Connected Educators Month

This past month I have been learning about Online Curation. I opened a Scoop It! Curation Account. I have also been involved in a collaborative curation project with several other connected leaders: John - A Superintendent from Ohio, Mark -- A  Chief Information Officer, and Lynn -- An Elementary Technology Integrator/Coach.

Each of us was tasked with attending several different events during the Connected Educators Month of festivities and to synthesize the greater community's discussion of our theme over the course of all four weeks. Our writing is supposed to give participants who were not able to attend an event an understanding of what took place. We were invited to be curators rather than commentators--reporters vs. editorial writers.

This was our first week, and my first curation EVER! It was delightful. Check out the first submission:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Connected Educators Month is full of ways to get “connected.” One special group of learners is the CONNECTED LEADERS group who most certainly are interested in the Connected Leaders theme and anything and everything about leadership in the connected communities out there.

KICK-OFF EVENT: OCTOBER 1, 2013

The opening panel, Connected Leadership, was hosted by:

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach – author of Connected Educator

Valerie Greenhill – Chief Learning Officer for EdLeader 21

Chris Lehmann – Founding Principal for the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia

Candice Dodson – Director of E-Learning with the Indiana DOE

Scott McLeod – Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Schools

Discussion centered around, “What does it mean to be a connected leader?,” How does connected leadership impact student learning?,”  and “As we become more connected, what challenges do we face in the future?” The panel got off to a great start and immediately tackled the topic of preparing our students for the future. This certainly is an underlying theme of why leaders should be connected.

The way we learn and live is moving beyond isolation. Our local Communities of Practice are becoming GLOBAL Communities of Practice. Reducing isolation is key, and this will change everything we do. For instance, educators will feel affirmed in their learning to take risks because they no longer feel isolated….instead they feel connected.

Topics ranged from issues such as openness, district systems that facilitate openness, transparency, accelerated learning, and the ever critical collaboration. Again and again, the panel members returned to the concept that there is power in learning that is socialized.

Other events throughout the week included:

CELEBRATE PRINCIPALS: OCTOBER 1, 2013

Also, on the 1^st, there began a celebration of connected Leadership. NAESP began their celebration of National Principals Month with their Hats Off to Principals Contest!

§  Step 1: Draw a picture, snap a photo, produce a video, write a song or poem, or create any other work of art that celebrates your principal. Make it cool, make it personal, but most of all, make it fun!

§  Step 2: Upload your tribute to NAESP’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/naesp

§  Step 3: Win great prizes! We’ll recognize a weekly winner. Prizes include: $50 Amazon® Gift Cards, Crayola® Dry Erase Prize Packs, and more!

TECH TIDBITS & FREE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS FOR THE HURRIED ADMINISTRATOR: 

OCTOBER 2, 2013

During this multi-vendor session, administrators were able to review several great educational apps. These apps ranged from organization and time savers for leaders to academic apps for teachers. Dr. Rob Furman, principal of South Park Elementary School new Pittsburgh, PA, shared 25 to 30 apps in all including several social apps. At the conclusion of the event, a small discussion on social media in education was also presented.

SUBMITTING A MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION: OCTOBER 3, 2013

During this webinar, Kappan Editor-in-Chief Joan Richardson walked leaders through the process of submitting a manuscript for publication. Her advice focused on Kappan but much of what she shared also applies to other professional education publications. She introduced participants to writers’ guidelines, editorial calendars, thematic issues, timelines for decisions and more, all in an effort to help educators navigate the submission process. This was a valuable session for connected leaders who are interested in print publishing as well as following the same sort of guidelines for BLOGing or publishing online.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CONNECTED EDUCATOR CHALLENGE: OCTOBER 3, 2013

Administrator’s days are extremely busy. One theme that comes up across all the topics for Connected Educators Month is the necessity of finding the time to be connected. During this contest kick-off, the event asks the question, “What does a day in the life a Connected Educator look like?” We invite you to show us! There are many possibilities for creating a Day in the Life of a Connected Educator project. It could be as simple as a blog post, a graphic organizer or something along the lines of a podcast or video. We have not created guidelines because we want to allow for creative choice. The only requirement is that your project needs to be accessible online. Share the link to your "project" anytime during October by Tweeting it to @INeLearn with the hashtag #CE13. We will feature Indiana Connected Educators all month long at http://www.doe.in.gov/elearning The purpose for sharing:

1.    Inspire unconnected educators and educational leaders to get connected.

2.    Expand your connections and collaborations.

3.    Motivate other connected educators to create their own project to share as part of the National Connected Educator Month.

LEVERAGING TRIBE AS A MEANS OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION: OCTOBER 5, 2013

This webinar hosted by Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach was designed to prepare the next generation to rise to the demands of constant change. Sheryl defined how to meet these expectations enclosed in the silos of our classrooms and offices? Her solution is that we need each other. During this session, Sheryl collaboratively explored the art of collective intelligence building and selfless tribe leadership as a means to transpersonal and professional growth.

#SATCHAT: OCTOBER 5, 2013

#Satchat is an online Twitter discussion for current and emerging school leaders that takes place every Saturday morning at 7:30 AM EST/PST. This Saturday’s #SATCHAT will most definitely be focused on Connected Educators Month; however, tune in every week to learn from the other leaders who are up with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning to discuss the issues of the day.

REACHING PEAK LEARNING VIA CREATIVE TASKS AND REFLECTIVE WRITING:
OCTOBER 6, 2013

This Moodle MOOC 2 Webinar hosted by Dr. Ludmila Smirnova shared her experience of teaching undergrad and grad courses in a teacher-training program and how she made a change in teacher candidates's attitudes and skills from resisting technology and critical thinking to embracing technology and striving for excellence. Any administrator that works with teachers could benefit from using such strategies to move learners from technology resistance mindsets to technology participation, connection, and collaboration.

Week one was busy with options for connected leaders to continue with connected learning. Connections are transforming learning, and we are no longer dependent on local spaces. Join us each week this month as we continue to add to our personal learning networks and our communities of practice.