Yes...I'm still here.

I know that it has been a slow month here on my blog, but I am here to reassure you that it is still alive and well.  I really want this to be a channel that values quality over quantity, and sometimes that leaves me with a lack of updates - as has been the case lately.  Although my original idea with this blog was to only post about web resources and applications that I find noteworthy, I want to also try to sneak in some positive reinforcement along with those ideas.  I follow some really great thinkers on Twitter and through blogs that motivate me on a daily basis.  To keep momentum going with this blog, I will try to share some of the philosophies and examples that I see having significance to the environment that we work in.  Of course, I'll throw my opinion out there occasionally, but I would really like it to be a window to the power that social media has brought to the profession of teaching.

Look, I get annoyed with hearing about how much better the world is because of social media.  Can I deny that fact that it has changed things? No.  Does that mean I need to join every social network and let everyone know every menial thing that I do during my day? Absolutely not. Until very recently my despise of how Twitter was used in popular culture prevented me from realizing its real value as a professional.  I know many people who feel the same way.  Once we realize that we are not going to use it to share celebrity gossip and try to one up each others' tweets - we can see its true value.  Like any social network, it allows you to become part of the conversation of like-minded professionals.  These professionals share links, ideas, quotes, opinions, questions, and answers, that most of us don't get in our daily interactions.  As much insight that we get from our co-workers, administrators, students, etc., we get to a point where we have heard it all.  That is completely natural.  Our bubble of daily interactions is limited in that capacity.  That is why spending 15 minutes a day on a social network such as Twitter, or reading up on the blogs that you follow, or checking your Diigo group's lists, can truly make a huge difference in your attitude and perspective - not to mention your methods.

I think it all starts with positive motivation.  You know that feeling you have when you see a really great presenter during a professional development session?  This can take place on a daily basis if you allow yourself to give joining a network a chance.  If you are apprehensive about it at all and would like to know more, please don't hesitate to ask for help.  I would love to help you get started.

Infographic Inundation

The digital world that we live in has its advantages.  One of them is the amount of infographics that are being created by a growing number of designers and researchers.  What is an infographic?  It is simply a visual representation of information.  They have been around for a long time.  You would most likely find them in magazines as a way to engage the visual learner in us all.  The graphic designers of the world have latched onto this format, and have continued to create some excellent documents that lend themselves to great visual teaching.  There are many sites that feature collections of cutting edge and valuable infographics.  Three of these sites are GOOD: Infographics, Visual Economics, and visual.ly.

The format of using visuals to display information is one that is going to appeal to students right away.  Of course, the engaging format is only as good as the information that is provides.  One thing that I really like about this medium is the seed that it can plant with students as far as displaying information is concerned.  Students, and teachers, always need to keep in mind that there is not only one way to get information across.  Especially in today's world, we have so many creative opportunities to get our message across.  It never hurts to switch it up.  I would love to see the creative concepts that students and teachers can come up with to create their own infographics.  Not a graphic designer?...It's the idea that's important.  Give it a shot.  Make it a contest, have an infographic show, just have fun with it!  Most importantly - think about how ideas connect, how people perceive information, how to get your point across.  Along the way, you might even remember the information your presenting.