Sorry for my late post! I have had a crazy week and figuring out where my debit cards went. Of course it was a fun time figuring out my rentals for the books! Which leads me here.
I am writing this blog unsure of what I am exactly doing. I will tell you...this is exciting! I have never written blogs that classmates will read and actually care about what I have to say.
The book I am reading for EDET543 (Online Applications for Collaboration) is WONDERFUL.
I will have to admit, the last time I read for pleasure was for 50 Shades of Grey & that barely even counts as reading. That book did not make me feel any more intelligent after reading.
The book by Will Richarson (@willrich45) and Rob Mancabelli (@RobMancabelli) (whom I just added on twitter to follow) is AMAZING. I feel like I can conquer the world or at least start my path to making digital dreams come true. Some of the words just spoke to me. They made me feel empowered.
One thing about this book I that spoke to me was that they asked the readers (educators) to disconnect from their current views of teaching. They asked us to focus on growing and developing us and our students will be thankful in the long run. I currently do not have a classroom in which I can quote unquote disconnect from. I think this book is speaking to me at the correct moment in my life. How awesome is that? I will be ready to teach in a broader view when the world is ready for me to be blessed with my own classroom.
I can say I enjoy technology. As far as I can remember, I was always one of the first people in my social life that fiddled with the new technology. I even remember having only one friend to text using that awful t9 text mode. It is crazy to think back to that first text message and how different texting means to me now. Its how I speak and connect almost all the time other than Facebook. I was one of the fist to get Facebook (back when you needed someone from high school to invite you with a link). I remember being on Instagram and had maybe ten friend to follow as well as celebrities. Twitter was the same idea. I had it when I was 16 in 2006. I personally LOVED that people were adding these apps and networks, and I was already on it waiting for followers.
Developing my PLN seems a bit daunting at first. Little did I know, I was already in the loop. I have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Delicious, Google+ and all the apps within, Feedly, and Diigo. When I researched the top websites for teachers, I ran across an even bigger list that our book does not discuss (beware its 2014) but if you want to check it out: http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-websites/2014.
As the book states: "If you have the ability to grow your connections by choosing trustworthy and believable people to interact with in the first place, that network can help you edit and vet the new connections you make."
I understood when I started adding people on Twitter that it seemed like no one would care. I was proven wrong when not even a day later I had a nice educator by the name Sue Gorman (@sjgorman) Direct Message me this:
How cool is that? This motivated me to jump on the PLN Twitter bandwagon and get started. As chapter one wants us to begin participating in our learning and practice the survival skills, I am realizing the opportunities I have been taking on. I am excited that I can be selfish right now in devleoping my PLN. I know in the long run I can benefit my students so they can take on the seven survival skills created by Harvard education profession Tony Wagner:(http://www.tonywagner.com/7-survival-skills).
To close out my million thoughts I wanted to share a list I read in Chapter Two on page 35 (eBook version). To clarify learning networks we should follow:
- Passion to learn
- Sharing
- Quality, not quantity
- Well-developed sense of self-direction
- Balance
- Reflection
- Face to Face Networks
The hardest part for me is balance.... what is yours?
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI am in agreement about the textbook for this class; it is insightful, enjoyable to read, and has resulted in me feeling empowered to be a part of the change in teaching that must occur in order to meet today's learners where they are. Thank you for asking the question about balance. The idea of achieving the appropriate balance between being virtually connected without neglecting face to face connections is one I may struggle with. Thus far, I have been inadequately connected (with regard to making professional connections utilizing tech tools). While I recognize that I need to improve my personal learning networks, I know that I need to do this in a very intentional, strategic way. In the text, it was suggested that perhaps while we are waiting in line at the grocery store we check our phone and "favorite" some tweets or highlight an article. I understand the message here, but I disagree. To me, an inability (or lack of interest) to stand patiently, observe actual life, connect with other humans with a smile or eye contact, or exist without leaning on the crutch of a smart phone for entertainment or virtual connection for a few brief moments, is a deficit. For me, balance means having a clear plan of how and when I will choose to invest time in fostering those personal learning networks. To begin, I think committing 15 minutes every lunch break to checking Twitter (and participating!) and committing to checking my Feedly account every other day should ensure that I am investing in maintaining connections, but not feeling out of balance. I came across this article from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley that relates to maintaining that healthy balance. Consider checking it out:
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/happiness_tip_stop_checking_your_freaking_phone?utm_content=bufferaf32e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
I suspect achieving an appropriate balance will be a work in progress. I wish you the best as you figure out what works for you.
I could not agree more with you! I find myself staring too much at my phone and 3 second later I throw it across the room. When I do not reach for my phone for hours after that, I realize I have a problem. I look at my phone way too much. For me I feel like when I am looking at my phone and scroll through my feeds....did it change my life? Was it even worth me reading?
DeleteHaving a PLN feels like a way better time sucker for developing educational topics than who got married, had a baby etc.
GOOD LUCK balancing as well. Thanks for your kind words.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I loved your blog post and I felt that I was able to connect with you on many topics. I, too, was one of the first people to "experiment" with social networking before my friends had access to connect with them. Even without users to connect with right away I loved being able to explore the features and find out what would be coming in the future. Now, I use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my blog for so many applications..I couldn't imagine living without them. Just like you said, the hardest part for me is balance too! I will sit down and begin reading one blog (that should take me 20 minutes) and I will find myself 2 hours later still exploring connections. I love what I do (teaching and learning) and I feel that it is my duty to constantly be improving myself but I also have to remember that it's sometimes okay to "turn off" too.
I look forward to reading your next post!
Thanks you too!! Like I said above, I started to throw my phone across the room. I clearly did not need to sit hours on it. I only was doing that because it was in front of me. Oh the stuggles haha!
DeleteBalance was extremely difficult for me in the beginning. I was obsessed. I was often spending 4 or 5 hours a day totally absorbed in learning new ideas and interacting with new social media colleagues. That phase lasted for a month or more. Then, finally, there were days when I would no longer find new ideas being discussed and I felt like I could step away for a while. Now I often take breaks from social media. When I do participate, I set an online timer to remind me to get back to my "real" life and work. Here is a list of several applications that help you to monitor your time online: http://mashable.com/2008/08/28/time-tracking-tools/. This time is also a simple solution: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/eggtimer-countdown/full-screen/.
ReplyDelete