TCEA

Attending the 2016 TCEA convention in Austin. Attending PLN for Admin. Collaboration is rich with a multitude of ideas. @dbenner leading the discussion.  Teddie is prodding me to resume this blog. It has been close to 1 year since I have posted. Just goes to show you, when something seems to have settled and we no longer feel it is a valuable tool, we can rediscover it. Goal is to follow the journey of my new pursuit of continued learning in the field of learning technologies.  

Growth

In his1982 book Critical Path, futurist and inventor Buckminster Fuller calculated that it took approximately 1500 years for the volume of information in the world to double. It doubled again by the year 1750, then again by the year 1900.  Of course the rate at which information doubles now is almost immeasurable. In 2010, the former CEO of Google - Eric Schmidt-stated that "we now create more information in two days than we did since the beginning of time until 2003." 

The year was 1993, student terminals allowed them to open typing programs and create documents in MicroSoft Works. Only one computer in a classroom, (this was a Tech Apps class), of 30+ students had a connection to the Internet through AOL. Picture HS students  feverishly devoting hours to hit a target typing speed of 50 wpm for a 15 minute opportunity to surf the Internet (it took that long to load). Think BBS if you were "connected" in the early '90's.
As a former HS computer teacher who remembers the

 from the sleek IBM selectric typewriter (introduced 2 months after I was born)  to the IBM PC back in the day, I tend to reminisce & marvel about the growth of technology in my life time. The feeling is probably similar to the driver of the horse drawn cart as he wiped dirt from his face when the Model T spun out next to his hitching post. The change has been gradual, and I have been afforded many opportunities for learning this medium. Parents and teachers worked together to make it happen for me and my siblings. I want this same commitment from each of us for our students and subsequent generations as we serve together to promote learners who will always be curious, try something new, share their learning with another person, & be ready for what's next.
Take the risks that allow you to move & lead forward. Best quote lately was from +George Couros who stated that "we have now learned technology, we should be using technology for learning" - or something like that. #ieslearns #cncted

Connecting ... #ieslearns

Trying to Stay Connected  Educator - Seeing & hearing about technology as a tool for learning always inspires me to continue collaborating & implementing innovative ways to provide powerful learning opportunities for all learners. The list of available apps, websites, & online offerings grows exponentially. Listening & taking copious notes on Evernote as +George Couros  shared his visceral experiences with #LISDlearns made for a great day of learning. 

As a powerful advocator for effective leading & learning, Mr. Couros was personable & poised. He walked us through his life experiences in leadership,technical growth and being the proud son of immigrants from Greece & an entrepreneurial restauranteur. 

The learning expectations for the day were framed around the premise of meeting an internationally known leading learner who tirelessly promotes continuous learning for all.  +George Couros did not disappoint this crowd. He currently serves as a Division Principal in Canada and has a massive following on Twitter & his shared blog -http://connectedprincipals.com. His collaborative nature & affinity for creating relationships while swiftly finding solutions (he posed a ? to his 69,000 followers to provide real-time data for a conference attendee) make him a natural for serving as an international spokesman for leading & learning.

His enthusiasm for learning was contagious as he leapt right in with a hashtag for us to use today -#LISDlearns! He seamlessly & enthusiastically led the committed learners/leaders of LISD through a series of topics which connected the virtual dots for the majority of the audience. Entering the room, I immediately noticed the absence of anyone from our tech staff to support Mr. Couros during his presentation. My concern for tech support quickly evaporated as Mr. Couros flawlessly managed his own equipment. Sorry - I've seen a few tech presenters who are unable to troubleshoot their own tech nor are they able to manage it while presenting to a live audience. 

Key points for reflection-

• Being technologically literate is definitively different than being fluent. We are all working toward becoming more fluent in technology. 
• Being a connected educator is being connected to people - developing relationships with others as well as plugging in to this new frontier of learning via whatever device you choose to use.
• All learners are teachers and all teachers are learners - (this made my heart sing)

Tweets were flying; pics & videos had us crying. Essentially, this day was absolutely inspiring. 

Thank you +George Couros for sharing your spin on staying connected. The challenge is on #LISDlearns @LISDlearns - share your tech reflection here, there or anywhere! 

Staying Connected

Trying to stay connected is harder than it looks. Adding to my list of things to do this week is to carve out a small amount of time to post here at least weekly. 
I feel like I do have a reprieve based on a recent reading of Digital Leadership by Eric C. Sheninger. Reference to the importance of leading by example in the meaningful use of technology is critical as our educational landscape perpetually changes. The addition & ubiquity of new tech tools provides us with endless opportunities for research, production, and engaging tools for all learners. Gleaning this from numerous readings & synthesizing info from numerous Twitter PLNs allows me to continue growing & learning professionally and personally. 
In #digilead, Sheninger states that 
'knowing when to unplug is as important as when to connect.' 
As a connected educator who has taken an hiatus from blogging, I appreciate this philosophical principle.  It was the right quote at the right time. Rebooting of the "Trying to Stay Connected Educator" is in session.

As educators, we are charged with providing the critical, long standing skill set of effective face to face communication with our peers, superiors, parents, and students.
The chronological unfolding of the written word (think Guttenburg Bible), to the A. Bell innovation, to cell phones (initially serving as our mobile communication device to becoming a mini-computer) communicating via text. We are plugged in allowing us to stay 24/7. This is a fact with pros and cons. We are more connected with friends & family now more than ever. We simultaneously speak to someone,text and search online with a device the size of our palm. The future is literally in our hands,

Did anyone see this coming? Dick Tracy fans out there? Wearable tech is on the rise and rightfully so. We are on the move and need more convenient products to serve our ever expanding need for connectivity and "just in time" communication. Did we plan for the potential of increased anti-social behaviors, the need for tech etiquette in all forums, and the need for modeling and mentoring for our youth to recognize the importance of continued human contact & face-to-face conversations? If not, let's do it now - tweet your thoughts to promote healthy face-to-face communication in concert with our tech tools still in hand. @camcalis #chaties #unplug&talk 

Staying Connected

Saw this great post on Twitter sharing the importance of staying connected as an educator. When we embrace this philosophy, we are assisting in the development of #FutureReady contributors to our educational system and society. I feel so honored to be part of a generation which has seen advancements in medicine, technology, and learning theory. Each of these disciplines are intertwined & dependent on one another. We need to continue developing the social & emotional  side of our students while we simultaneously promote technology & each learner's passions (adults & children).  Please share ideas you discover as we continue on this journey together! #ieslearns 

Technology Bits THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE TEACHER

The changing role of the teacher is dynamic. The paradigm shift is enormous and requires to use of public relations, parent involvement, teacher transformation and administrative transformation. We have sought how to reach students since the advent of time. The value of igniting the spark in a student is immeasurable. How does this occur, when does this occur, and who lights the flame? The answer has remained elusive to educators. The changing role of the teacher requires adaptation and evolution by all stakeholders. Students arrive to us with very different characteristics than previous deccades/generations. We are charged with the ardent goal and proudly  accept the challenge.

Valuing the input of students into the equation is critical to developing the appropriate settings, resources, and content to convey the skills needed by our students to compete in a global economy and global educational platform. 

Technology Bits - Engaging the Net Generation

Wow! So thrilled that I was accepted into Engaging the Net Generation class in LISD today. We are researching and reflecting on how today's students learn. In my opinion, students learn quickly, in a variety of environments with their choice of devices. The technologies that appeal to these students seem to be the smallest, mobile device that they are able to secure and operate. They do not seem as attached to a laptop as the older generation does. These students are of the gaming age and recognize risks and rewards. They innately know the value of failing to improve your skills from these experiences. Will keep you posted on more findings. Recommend this class to all interested parties - if you can get into it!