Don't Be an Island (originally posted on 3.14)

For years I have been trying to sell teachers on the advantages of using PLN's (Personal Learning Networks) as a way to get that outside support and insight into daily classroom practices.  I understand that it is not always easy to try something new, and that it can be intimidating at first. Here are some quick tips to get yourself started with a PLN.

1) Start following websites and blogs with an RSS feed reader (not complicated at all).  I use Feedly, but this is only one of many available free readers. To use Feedly, go to Feedly.com and sign up for a free account.  Once you have an account, you can subscribe to any blog or website by selecting the "add content" heading and pasting the url into the field provided.  Now, whenever you go to Feedly.com, or open the Feedly app on your iOS or Android phone - you can quickly skim through the headlines of your favorite websites and read any articles that sound interesting to you. You can also easily save your favorites with a touch of a button.  Not sure what sites to subscibe to? Of course I recommend this site to everyone, but I also have my favorite blogs listed on the right column of this blog.  As you get more into the idea of using a reader - your tastes and preferences will grow to be more personal to your interests.

You can sort different groups of websites as different categories too.  I might have a technology group, ELA group, sports group, music group, etc.  Of course, like anything that is web-based, whatever you do on your computer is synced with your phone and tablet, so you are able to check-in no matter what device you are using.

2) Make the leap to Twitter.  I know, I know...if you are not on Twitter right now, it is probably because you are biased against what you perceive it to be.  I can understand the backlash against Twitter, as it is only as useful as the person using it.  So trust me when I tell you - it can be extremely useful.  Getting started, I would set up an account with the intention of using it for professional purposes only.  Many people use their personal Twitter account for everything - but I would caution against doing that, at least until you have a better understanding of how Twitter works, and what you want to publicly share.

Once you have a Twitter account - start following people.  Who do you follow? Smart people.  People you think have good insight.  People who you work with.  People you would like to work with.  As you look at people's feeds, you will constantly be discovering people who you would like to follow.  As the amount of people you follow grows, your feed will also update more rapidly, and you will be able to see how quickly you can learn things from other people in the world of education.  You will also be aware of conversations that are happening across the educational landscape that will open your eyes to the bigger picture.

As a beginner on Twitter, there is no obligation to contribute to conversations that you are reading.  It is a nice way to observe how it works and take away valuable resources.  As you continue to use Twitter, you will (hopefully) feel a natural inclination to become part of the conversations that you are reading and engage yourself in the willingness to be a part of the new generation of connected educators.  Take the opportunity to give it a shot.  Tell me if you appreciate it @sjoycetech.

Consistency is Key

One thing that I have been discussing with teachers a lot lately is the importance of consistent technology use in the classroom.  Using technology in the classroom can at times be frustrating and daunting, depending on a number of factors.  It can also be engaging, efficient, and fun for not only students, but teachers as well.

If we go back to the number of factors that can hinder technology integration, the biggest one that I see is that students are learning how to use computers and creating content at the same time - which can slow the process down significantly.  Of course, as students begin to use technology for the first time, this is going to be part of the process.  But don't forget that it is a process.  Students will continue to better understand and become fluent on the computers, but they need to have regular practice to reinforce the skills and processes that they are learning.

We wouldn't tell a student to stop reading if they didn't get it the first few times.  Similarly, we cannot do the same for technology use in the classroom. Do not try to do too much with computers as students are learning the process of a task.  Simply, allow them to practice the process without necessarily having them create their own content.  This will pay dividends down the road when students have a reference point for what they are doing.

Please remember, especially as you are getting started, there is no task too minimal to include technology with.  The more routine exposure we can give our students, and ourselves, the more proficient our students will become. As teachers and students' technology fluency grows, the depth of learning that takes place through technology in your classroom will naturally shift along with it.

Speaking of consistency, I will be consistent in updating this blog (at least) weekly with ideas and resources that would be of value to what we are trying to achieve in our classrooms.  

Let's Get Started!

The school year has officially begun, and the madness that comes with it is starting to settle down into a daily routine. I have to say that I have been really impressed so far with how welcoming and organized everyone is here. I am very excited to be part of such an awesome district!

So where do we begin? Being a Google Apps for Education (GAFE) district lends itself to so many possibilities, but one opportunity that I see as a big priority to approach is getting set up with Google Classroom.  Since it was just officially launched last week, you may not know much about it - but I am looking forward to making sure that everyone gets an opportunity to check it out and set up their classrooms within the application.

One thing that I want you understand is that it is very SIMPLE.  I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it.  Once you see it, I think you'll feel the same way.  So let's get started...

Embed your presentations with Google Slides

A look back...

Five years ago I stepped out of the classroom to accept a position in the technology department as an integration specialist for the district.  Even though I wasn't quite sure what my job would entail, I felt excited about the opportunity to focus on an aspect of teaching that I enjoyed greatly. As excited as I was at the opportunity to try something new and exciting - I had no idea how much this opportunity would teach me about education and life.

Of course, like anything, I have had my share of frustration and resistance along the way - but such is life. More often than not, I have had the opportunity to work with some outstanding teachers that have shown me the meaning of dedication.  I have been humbled by the selflessness I have seen from many teachers across our district to give their students the best opportunities to succeed. I have gone from a young and idealistic teacher to an informed and realistic father of three (life has definitely changed).  I have seen the bigger picture of how our school system works, and I realize that being cynical and negative achieves absolutely nothing except more negativity and cynicism.  Asking questions with the intention of working to find the best possible answers is how we make progress...together.

I have been able to understand that life is not about being perfect all the time.  It is about acknowledging the fact that I am going to make some mistakes - and I am going to learn from them. It is very easy, especially in a position like mine, to preach about things in a theoretical way.  The only problem is that our classrooms do not live "in theory".  They are living, breathing things that require adjustments and exceptions and constant maintenance.

One thing that I have definitely grasped a new understanding of is that it is not about the destination - it is about the journey (in and out of the classroom).  My personal journey is continuing on somewhere new, and I appreciate everything that I've learned from everyone in Joliet. Thanks for helping me find my way, and I hope to see you again. In the meantime - we should connect on Twitter @sjoycetech. (I had to end it with technology).

As I usually do, I will be taking a break from blogging over the summer, but I fully intend on picking things back up in the fall.  Have a great summer!

Happy Spring?

I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks since I've posted anything new here. Along with spring break, the last couple weeks have been a bit busy. But I'm here now, and that is all that matters. So what should I talk about? Let's try something new this spring! The winter is gone (at least technically), and the energy of the spring will soon be contagious.  Now is the time to give something a try.  That something you have put off in fear of failure.  The something that you have put off until after testing is over.  Let's try it out and see what comes of it.  We teach our students that we cannot learn without failure.  Let's not be afraid to fail in the name of learning.

I think the term teacher is overrated anyway.  Let's just tag ourselves "learner in charge" or "lead learner" (let me know if you come up with anything better).  Let's show our students by example how to be open minded and willing to give new things a try.  We cannot be close minded and then be upset when they act the same way.

I have realized how vital my attitude and energy is in order to inspire teachers and students to care about my message.  This is nothing new.  I do not think that I'm coming up with anything original here, but it never hurts to get a reminder.  So consider this your reminder (if you need it). Would you enjoy being a student in your class?

So let's get back to my original thought - let's infuse some creativity into your classroom with technology.  It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an expert, we should always be pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone for the sake of our students' experience. What does that look like? Let's talk.

Quality...not application

There has been an argument going on that makes me just a little crazy. People arguing over the validity of PowerPoint vs. Prezi vs. Keynote vs. Haiku Deck vs. Google Presentation vs. blah blah blah.... Here is the bottom line:  it is about the presentation, NOT the tool that is used to create it.  A good presenter could work with any presentation tool and make it sing.  Do we have preferences? Yes.  Do we have to be snotty about which one we think our kids should be using? Absolutely not.  I know it is tempting to build up our tech cred, but if we stop trying to be so trendy, and start being practical - we can put the focus on where it belongs. The principles of a good presentation reach beyond a tool, and can apply universally to any application our students are using.  Thank you for letting me vent a little.  I needed it.  Maybe I'll make this into a presentation. Now which tool should I use?...