I have had the pleasure of connecting with inspiring, experienced and progressive educators since joining Twitter last year. During this time, I have also been able to offer an empathetic view and provide support to those that are just getting their feet wet in the pedagogical shift and cyber universe. This has been both rewarding and encouraging to see so many climbing on board! Some comment that is so overwhelming to keep up. Some are resilient enough to keep progressing and invest time into their own learning. Others may gulp and take a back seat for awhile or start swimming frantically towards the shore! If we are lucky enough to value the positive purpose in improving our students learning AND either possess intrinsic will to continually improve or feel the support of others, we keep at it. If our collegues, HOD (Heads of department), DPs and Principals are able to provide an encouraging and enthusiatic culture it provides a safer and adaptive environment in which to learn.
Encouraging collaboration, informed risk taking, noticing the positive and building on this, developing relationship (oh so important!) sharing learning, empathising in challenging times thru flexibity and time giving and the willingness and provision of open communication. ....But what if this is absent or still gaining traction in your workplace? What of those who require the extra support?
Somewhat resembling the learning space we hope for our students.
Encouraging collaboration, informed risk taking, noticing the positive and building on this, developing relationship (oh so important!) sharing learning, empathising in challenging times thru flexibity and time giving and the willingness and provision of open communication. ....But what if this is absent or still gaining traction in your workplace? What of those who require the extra support?
Isn't it comforting and uplifting to have the support of a PLN (professional learning network).
Can we all make it one of our goals this year to provide this positive and encouraging support to other educators that NEED it the most.
With the simple motto
"Keep movin' and improvin'"
Happy to be part of your PLN Jeannette. I totally agree about the boost it can have when leaders of our educational settings promote, celebrate and encourage the embracing of these powerful communities.
ReplyDeleteand how lucky am I to have you in my PLN!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's to more of the same
You are inspirational.
I am excited by what my PLN is teaching me and am glad to be a part of such a supportive and informative group. Shared experience and learning is the way ahead for me and I hope that others continue to push forward.
ReplyDelete@wholeboxndice the term embrace also conjures up images of warm and caring support. As a bare minimum schools must look beyond their own faculties and continually discover what the world of work demands at any given time. If they can utilize PLNs such as the educational twitter community to achieve this-whoa! We all know the possibilities! I just hope more can have a taste of such great things!
ReplyDelete@malynmawby and @loganberry06 How very fortunate that we were all able to connect this year! Even more special to meet Malyn before we became twitter friends via a teachmeet at Shore hosted by @cpaterso. I have treasured our fun and engaging catchups since. A VERY qualified, experienced, creative and caring educator! Jane you have hit the nail on the head~Shared experience is a key that fits. I like this quote by C.S Lewis "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette! I am all for it! Always in a move, so let's keep movin and imrovin! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs
I just wanted to comment that I think this is so encouraging. You are out there supporting and offering help to those who are struggling in making the shift. And to be honest, thats ALL of us in our own way..for we don't know ourselves what will be around the corner....
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to comment @mscro1 and Andrew :-) True, we need to be adaptive educators. So, very true!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to share in your journey, Jeanette. I've used twitter for a year now, at the beginning to see how useful it was. Like you I feel as an educator you need to be using the tools that are 'now'. I was and still am, amazed at the gems you find in 'twittersphere'. After relocating from NZ - Australia - Hong Kong in the last year my ever growing PLN was one thing that kept me connected. Finding the wonderful #ccGlobal group was one of those "gems". Personally I've been inspired by your 'blogs' and will start blogging as my NY resolution. So thanks and looking forward to 2012 and all that it will bring.
ReplyDeleteThat was a really lovely comment! Thank you so very much :-) what is your twitter handle? I agree wholeheartedly, #ccglobal was sensational over the Christmas season! Looking forward to continuing connections over 2012.
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ReplyDeleteLove the thoughts you have shared Jeannette. At present I tend to be a lurker and just absorb the wealth of knowledge gained from my PLN (including you).I do consider that I can still pride myself on continually movin' and improvin' if only more quietly than others.
ReplyDeleteG'day Louise! Thanks for taking the time to comment :) You are movin'!
ReplyDelete"Lurking" is a means to gain information and be inspired for sure, however I encourage anyone to find interaction sometime. It is a great means to build relationship. Many enlightening, clarifying and enjoyable conversation can occur on twitter than lead to meeting f2f or via another online group such as #ccglobal ning. Do you have a twitter handle? If so, say Hi when you are next on. Once again, really appreciate the time taken to comment.
The journey is always enriched by other people. I'm inspired by your comments on a regular basis. The fact that we all share our learning means we all grow. Also makes you feel supported. Happy to be at rallying with some awesome people.
ReplyDeleteSupport cannot be underestimated I agree. Like any community, common goals and values are the glue that binds us together. Humbling and comforting. Thanks for your kind words Abi.
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for the support. In September I made a life changing decision. To go from casual teaching to look for more full timework. I joined Twitter and started blogging. Within a month I was offered three days at TAFE teaching English standard for the HSC this year. I also decided to start up my own eLearning Consultancy as there was really no one who does what I do on the Central Coast. There is real resistance to embrace technology by many teachers who already feeling overwhelmed but I am slowly breaking through and it is very exciting. I have run a few training sessions for teachers and a couple for students and the feedback has been very positive. I have been using my blog to think about and reflect upon my learning journey and the development of my new company and my new job.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your learning journey and I thankyou for your support of Aussie teachers.
Kathryn
Hi Kathyrn,
ReplyDeleteWonderful to connect with you and well done on your exciting new adventure in supporting others. I truly believe most educators are moving in a positive direction. Students will appreciate and enjoy the enriched learning experiences. Via these small baby steps (and in other cases larger leaps!) momentum and enthusiasm will attract other educators to give student centered learning a whirl. It is not technology we should focus on however. The pedalogical shift towards enquiry learning which will equip students for their future is the key. Technology is a means to achievethis process- there are other means too.
I hope others find value in my reflections and ideas. Supporting each other and continual learning as educators is paramount.
Cheers. Looking forward to engaging this year,
Jeannette James