When this class started, I really wasn't sure how Digital communication could fill up a whole semesters' worth of work. Once we started working with Twitter, I wasn't completely sure that I would like the class. Now that I am a connected educator, I will continue participating in Twitter chats, as well as following and interacting with some of the leaders in the educational technology field.
On p. 131, we are encouraged to become a "genius maker" instead of a genius. I think a lot of educators feel the pressure to come up with original ideas, to be innovative and some people just aren't cut out for that. What most educators are cut out for is to creating conversation, dialogue, or an atmosphere where students are encouraged to immerse themselves in learning, becoming creative, innovative and their own genius. How many times, have you sat and listened to a speaker, and already have an idea of how that would look in your classroom? At METC last week, I listened to two different speakers, and by the time I left I was sketching on a note pad how I was going to utilize something I heard in the session in my room in the next week. I probably didn't even hear what they were saying for the last part of the session, because my brain only comes up with one or two good ideas a year. At the beginning of this course, I was connected amongst my coworkers, following their class pages on Twitter. Outside of that I wasn't connected much at all. I was struggling with feeling connected to my school. I didn't feel appreciated for all the skills that I possessed to create an innovative learning environment. I definitely connected to the quote on p. 30 in the book where "their own school districts may not see or appreciate the value that a connected educator can bring". Since becoming a connected educator, I have been asked to serve on a pilot program for the district Alternative academy. The reward of being a connected educator is certainly worth the risk of putting yourself out there. Teachers who have become burnt out, or have lost the fire to teach, should consider becoming connected educators. It could resurrect your career. There are hundreds of other educators out there with the same issues that you are dealing with. There is comfort in knowing you aren't alone.
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The reading this week hit on a couple of questions that I have had throughout the online classes that I have taken so far for this degree. What happens when students misuse the technology? Unfortunately all students cannot be trusted. The school district that I work in has taken the lock and block approach since we have been 1:1 (about five years). I currently have a student who is restricted from using her computer without a teacher directly supervising her.
The quote that stuck out to me was the 95/5 rule, connected educators "do not make decisions based on the fear of what the 5% might do"(p. 101). Our Technology director has always been cautious in allowing students and staff to access tech tools that could potentially cause issues. Recently, we have allowed student access of Twitter, but restricted other social media sites. Teachers have begged and pleaded after seeing the power of these sites in the classroom, but still they restrict based on what the 5% might do. Part of the issue here is that they are afraid to take the risk because of what might happen. 1. The first risk that I am going to take is that I am going to advocate for students to use social media sites in the classroom. I have already started a Twitter account, that I have been using briefly even before this class. Outside of the PLN's, teachers have been reluctant to follow students because of inappropriate conduct in the past with some of our staff. Connected educators still sometimes find themselves stuck in a rut. We are encouraged to use technology in our lesson's everyday, but when it comes to staff and faculty meetings, we still use the same old boring ineffective methods. Someone in the audience asks that question that only pertains to that one teacher to draw out what should be a five minute meeting into almost an hour. 2. The second risk that I took this year, is to try to be more connected to the staff outside of my classroom. Our last faculty meeting was brutal. Today's Meet would have been a great alternative and could have saved many of us 30-40 minutes of our day instead of listening to the few teachers who didn't understand a new policy. It would have provided a backchannel, gave teachers a voice in a meeting that is dominated by administration, allowed people a forum to not interrupt the natural flow of the meeting while still receiving the attention they needed. Technology has been a godsend and a curse at the same time. Students are learning with unlimited potential, but have lost the interpersonal soft skills necessary in the real world. Two years ago, I bought my wife her first Ipad, she loves it, but now at night we sit on the same couch, each with our own device and surf, check our social media, play Candy Crush, and email students while we eat dinner and watch TV. We are plugged in. We have already made a plan to unplug. 3. The third risk I am going to take is that I am going to unplug for an entire week, once this course is over. This is a critical time in my family, we are about to welcome our first child. Demands have been high on each of us over the winter. School responsibilities have kept our calendar full. But I am committed to spending a whole week at home with my family once my daughter is born. I might shake or go into convulsions when I start thinking about missing out on the latest tech or political news, but it is a huge risk that I must take. One of the best things about being a teacher is that not only do I get to work with awesome teenagers everyday, I get to share my life experiences with them as well. One of the things I am most proud of in my life is that I have been fortunate to travel around the United States since I have been young. Recently I completed a bucket list item of visiting all the Civil War battlefields operated by the National Park Service. It only took me 23 years to do this! (shoutout to all my family members who had to suffer through the driving and walking tours). Some of my students recently encouraged me to create a blog so that they can enjoy a lot of my trips and I can share info and experiences about all the cool places I have been. Below is a picture of my push pin travel map of the United States. I just got it as a Christmas present so I am in the process of updating it. I already ran out of push pins!
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Tim Odehistory Teacher, Coach, Civil War enthusiast, Traveler, New Dad ArchivesCategories |