Within the silo of a school or classroom, it’s difficult to find time for meaningful conversations about what works and why. ISTE
By reaching beyond school walls and connecting with colleagues from around the globe, many educators have discovered vibrant learning communities in which teachers and leaders share ideas and propel each other to grow. See the 6 points below. Perhaps a good New Year’s resolution for educators around the world. I read this on the ISTE – web page. Perhaps I would have liked to see some reference to educators in other countries as well, but these are points that are valid wherever you are. Let’s connect and learn together! Share your ideas here: PADLET FOR SHARING
1. Dedicate time for networking.
Networking may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Half the battle is simply setting aside time to initiate conversations, whether online or in person.
“Find a way to regularly get together with excellent educators to fine-tune your practice,” said Flip Your Classroom co-author Jon Bergmann. “Don’t have an agenda, but just talk about good practices.”
2. Participate in ed chats.
Educators get together on Twitter at regular times to talk about the subjects that ignite them. Throughout the week, dozens of education-related chats on topics ranging from 1:1 to flipped learning present opportunities to build relationships.
“You can build a great PLN and connect with like-minded educators by following the Twitter hashtags that most interest you in terms of grade level, subject area or topic,” said education consultant and author Jerry Blumengarten.
3. Join a network.
If handpicking your personal network seems tootime-consumingg, you can join a ready-made group such as one of ISTE’s Professional Learning Networks (PLNs). Each one focuses on a specific topic or area of interest, and many provide year-round professional learning as well as opportunities for leadership and collaboration.
4. Attend conferences and edcamps.
Events such as the ISTE Conference & Expo provide an opportunity for face-to-face collaboration and can deepen your connection to your PLN. Many educators with online networks relish the chance to meet their distant colleagues in person.
“By taking part in conferences such as ISTE, ALA, November Learning BLC Conference, School Library Journal Summit and edcamps, I have strengthened and deepened the relationships that started online with my educator friends and colleagues,” said education consultant and speaker Shannon Miller. “These relationships have brought so many amazing things back to my students and school community, including collaborative projects, connected classrooms and exchanges between our students.”
5. Share your ideas.
True connection is a two-way street. Sharing content online — rather than merely consuming it — can help you find like-minded colleagues to collaborate with.
“One way I find educators to connect with is to create a survey on a hot topic that I am interested in, spread the word through my social media channels, and tell the respondents that I will share the collected data with them,” said educational technologist Kathy Schrock. “I often find some creative new item or idea, and I can contact that person and connect for more information.”
Writing your own blog is another way to initiate conversations online, said Science Leadership Academy founding principal Chris Lehmann.
“Blogging is still really important,” Lehmann said. “People are still reading, and the voices of educators are more important than ever.”
6. Ask a connected educator for help.
“If you are unsure about how to use the internet to connect, find somebody else who has connected online and learn how they connect,” Bergmann said.