Waiting to Hear from my Pen Pal...

Remember when we had pen pals? You would write the letter, send it off with the mail man (via snail mail)…then wait…and wait…and wait for a reply. This reply would eventually arrive from your friend who lived on the other side of the country (or world). Fast forward to today… So what does your Pen Pal program look like today? How does that communication differ? What are you learning and sharing?

In a recent conversation with Dennis Schug (@DJrShcug), Principal of Hampton Bays Middle School (Long Island), he made the succinct analogy of “waiting” for a direct message, tweet, or blog post today is just like the anticipation we had as children when we anxiously waited for a letter from our Pen Pal. I told Dennis, “That’s it. You need to write about that!”  Dennis politely declined and suggested that I take up the topic. So… here goes!

My 45 minute PD opportunity with Dennis today was like that Pen Pal letter of yesterday – only on steroids. We were able to share ideas, ask questions, laugh, and learn from each other. It was instantaneous PD. I was able to “connect” with Dennis who is one of my 21^st Century PLN Pen Pals. Now, after several months of corresponding via our tweets, Twitter chat discussions, and retweets we were able to “connect” the old fashioned way… using the telephone.

Next up… a potential GHO as we map out a plan to use Skype to make connections between our two middle schools. One in the Midwest, that’s my school, and the other on the East Coast -Dennis’ school.  The potential is limitless. Our teachers will share strategies, best practices, and learn from one another. Our students will share their understanding and knowledge with their new peers – affirming one another and building relationships with peers from across the country. I’m going to call this “A Tale of Two Middle Schools”.

For those of you who have yet made the “plunge” into the Twitterverse… please take this invitation as an opportunity to connect with a new Pen Pal via Social Media in this new era of Pen Pal letters. I refer to my Twitter PLN as my “PLN Pals”. It’s a phrase I started using a little over a year ago and it just stuck.

You never know who could be around the corner or the world… waiting to connect, learn, and grow with you.

We've Always Done it This Way!

Those immortal words were spoken by Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. This led me to reflect on the practices that are presently in place in the school setting. I know we work hard to advance our thinking and best practices. However, I needed to put on proverbial “reflective practitioner hat” to truly assess my school’s work (as well as that of other schools). What I learned is that “IF this is true in an educational setting, then we must work to reverse that philosophy, practice, and pedagogy.

In our schools we indeed have teachers, administrators, and support staff personnel who are pioneers in their schools. They are forging ahead with the implementation of BYOD/BYOT, Social Media, and APPs in the classroom. They are meeting the learners on a common playing field – and it is exciting to witness.

So what can we do? Simply stated, we should remain focused on the learner. We should continue our implementing the best practices of 21c. In order to counter the “We’ve always done it this way” syndrome you can support:

·         Flipped Classroom

·         Genius Hour (20% time)

·         Google Docs (and now Google Calendar

·         Remind101

·         Twitter use in the classroom

·         Skype

·         Infographics

·         Augmented Reality (e.g. Arasma, Layar, ColAR, Flashcards)

·         Backchannel (e.g. TodaysMeet)

·         Blog writing

·         Building a PLN

·         Student Voice

·         Teacher Voice

This only scratches the surface of ideas that can counter this “non-productive” philosophical practice. Keep posting additional ideas!

Parents and their Digital Citizenship

Our school is in its first year as a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) School. We are learning along the way. In addition to providing supports for both students and teachers, we are also responsible for helping our parents cross this “great divide”.  I thought my school was adequately meeting parent needs; however, the epiphany surfaced during this morning’s #Satchatwc when I realized that I could be doing more to help parents “connect”.  I learned that there are more supports that we can provide parents, that we need to promote digital awareness on a higher and deeper level for all parents. Thanks to moderator (Shelley Burgess) @burgess_shelley and Guest Educator (Jenny Grabiec) @techgirljenny they facilitated an excellent chat where we learned of many resources and tools to share with parents.

Below are several avenues to pursue when considering ways to help your parents move into the digital age…

·         Social Media Training: We cannot assume that our parents are ready for the transition into Social Media and its application to the school setting. Providing frequent and timely (perhaps quarterly) training will help parents become connected to the digital school and community.

·         Communicating with “feeder school” parents: High schools and middle schools need to make sure to help their 8^th grade and 5^th grade parents, respectively, can make the digital transition to the new learning environment. Unique Parent PD will help ease the anxiety for these parent groups.

·         Parent Chat: Start by introducing a monthly Twitter Parent Chat. Then as you feel comfortable move to 2x a month and to weekly (if your stakeholders see the need for weekly support). Presently I hold a parent chat (#FHMchat) twice a month.

·         Cyber Awareness & Education: Host and sponsor an evening event for your parents to hear from a local cyber expert. Your state’s Cyber Task Force will provide a guest speaker (free of charge).

·         EdCamp for Parents; Take the educator edcamp philosophy and practice then apply it to our Parent PD. This way you can design the parent PD to meet their individual needs. WE know how successful and powerful the edcamp experience is for, so just imagine how it could educate and empower our parents!

·         21c teaching strategies: It’s vital to keep your parents connected with the current best practices. We have teachers moving in the direction of the Flipped Classroom, Blended Learning, Genius Hour (20% Time), Augmented Reality Apps, and more. Knowing this we need to help our parents understand and know the purpose of implementing these strategies in the new learning environment.

·         Archive information: All of your parents may be able to attend or access the information at the time of the PD; therefore, you need to make sure you archive the information and communicate how they can access the training or educational information.

You can use your current Parent Events to embed this professional development (Open House, Conferences, Registration, and other evening events). As you continue your journey in supporting the “digital parent” of today, please share with me your events, initiatives PD, and programs.

Blogger Challenge

This challenge has inspired me to take a different look at my role as a reflective practitioner. Thank you to Michael Ogg (@PrincipalOgg) for nominating me for this challenge. It took me a while to process and put this blog together. This is a fine example of the significance and power of the PLN. Michael is a Principal in Texas and I am here in Missouri. Had it not been for Twitter, I never would have made the professional connection with Michael. Thanks to #txed and Twitter.

It is now your turn to share what you know, expand your PLN, and to empower your PLN Pals from around the world. Best Wishes – Ted

Challenge:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
2. Share 11 facts about yourself. 
3. Answer the 11 questions that the nominating blogger has created for you.
4. List 11 bloggers or would be bloggers
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer.  Let all bloggers know they’ve been nominated.  Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

So the adventure continues…

My Nominations to the Homework Challenge/Blogging Challenge

1.      Brad Waid @TechBradWaid

2.      Drew Minock @TechMinock

3.      Stephanie Madlinger @CyberTeacher

4.      Andy King @MoTechTrainer

5.      Debbie Fucoloro @Debbiefuco

6.      Chris McGee @cmcgee

7.      Paul Wagner @Pwagnerlcisd  

8.      Keri Skeeters @KeriSkeeters

9.      Laura Gilchrist @LauraGilchrist4

10.  Gina Hartman @Ghartman

11.  Matt Weld @MathewWeld

11 Facts about me…

1.      I grew up in a very small rural community in Missouri. Once graduating from college, I moved to the suburbs. We all have a passion for finding that perfect place to call “home”.

2.      I am a huge MIZZOU fan. Although I attended two additional universities (MA degrees from Lindenwood University and EdS and EdD from St. Louis University) after Good ‘Ol MIZZOU, I am a Tiger fan through and through. 

3.      My wife and I have three sons.

4.      I am a Christ Follower. My life verse is: Jeremiah 29:11 For I the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.”

5.      I have a fear of intense open space heights… Like being at the Grand Canyon. Now ironically enough, I did not realize I had this fear until our family vacation to the Grand Canyon in June 2006.

6.      I play the alto saxophone (in our Family and Friends band at school).

7.      My wife and I both graduated from MIZZOU; however we never met each other until years later. The first time we met, it was not a positive meeting. We now laugh about the first time we met.

8.      I am a Social Media “junkie”.

9.      As an adjunct professor at Lindenwood University I find that I learn just as much as my students do. This work keeps me “in the know” and in the loop”. It is important to “Sharpen the Saw”

10.  I am a “second career” educator. I went into sales right after college. After a few years in this roller coaster career, I realized that this was not for me. This year marks my 26^th year in education. My first career helped me discover my 2^nd and “life-long” career in education!!! I’d rather be no place else.

My answers to Principal Ogg’s Questions:

1)      What got you into the education field?

In high school I was immersed in band and drama. I knew that I did not want to pursue an acting career, but I wanted to do something with my theatre background. So after graduating from MIZZOU with a degree in Speech and Dramatic Art I went into the field of ‘Sales”. Eventually this road took me back to my theater roots and I became a high school theatre teacher.

2)      What has been your most rewarding accomplishment in teaching?

The most rewarding accomplishment as an educator has to be making a connection with students who seem to be or tend to be those who are “Lost at School”. Helping them achieve personal success and self-worth is what it’s all about for me!

3)      In your opinion, what challenges do you see teachers facing in the future?

I believe it is the increased responsibility that is placed on the classroom teacher. We are moving to  a lesser focus of responsibility on the outside agencies or families and a greater responsibility or ownership that will be placed on the teacher. I also see the move to the technology facet of 21c as a challenge for districts and school personnel.

4)      How do you balance home life with your work life?

To be honest, this is a struggle for me. As s “work-a-holic” it is difficult for me to let go of my work. I owe it to my wife and family to keep me focused on family time.

5)      What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subjects in school were band and drama.

6)      Are you a person that sees the glass half empty or half full?

The glass is half-full. Is there any other way we need to see it?

7)      Favorite book?

The Bible. It has been an inspiration for me. It provides support, guidance, hope, fulfillment, and security.

8)      Favorite App or Web 2.0 tools?

Yikes, favorite APP? There are so many. I really like Flipagram to create a picture collage. I really like Remind101 (for quick notification purposes), TodaysMeet (for backchannel), and any Augmented Reality APP (that will further empower learners).

9)      In your opinion, how important is it to use technology in education?

Technology integration is paramount. It must be folded into the daily routine to work in conjunction with the curriculum work; not compete with the curriculum work.

10)   If you could create a school in any way that you like, what would it look like?

The physical plant would be designed with open spaces for collaboration and ample natural light. The day would allow for teacher collaboration. Student and teacher voice would help lead out the focus for instructional work. Forward thinking strategies would be the “norm” not the “exception”. Best practices such as Genius Hour, Blended Learning, the Flipped Classroom, Augmented Reality and BYOD would be embedded throughout the school community.

11)   Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because she knew that is where the adventure would begin.

My 11 Questions

1.      Brag on yourself. Tell me about your accomplishments.

2.      What advice would you give to a Twitter novice or rookie?

3.      What educational strategy, in your opinion, has made the greatest impact or can make the greatest impact on student learning in the classroom (or outside the class)?

4.      How has education changed since you entered the field?

5.      What motivates you to begin your work again each day?

6.      What book/s or author/s has/have made the greatest impact on your career as an educator (Feel free to list more than one book or author)?

7.      What do you do to “relax” when you are away from school and work?

8.      Who is your mentor? Why?

9.      Where you recommend a friend to take a family vacation?

10. What is your greatest strength? How has this helped you in your career/life?

11. What will be your “legacy” in education?

Becoming a Connected Educator

The phrase “reflective practitioner” when used properly can propel each of us to greater heights. As educators we should continuously reflect on our work. We should continue to consider our options to further integrate 21^st century technology and best practices into our everyday work. Here are several tools, practices, and procedures that I’ve implemented over the past year to help streamline, organize, and further develop my communication skills:

   ·   Flip your Faculty Meetings and PD:  Screencast-O-Matic and other tools are available to develop the flipped presentation. This is a premium way to model the flipped model for your staff. It also allows both you and your teachers greater freedom with creating and accessing the faculty meeting information and Professional Development materials.

·        Remind101: This tool will help the administrator streamline direct communication with multiple stakeholder groups.

·         Create a Chat for your community: Start small and then slowly grow your chat forum and followers. We followed @Joe_Mazza and @jackson_carrie and developed our own chat. #FHMchat entered the chat arena in October of 2013. We hold chats the first and third Monday of each month.

·         Blog: Begin to blog or further develop your current blog practices. Once you establish a regular Blogging routine others will be able to regularly read your blog posts. Blogger and WordPress are two blogging tools that can help you begin this journey.

·         Streamline Twitter: Use HootSuite or TweetDeck with your laptop and TweetCaster with your iPad to organize or tweets. You can also use www.tweetchat.com to create a greater focus when participating in individual Twitter chats.

·         Archive your chats: www.storify.com is an excellent tool to save chats for future PD opportunities of for teachers, parents, and the greater community. By archiving your chats you can reference them later. You can also direct your teachers and parents to the archived discussions (based on the topic they request).

·         Backchannel: This will empower your teachers to further engage during collaboration time. www.todaysmeet.com is the tool that I use for faculty and PD.  Teachers are also using this tool in the classroom with great success.

There are a multitude of additional ways to become a connected educator. As Social Media continues to move forward we will learn about other tools that will help us in our continue journey into the 21^st century.

Four Easy ways to Revitalize your Professional Development

 Professional Development has been around for quite some time. Yet, have we taken the time to fully understand its full potential for our professional educators?   I think we can take our PD to the next level by implementing few changes with our current format.
Professional Development has been around for quite some time. Yet, have we taken the time to fully understand its full potential for our professional educators?

Build PD into the school day: Redesign your school day to incorporate Professional Development to take place during the regular school hours. You can at least use the time your staff arrives to school to the start of the academic day as protected PD Time. IF you are a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) district, you may already be doing this.

 

Tech Café: Embed technology Professional Development into the lunch hour. Here you can invite teachers to participate in PD while they eat lunch. Schedule multiple sessions during a specific date (Eventually leading to monthly Tech Café sessions). You can provide lunch for the staff or they can simply bring their lunch to the PD session.  Survey the staff to determine their technology PD needs. Lead learners can facilitate these sessions! Our teachers truly appreciate this monthly focus on Tech PD.

 

Edcamp style PD: Use the UN-Conference style PD for your building or school district. Organize the event based on needs, wants, and desires of those attending the professional development. Pre-determine the location and space for each PD session. Determine the length of each breakout session and decide how many sessions you want to have that particular day.  Allow for the participants to sign up to present on topics of interest. It will create an opportunity for teachers, technical support staff, administrators, and community members to lead out and facilitate relevant PD for your community. You will be amazed at the level of involvement with will create with your school community!

 

Host a Gallery Walk: This is great when you have a limited or set amount of time to work with Professional Development. Set aside PD time for your staff to share out in a 45 to 60 minute session. Pre-determine what areas you want to “showcase” or expand upon with your staff. Then allow for your teachers to move from “station” to “station” learning about the designated topics. Your staff can easily serve as the facilitator for the given stations. You can also use district experts to assist with hosting a gallery walk station.

 

By simply redesigning the format of our Professional development, you can accomplish two primary goals: 1. Create consumer driven professional development, and 2. Create a more authentic professional development for our staff and community. I am curious to learn what you are doing with your school’s Professional Development design!

Inspecting Social Media Tools

With the onset of Social Media’s meteoric rise to popularity and use with teenagers, it was inevitable that with all the great things that come with using, understanding and exploring Social Media for its positive purposes, we would someday encounter negative facets too.

As a father and educator I rely on Social Media for professional development, education, and connectedness. These two roles often merge together at times which require the blending the responsibilities of each together. This past Saturday (Feb 8^th) I was fortunate to be part of the #edcampSTL experience. This UN-Conference was incredible (to say the least). Eighty breakout sessions were offered throughout the course of the day. One particular session “Social Media How Kids Use It” caught my attention. What I learned in this session, I need to share you with parents, teachers, and administrators.

Last spring I shared with my parents some information about Ask.fm and how students are using this App. Ask.fm is a tool that students use to ask questions of their peers. The person asking the question can remain anonymous. Anyone can follow you or access your Ask.fm account to see what people are asking you. Just as important, they can see your responses. Personal, private questions are being posed to our teens. Now the scary part is ….they are answering these incredibly personal questions.

During the “Social Media: How Kids Use It” break out session, college Professor Julie Smith shared with us some of the other Social Media tools our children and students could be using (on a regular basis).  She told us that our students’ (and childrens’) digital footprint are really a digital tattoos!

Here are the iPhone Apps that she suggested we check out before our children started using them. Or if your children/students are using them, we need to have a conversation about the way they are using them. Here are several. I’ve given a very brief explanation and how to access the app via iTunes or their website.

·         BuzzE: Rate people with ‘stars’. iTunes App. www.buzze.com

·         HotorNot: Rate people via their profile picture/s.  http://hotornot.com/

·         Tinder: Meet people, date people. www.gotinder.com

·         Voxer: Voice/text/photo sharing. Location sharing too.  www.voxer.com

·         Whisper: Totally anonymous. Free to share information. iTunes

I will continue to share information as I learn more about Apps and websites that parents should be aware of. There are many, many other Apps that are out there. By being proactive we can work to keep current of the latest Apps of Social Media that may not be the best for our students and children to use. Feel free to share information on Apps that you feel parents need to know and understand.