Reflection
on Digital Leadership by Eric Sheninger
| Eric Sheninger's website |
I have learned to really love Twitter over the last couple of
days, and am inspired with Eric’s work and some of the stories he shared in how
schools have made more of positive presence through Twitter! I feel like it is
a tool that may need some instruction and promotion before it is fully
embraced. I liked Eric’s idea of sending home instructions for parents to learn
how to connect via Twitter. If parents
knew that their child was in the spotlight via Twitter they might be more motivated
to learn!
Blogging seems second nature for me, and for that I am grateful.
I am setting up a blog for my class this coming year. I will share my pictures,
newsletters and links to helpful sites for their child to practice some of
their skills on. In my experience, not ALL parents are eager to connect through
technology, for whatever reasons, but there is a large percentage of parents
who are willing and able to do so. As a busy, working, and student mother of
three kids in school, I do realize that other parents are busy as well. If we
have blogs, twitter, email or Facebook pages all set up, it is so important
that we use them, AND that we put worthwhile content on there, make it worth
the effort to be following along.
Enhancing my professional leadership network (PLN) is important.
I liked the illustrations that Eric used in pages 119-120. I think sharing
these with our staff could be valuable in helping them too, to understand how
being connected may take some effort and time, but it is valuable to their development
and success as a teacher. One area of being connected that I’ve been reading about,
but am not super confident in nor understand is wiki’s. Pinterest is one of my
favorite sites, and I am not sure how teachers managed without this awesome
resource!
I could relate to Kathi’s comment the other day about how some
teachers in St. Thomas have SMART boards but don’t know how to use them, they have
just “been sold” this product without the training. I see that very thing is
true in different buildings I have taught in. In my current building with very
experienced teachers the other 2 gals on my team do not use their SMART boards
at all, because they don’t know how. I
have SMART board interactive games I use regularly with my kindergartners, they
are fun and engaging, and have helped them in a variety of ways. In another district I taught in, the whole
MATH curriculum for my grade level had SMART board games and lessons set up
through their shared drive, it was an expectation for us to use these, and they
were easy to use, and very engaging for the students. Students are very capable
of learning how to use technology and help each other learn how to use it!
I know being connected matters, I have felt the quick impact this
week as I have become even more connected to different sources. As I go forward
I want to help my school become more connected via Facebook as well as Twitter.
I am hoping my new principal will allow me to take that on, and I can help her
to feel confidence in me in this area! It is a great time to be in education and
to be a leader! What awesome tools are available for us to use!
I'm excited to watch you lead in this area! You have a significant advantage w your prior knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThanks Glenn!
DeleteGreat post, Lauralee. I am also planning to talk to my admin about setting up facebook pages for the schools where I'll be doing my internship next year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luis, I have seen a few schools in our district have these going, and I'm excited to follow their lead.
DeleteIf you don't mind sending me there information, I would like to see their facebook pages.
DeleteCreating and building a PLN is very important. We can not be expects, or even marginally informed, in all areas. We need to reach out to expand our knowledge and help build up others around the world.
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting to even know what a PLN is :) and already have people to follow in this area.
DeleteLauralee- I really have to give you props from a stylistic standpoint. The pictures you added between the text helped me engage more with the words. Additionally, they enhanced what you were saying and I can tell they were intentionally selected. I don't want to short-change the content because it was fantastic as well. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it is fun to be blogging again! And, yes you are right on, it's all about helping those that are reading to be more engaged!
DeleteI am going to piggy back off of Nick. Your content is really good and inspirational but I was definitely drawn to the graphics and images you incorporated which definitely brought a wow factor to your post! Great job
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch Craig, it's fun for me to do, the writing and trying to make it stand out! Mission accomplished! :)
DeleteI agree with you and Amy, PLNs are essential. You have shared so much insight on blogging and I truly appreciate your knowledge and support, in this area. Now I know who to go to when I am stumped with my IC blog.
ReplyDeleteYou'll get it in no time, but I hope I'll be able to help you a bit if you need it!
DeleteLauralee - I agree with Kathi. You have been such a great help as I've gone through the technology learning process! I hope that we can continue to work together as a PLN team.
ReplyDelete