I’ve always been the “computer guy”. That doesn’t bother me. Actually, I kind of like it because it identifies me as something. However, sometimes I feel like I get too much credit. I’m not a sorcerer after all… Sure I took a few computer classes while in high school and college but what differs me from other people is that I have taken the time to figure it out. Face it, almost any problem you have in life someone else has been through it before. The same is true in the computing world. If you have a problem you can search and connect with people who have had the same problem! If you need advice or suggestions on what to do in for a project, activity, or situation help is just a few keys away.
Yesterday something happened that, quite frankly, blew my mind and took me from a cranky bad mood to pretty excited and happy. I posted a few links to a couple of posts on this blog on two different media. First, I tweeted it out on Twitter with the hashtag #edchat and #edtech. The other I posted within my professional learning network on Edmodo, through the Computer Teachers and Career and Technology groups. By 10:00 am I had about 400 hits on the blog. About this time I was excited and a little flattered. I sent an excited email to our digital curriculum integration specialist who was leading a session at a conference. She shared the link with those in attendance as well as tweeted it out on Twitter. Before I knew it around 1:00 pm it was over 1,00 hits! At the end of the day the final total was 1,322. I posted the entry four days before, making one Tweet about it, but it wasn't I until posted it several places and it was distributed within other peoples networks did it really start to catch fire.
A connected educator doesn't have to be a “computer nerd”. A connected educator communicates online with other educators within their professional learning network. Edutopia has a great article on PLNs and can be found here.
I've become a connected educator. I have people within my network that not only give me ideas for lessons but keep me on my toes. Will Richardson (@WillRich45) challenges the normal educational philosophy to help me think outside the box. There are tons of educators that contribute ideas, lesson plans, educational tools, and more in an effort to increase student engagement and learning.
How I connect:
Interested in getting started with Twitter? Follow the steps below. Rather than recreate the wheel, I’ll give a few links to people who have already done a great job explaining things.
The way we communicate has changed and will continue to change. Your students will always be on top of things, but will you stay connected and relevant?
Yesterday something happened that, quite frankly, blew my mind and took me from a cranky bad mood to pretty excited and happy. I posted a few links to a couple of posts on this blog on two different media. First, I tweeted it out on Twitter with the hashtag #edchat and #edtech. The other I posted within my professional learning network on Edmodo, through the Computer Teachers and Career and Technology groups. By 10:00 am I had about 400 hits on the blog. About this time I was excited and a little flattered. I sent an excited email to our digital curriculum integration specialist who was leading a session at a conference. She shared the link with those in attendance as well as tweeted it out on Twitter. Before I knew it around 1:00 pm it was over 1,00 hits! At the end of the day the final total was 1,322. I posted the entry four days before, making one Tweet about it, but it wasn't I until posted it several places and it was distributed within other peoples networks did it really start to catch fire.
A connected educator doesn't have to be a “computer nerd”. A connected educator communicates online with other educators within their professional learning network. Edutopia has a great article on PLNs and can be found here.
I've become a connected educator. I have people within my network that not only give me ideas for lessons but keep me on my toes. Will Richardson (@WillRich45) challenges the normal educational philosophy to help me think outside the box. There are tons of educators that contribute ideas, lesson plans, educational tools, and more in an effort to increase student engagement and learning.
How I connect:
- Twitter
- Read/write educational blogs
- Edmodo groups
Interested in getting started with Twitter? Follow the steps below. Rather than recreate the wheel, I’ll give a few links to people who have already done a great job explaining things.
- Sign up for a new account at Twitter.com
- Watch the basics of Twitter video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdP2IF7g03E
- Read this article about using Twitter for education. http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/2011/06/21/pln-challenge-3-using-twitter-to-build-your-pln/
- Bonus: This article is really in-depth and covers everything you’ll need to know! http://theedublogger.com/2012/02/13/the-updated-twitteraholics-guide-to-tweets-hashtags-and-all-things-twitter/
The way we communicate has changed and will continue to change. Your students will always be on top of things, but will you stay connected and relevant?