am learning some new or easier way to work in Canvas and build lessons on Google and share insights constantly!
At some point this year, in no small part because of this masters class, I have become more of a contributor that a consumer in my immediate learning community. I am having a meta moment in who I am as an educator and even who I am period. I have never considered myself a “tech” person, but here I am. The one who is learning and solving and making and using. Inspiring my colleagues to do the same!
And more recently, in my current course, I have had the opportunity to answer questions and help others, if even in small ways, navigate the DLL program. In turn, my collaboration with fellow grad students has in so small way improved my studes.
It is my responsibility as an educator to continue learning new ways and methods of teaching, to collaborate with other educators in a meaningful way, and share what I learn with students. It is my hope that I can help bring passion to my students so they have a love for learning. Below are some of my favorite professional network sites.
This report profiles key trends and emerging technologies and practices shaping the future of teaching and learning and envisions a number of scenarios and implications for that future. It is based on the perspectives and expertise of a global panel of leaders from across the higher education landscape. I was introduced to this site when my professor assigned their report as required reading.
This foundation is dedicated to transforming K-12 education so that all students can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. Founded by innovative and award-winning filmmaker George Lucas in 1991, they take a strategic approach to improving K-12 education through two distinct areas of focus: Edutopia and Lucas Education Research. I found Edutopia on Twitter, when a colleague of mine sent an article to me. I’m hooked!
This website is a great source for new ideas on new topics. They compile lists of everything that teachers might need or want to know about. Their Twitter description says it best: Innovation in education through the growth of #teachers. Their article on engaging remote learners contained ideas that I put into place as soon as I read it.
CUE, Computer-Using Educators, is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1978. CUE’s goal is to inspire innovative learners in all disciplines from preschool through college. This professional development and conference group aims to promote and inspire by showcasing innovative technology resources and leaders in education. I found them on Twitter and am currently registered to attend their online conference in March of 2021.
Listening to this ed tech company is helpful for learning how other people are using innovative technology in education, and very inspiring. They produce thirty minute interviews with people who are making an impact in our field, and interviews are easy to share or point co-workers to.
Of course TED talks are commonly shared videos as well. We all know what that waterdrop echo cues… I have a separate videography page on this eportfolio of some of my favorites. At the top of my list will always be Brene Brown, Sir Ken Robinson, and Rita Pierson.
TED was born in 1984 out of Richard Saul Wurman’s observation of a powerful convergence among three fields: technology, entertainment and design. The first TED, which he co-founded with Harry Marks, included a demo of the compact disc, the e-book and cutting-edge 3D graphics from Lucasfilm, while mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot demonstrated how to map coastlines using his developing theory of fractal geometry.
Twitter is an open service that’s home to a world of diverse people, perspectives, ideas, and information, according to the About section on their website. “Happening Now” on Twitter in education:
Kris Szajner@KSzajner – Kris Szainer is a Technology Integration Specialist who focuses on Seesaw, Google, IOS devices, mostly at the elementary level. He shares his knowledge and resources on Twitter and his website.
MindShift@MindShiftKQED – MindShift explores the future of learning, covering cultural and tech trends and innovations in education. Their website – https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/ is chock full of news, resources, podcasts, tv and it’s free!
edutopia@edutopia – Edutopia, as seen above, is a foundation that is dedicated to transforming K-12 education so that all students can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. Edutopia also has a website filled with resources: https://www.edutopia.org/
Facebook has some excellent educational groups that are run mostly by educators. There is lots of information, presentations, files, images, and links that are shared with each other. Some of these are great places to ask specific questions you may have or just to be a consumer of information like me.
One of my favorite groups this school year has been Bitmoji Craze for Educators. The collaboration and creativity of this collective is astounding.
Global Educator Collective Group – this a private group of educators from around the world sharing their expertise and support to one another. There is presently over 130k members. Their mission is “maintain a global platform for continuous educator development with intent to inspire authentic, purposeful learning and learner agency”. And, their objective is “to contribute to educator development through collaborative learning shared in best practices, pedagogy, shared resources, strategies, experiences and perspectives through a safe environment that builds understanding”.
Amazing Educational Resources Group – This public group was created in December of 2019 and is comprised of educators and parents. There are many resources shared here, lots of pdf’s and images have been uploaded to the file section in group.