using social media to expand the classroom community
Archive for professional development
by derrickwillard on February 25, 2011 at 1:21 pm · Filed under professional development and tagged: the journey, why
The 2011 the National Association of Independent Schools annual conference is winding down. I am still struck by a question asked by someone at the end of our workshop….”What is a Google Doc?” Wow. Really? Let me give you a little background…
I was privileged to present with an amazing group of innovators that includes: Sarah Hanawald, Cannon School (NC); Peter Gow, Beaver Country Day School (MA); Demetri Orlando, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (MA); Jason Ramsden, Ravenscroft School (NC); Vinnie Vrotny, The North Shore Country Day School (IL). The presentation was on Creating Connected Teachers: Professional Growth Using Networked Collaborations. Here is the blurb about our session:
“Social media offers powerful tools to help educators break free of the isolation that can hamper growth. How can administrators support teachers who have made the leap to professional networking and encourage others to venture into this world? We will highlight resources available to networked teachers and learn how to encourage entire faculties to connect. Bring a laptop!”
So, we hit ‘em with the fire hose! Twitter, Nings, wikis, bogs, podcasts, Skype, Google Apps….I know almost a third of our audience considered themselves newbies to Web 2.0 in education. When the presentation was over, we broke into discussion groups so folks could ask questions about applying certain tools and about developing actions plans. Then the question, “What is a Google Doc?”
I was shocked that someone could not know the answer to this question in 2011. Then I thought back to last year when I first learned what a Google Doc was and more importantly, what a powerful tool it can be for collaboration. My school has adopted a suite of Google Apps tools and we are using them on a daily basis with students. Then I thought back to two years ago, when I had no idea what a blog, wiki, or Ning was–a time before I was @dwillard on Twitter. What a blur. My journey to this point (presenter at NAIS) has been fast and furious. But, my journey started with a toe or two in the water-a Twitter account and an exam review wiki project. All of this flashed through my mind before answering that question….
So, before I explained what a Google Doc is I explained WHY a student/teacher/administrator would use one. Then, I showed my questioner what a Google Doc looks like (our team built our entire presentation in Google Apps without meeting face-to-face). Then, our discussion turned to where to start “the journey.” I explained to my questioner that about 2 years ago I was asking the same questions and trying to find a place to start. I suggested she join the ISENET Ning and get a Twitter account. I wish her (and any other newbie reading) best of luck on the journey to becoming a connected educator! Once you connect, you will collect, collaborate, create and grow!
by derrickwillard on January 29, 2011 at 9:42 am · Filed under professional development and tagged: conference, Web 2.0
As I have written before, the tech is such that you can now “attend” (not just watch) professional development conferences online. If you are new to all this stuff and your district/school has yet to provide your the training in how to apply Web 2.0 tools in your teaching, consider checking out the Educon 2.3 conference going this weekend (Jan. 28-30, 2011). Go to the link below, create an account and join in on some great conversations about innovation in education!
Educon 2.3 homepage
by derrickwillard on January 4, 2011 at 8:05 pm · Filed under blog, professional development and tagged: blog, the journey, why
So, the end of this month will be my one-year anniversary of joining the blogosphere…
I was nervous at first, putting myself out there in the most public of forums. Regardless, I set out to do several things:
1. Convince skeptical teachers of the value of social media for teachers and students.
2. Build an electronic portfolio of social media projects that I can show other educators.
3. Journal about my professional development journey.
I don’t have any quantitative measure of my success at goal #1 (since I don’t really think I have a following to speak of), but I have had a few strangers weigh in with comments from time to time. I didn’t set out to build a “brand,” and I probably don’t blog enough to maintain one if I did. At least I will get a chance be a part of a presentation to administrators at the NAIS Conference (scroll to item #W8) this year about the value of social media in education.
Now, I do feel much better about goals #2 and #3. By forcing myself to post my social media experiments online, I was putting myself in the position of one of my students completing a formal lab report–I had to explain my methods, to analyze my data, and to reach conclusions. Posting my experiments on the internet is in the best spirit of science (peer review). As for using my web-log as a journal, I have found that even if no one is listening to me that blogging forces me to listen to myself. Good stuff.
So, if you are reading this and are not blogging then I want to encourage you to take it on as a resolution for this new year…it’s not too late.
Finally, here are my favorite reflections/lessons from 2010:
Why Try? (my first post)
Student feedback (about my first experiment with a wiki almost 2 years ago)
Processing and PLNs (about why I value my Personal Learning Network)
Presentation on wikis and girls (about the potential for wikis to give “quiet girls” a voice)
Class Blogs: Looking Back at my “Blended Classroom” (reflections on a year of class blogs)
If you are new to all this and see anything you want to try, let me know. I’m glad to help-someone did it for me not long ago…
by derrickwillard on November 12, 2010 at 11:22 am · Filed under guest blogger, professional development and tagged: the journey, Web 2.0, why
Matt Scully is our talented Director of Instructional Technology here at Providence Day School. He is the reason I’m blogging today-I couldn’t have done all I have done without his support and encouragement. This is a cross post from his blog: Engaging the Learner.
Want to know why I love YouTube or more accurately streaming video? It is because of moments like last friday when I was struggling to decide what to do with my freshman English class. At the very moment when I was about to sign off on the easier lesson plan – the one I could do without any heaving lifting… you know the one where I do the work and the kids just watch, I heard Sir Ken Robinson in my head. I don’t mean I asked myself what would SKR do, but I literally heard his voice in my head. It was a snippet from his TEDtalk reminding me about creativity and student engagement. It was enough the get me thinking. In less than 40 minutes I had revised the outline for the entire unit and during the revision I consulted with Rives, Ian Jukes, and Sugata Mitra. These are the voices in my head and having heard the lilt of their voices, the strain of their excitement, and the depth of their passion has embedded them in what I do, how I do it, and why I do it.
Your mission if you choose to accept it is to collect the voices in your head. Search them out online, capture them with a Flip video camera, and digitize them from old cassette tapes. Check out my resources page for the beginnings of my collection.
by derrickwillard on March 28, 2010 at 8:20 pm · Filed under failure, professional development, social media and tagged: epic fail, social media, teachers, the journey
Recently I was at the NCAIS Innovate Conference at Cary Academy, and I heard a number of presenters speak about the value of an “epic fail” when experimenting with social media in their classrooms. Sounds reasonable. I work at a school where one of the core values is “We believe that students should be encouraged to try new endeavors and take risks without fear of failure.” Great in theory, but do teachers really do this in practice? Honestly? I want my lessons and activities to work.
What about you? Help me write this blog post by explaining your BEST “epic fail” using social media…what did you learn that others might benefit from knowing?
by derrickwillard on March 12, 2010 at 10:19 pm · Filed under PLN, professional development and tagged: conference, PLN, the journey, why
So, I’m back home after two very stimulating days at the NCAIS Innovate Conference at Cary Academy. Man, my mind is still on fire and I cannot sleep. I’m sitting here trying to let the flames die down a bit, so I can sleep by the coals. I’ve heard so many teachers who attend conferences like these struggle to process and reflect, but the only solution is time.
I think one thing I know for sure is that I met some neat folks–progressive educators who push themselves to innovate in order to better engage their students. For example I met arvind s. grover, the Director of Educational Technology at The Hewitt School in New York City. arvind (yes, he spells his name in lower case), was a part of the keynote panel and helps host a nifty online talk show called EdTechTalk 21st Century Learning. I also met Meredith Stewart, a 6th Gr LA & History Teacher at Cary Academy (and another panel member). Check out her insights on teaching and technology at her blog. I could go on and on. The point is, I found some really neat folks to add to my Personal Learning Network (PLN).
Why do I have a PLN? Why should you? A personal learning network allows a teacher to efficiently gather knowledge to improve his or her craft. I think Daniel Tobin explains it best:
How can your learning network help you?
By helping you to sift through all the data to identify the information that will be most useful to you.
By helping you to identify learning resources and opportunities.
By coaching you and answering your questions as you try to apply your learning to your work.
By sharing their wisdom with you through dialogue.
Building a personal learning network is requires that you not only seek to learn from others, but also that you also help others in the network learn. Even when you are a novice in a field of learning, you can still make contributions. Did you read an article that might be of interest to others? Then distribute it to other in your network with a short note that you thought they might find it interesting. Did you hear of a conference on the subject? Let others know about the program and speakers and, if you attend, circulate your notes and papers you collect to other network members.
How do you build a solid PLN? Well, here is a great blog post on 8 Steps of PLN Development by Liz B. Davis. Me, I started by subscribing to blogs and Twitter feeds of folks I learned are opinion leaders in the field. So, if you haven’t started building your PLN yet, now is the time!
by derrickwillard on March 11, 2010 at 1:12 pm · Filed under professional development, twitter and tagged: conference, twitter
I’m at the NCAIS Innovate Conference. Join us live, for the kickoff from 1-2pm EST at: http://www.livestream.com/raventechreveals
Discussion topic: Rethinking Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age
Also, follow along on Twitter with this hashtag: #ncinnov8
Tonight from 5:45-7:30, check out the live streaming of “ignite” sessions at the same livestream link above!
by derrickwillard on March 1, 2010 at 3:54 pm · Filed under professional development, social media, twitter and tagged: conference, teachers, twitter
So, I’m gearing up for the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools annual “tech”conference next week. The conference organizers have wisely changed the name to “NCAIS Innovate,” as the focus should be on the teaching and not the tech. The conference title is “Igniting Innovation: Sparking Conversation about Learning in the Digital Age.” The conference will be hosted by Cary Academy on March 11th-12th (next week). I’ll be making two presentations on how I’ve incorporated social media into my science teaching and how social media can pull quiet girls into discussions.
If you can’t be there in person, you can experience part of the conference online. The education-themed internet radio show, EdTechTalk 21st Century Learning, will be broadcasting live from 1-2pm EST. I’m sure there will also be other sessions streamed live and probably lots of Twitter chatter that can be viewed via a hashtag.
Is it worth it to tag along to conferences like these online? I think so, if you have the time and cannot make it there in person. I recently tried to follow happenings at an amazing conference know as Educon 2.2. I could not physically get to Philly for the Conference, but decided to follow the conversations on Twitter (#educon hashtag-see bottom image), through streaming video sites like Vokle (see image below),
Panel Discussion on Vokle (Click to Enlarge)
and through online classroom/presentation spaces like Elluminate (see image below).
Elluminate & Twitter feed (Click to Enlarge)
This is great professional development as you don’t have to be just a voyeur–you can participate too! Check out the conference blog-hope to see you there or online.
by derrickwillard on February 11, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Filed under Google Tools, professional development and tagged: RSS, social media, teachers
One of my favorite things about dabbling in social media this past year is the ease with which I can now keep up with current trends in education and current events in my field (science). Last year I was introduced to Google Reader by Will Richardson. If you are not familiar, it is a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Reader. If you are not familiar with the concept, check out this short (3 minute) Common Craft video tutorial on RSS Readers. Oh, did I mention it is FREE?
My RSS Reader has become the primary means by which I stay abreast of current happenings. I no longer spend hours searching/reading the newspaper, science organization magazines, or major news organization web sites–I let targeted news come to me. When you look in the next column to the right, you get a glimpse into my Google Reader. Those are items I choose to share with the public.
I think the ability to manage subscriptions in an RSS Reader has to become an essential skill for the professional development of the 21st Century educator. Do you?
*Note: If you are new to all this and have just acquired an RSS Reader, note you can subscribe to blog entries using the link in the far right column…
by derrickwillard on February 1, 2010 at 5:09 pm · Filed under professional development, social media and tagged: social media, teachers, why
In my last post, I posed the essential question:
Why would any teacher (especially a successful, experienced teacher) investigate using social media tools like Nings, blogs, or wikis as a part of their craft?
This is the question I hear the most from teachers encountering social media in education for the first time. My first answer is, try this social media stuff as it is regenerative. I don’t even think that is a real word, but Merriam-Webster gives 3 definitions for regenerate:
1 : formed or created again
2 : spiritually reborn or converted
3 : restored to a better, higher, or more worthy state
Yes, I feel “formed or created again” and “reborn or converted.” Really, I do. I guess I first encountered this idea when I saw Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People so many years ago. I think it is akin to Covey’s Habit #7, “sharpen the saw.” According to Covey’s web site;
“Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have–you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:
| Physical: |
Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting |
| Social/Emotional: |
Making social and meaningful connections with others |
| Mental: |
Learning, reading, writing, and teaching |
| Spiritual: |
Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or servic |
As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?”
So, I am here to tell you that all the time I have devoted to my Personal Learning Network on Twitter, Nings, and Google Reader has helped me to sharpen the mental and social-emotional areas of my life. All this time in Web 2.0 does create some conflict with Life 1.0 (the physical and spiritual), but that will have to come in a later post.
I’ll let you, the reader, decide if I (or you) can move to a “better, higher, or more worthy state” in my role as teacher. But to do that, you have to stick around for the journey…
Next time, why this is generative for my students.
