Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Here is what I came up with:

An ordinary day starts for me with checking in on Facebook and Twitter. I like to see the recent posts and scroll down for any resources that might be useful for me or others with whom I work.

I check in on the USA Today app and also Smartbrief.

Then it’s on to email. I have my work email and my gmail to check. Within my gmail I participate in an instructional coach listserv where I glean resources and share anything that is relevant.

By about 8:30 I am making rounds and working with teachers, either by appointment or drop in. In between visits, I check in on email, twitter and sometimes facebook.

I control my twitter access by creating lists. That way I do not have to scroll through every single tweet. Other times I check on hashtags, like #edchat. I try my best to share back when I can, but this usually happens in the evening because twitter is blocked in my district.

I used to use Google Reader to bring information right to me, but now I tend to access those same things through twitter and facebook.I use Flipboard and Zite on the iPad, as well as AP News. I access my Diigo account at least once an hour – to find a resource or add one for later review. Diigo is hands down my favorite and most useful organization tool!

That’s all about how information comes to me, but I also create a lot each and every day!

We use wikispaces, google apps, Moodle, and WordPress in my district. This week I am working on building Marketing materials on a wikispace, helping a teacher organize a student site with google sites to plan an appreciation breakfast, building these Moodle sessions and maintaining a elementary wide blog using WordPress. These are the main focus areas this week, but I also have smaller activities going on with these types of tools for other teachers and for other purposes.

For me, I see using the web in a plate spinning analogy – I keep things turning, so nothing comes crashing down!

What is your day like??

Related articles

• Flipboard: Your Social News Magazine – Flipboard Inc. (itunes.apple.com)
• Here’s a neat trick: Use Read It Later or Instapaper with one tap in Flipboard for iPhone (thenextweb.com)

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

When I became the Classrooms for the Future instructional technology coach, I became immersed in networked learning. I know that much of the information I know came from folks in my levels of networks. I have a school district network (with sub-networks by grade level/subject area), a local area network, and various online networks for both personal and professional interactions. At times these networks overlap in a variety of ways. It is easy for me to see how the these networks are actually learning communities. The various learning communities work toward common goals in the area of making the educational experience better for students. My networks may be at different levels of awareness, action and planning, but as a common thread in these communities, I try to keep them thinking and am open to adjusting my thinking based on their input and ideas.

Here is my review:

I found this book to be very easy to read and practical for today’s educators. Many educators do not seem to realize the power of being digitally connected and the benefits those connections can bring to their classrooms and teaching teams. The book provides steps for getting connected at the end of each chapter and I hope readers take these steps!

I loved that the book distinguishes between (1) the local professional learning community, (2) the global network one can build with a personal learning network, and (3) a community of practice. These three types of communities are different, but can complement and enhance the learning of the participant to a great extent. Pulling these three together, The Connected Educator coins the term “Connected Learning Communities”.

I see great implications for today’s classrooms when educators realize the impact of global connections and digital learning networks. When an educator experiences this type of shift for themselves, it cannot be long before they ask (and answer), “How would my students learn with this type of model?”

As a connected educator, I know that I learn better and more deeply as I tap into the broad network I have established online. I bring that information to my local professional learning communities and we work to make change when and we can based on shared visions and goals.

Related articles

• The Connected Educator (literacyadviser.wordpress.com)
• Connectivism
• Powerful Learning Practices

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

I am interested in getting more education, and have investigated some Ph.D. programs. But, my children are still little and I know any sort of doctoral program will involve a lot of reading, class time and work time. Anyway, I had planned to not investigate any further, but then an opportunity came up in casual conversation. Last week someone mentioned that Immaculata University would be starting a new Educational Leadership doctoral cohort in my area. I attended an information session this evening and looked at the course offerings with excitement. I love learning, so this was no surprise. All during the information session, I wanted to feel positive and figure out a way I could make this work. The time, the money – ugh. The more I sat there, the more I wanted to do it. But as time went on, I had to let myself know it was okay that I canNOT do this right now.

As I left, I also realized that it was important for me to figure out why I would even want to do something like this? Is it the piece of paper? Would I ever even want to be a superintendent? Is it so I can be Dr. Michelle Krill? These are the bigger questions – it seems like to feel valued and respected for what we know and are able to do, many people look for letters or pieces of paper for validation. I will be working hard to be more comfortable with the fact that I know plenty and have much to share.

My participation with a Powerful Learning Practices cohort this year has given me much validation in what I know and that my ideas have merit. I understand curriculum, I know about human learning and I can put technology into curriculum to increase learning. I know what I know and that is enough for me.

For now!