Connections Rock! My Video on Real Connections

Thanks to Alan Levine's search for true online connections(see here), I have created my first speaking video of me discussing my real connection with Jeff Utecht. I have made a great connection with Jeff and he has been in Thailand for for the last few years while I am in New Hampshire, USA. An amazing teacher and great blogger, Jeff is always willing to share. Now that I teach at the master’s level, Jeff and I connect regularly; he skypes into my classes about his book Reach, which is, of course, required reading for one of my courses.

This was a big step for me, I try to stay away from videos. Maybe I'll do more, it really wasn't so bad. Thank-you Alan for the great project that pushed me out of my comfort zone!

Connections, online learning and ETMOOC is the way I learn. Hope you enjoy.

Sharing and True Connections Online

Image from http://mediabistro.com

Well I just finished watching an amazing video from Alan Levine. He is looking for people to share "true stories" from connected experiences. Have you ever met that amazing blogger or shared a photo and where then asked to participate in something or speak somewhere? Please see his great video I embedded below.

I personally love love love this concept. You share and make an actual connection. From that something blossoms. I truly feel that is the ultimate compliment. As I just released a true digital story with goanimate, I can tell you it was a tough call for me. It's so hard to share the truth sometimes, but we are a total of our experiences so maybe my story will inspire others to come forward, to know they are not alone but the passion for learning does not end.

If you have a great connection story, Alan would love to hear it and I will be watching closely. Check out his blog where you can post your story in any format.

I'm sad to say that at this time I cannot participate as I have made some connections but not in the way Alan discusses. For me, I was taught by an international educator, Jeff Utecht back in 2009 and as he began my journey of blogging and web2.0, I always looked up to him. He published a book a few years ago "Reach" which is a great book on creating your PLN and has tutorials for great tools. Was that a plug?

Anywho, I enjoyed the book so much and watch Jeff's blog so closely that I made it required reading for my master's class. I got to Skype with Jeff often as he was always available to Skype with my class, one email to Jeff and he is always there. For me, having someone being willing to give their free time to talk with my students over Skype and taking the time to get to know and discuss issues with Jeff has truly become the one "connected" experience I have had. Oh, wait,I don't have a movie, but I wonder if Alan would think that story would count?

I hope someday to say I met or collaborated with someone from #etmooc, I have made what I consider to be "micro-connections" and follower's but I cannot honestly say I have not experienced what I see, that is others who really look for each other on our twitter chats and say hello regularly online in blackboard, but I know it will come. Sharing is always paid back two folds.

The More you Share the More you Learn

(SharingisCaring.com)

I recently commented on a post by Jeannine St. Amand on Connected Learning and What we share in the world and I feel the need to post my reply here and expand:

We cannot just skim along, we need to go back, reread, check on comments. I am so glad that we have the ability to be emailed replies to blog comments, it really is great to see a post take off that you commented on, just showing how the blossom continues to grow.

Etmooc is a lot of information. I'm grateful to Alec, for his first etmooc session on diigo.com and scoop.it. I have put so much into my diigo in great list formats and the read for later section has become quite large but I get to 5 a day if I can, I have just come off of a commenting phase, no new blog posts, I have literally been commenting for 5 days now and I have learned so much. Tried many new tools and added to my knowledge two folds. Enjoy the ride for etmooc, just don't forget to look back!

As an educator, I have a passion for reflective learning and e-portfolio's and I thnk it is the reflection that I love. I can tell you I have raised letter grades due to reflections so looking back is a great thing. When you look back, you usually find out you learned more than you thought you did. This is not possible, if we don't take a conscious moment to re-read our posts, comments, work. Maybe we should teach blogging for life, as many do not look back and many do not learn, but more on that later...

If I have learned anything in the etmooc in the past weeks it's share away, your not stupid, you will be heard and your crazy if you think you can get it all in. Listen to sessions when you can, tweet, when you have something to say, learn when you have time to learn and share when you have time to share. Pay it forward (my commenting day's). I'll continue, but next I need to reflect on the last week in etmooc as a new post is brewing.

Talking about paying it forward in our world, I just read a great post by Jeff Utecht. He's sharing to the max. He's offered his services for what you can pay if you live in the same state. Personally, I think he is rich or crazy, but can you imagine being able to have the ability to share to that level. I am truly impressed.

I Need Connected Learning- #ETMOOC

Ok, here it is a Sunday afternoon and as football looms on the TV, I have just spent 3+ hours looking over various #etmooc sessions run this week as well as looking over google plus for intro's and new posts to see what's going on and who likes what. It was not a wasted three hours but a valuable three hours and soon to be more. In the midst of another share on twitter and I start to to really put somethings together. I love learning this way. I always have.

Let me explain, I joined a MOOC an etmooc.org which is being run by Alec Couros (I pray I spelled that right) and many others. I'm so excited to work with Shareski this week. I have always enjoyed his blogs and posts and am sorry I didnt truly connect sooner. I am, I admit a lurker, I read, I implement, I "borrow" but I never really connected until now!

It reminded me of a post from Jeff Utecht; (then instructor, now friend). In a jist, he needs a network to learn, people to bounce ideas off of and learn from in order to enjoy learning. In order to enjoy learning, he needed to as I do, to feel connected. In re-reading this post, I realized this was my reality, this is why I haven't taken many PD opportunties offered or attended as many conferences. I don't like learning alone, it is so very true for many of us, and it is certainly true of me. I have needed this connection. I trive on a connectivist approach to learning and I embrace the new applications and tools that I am made aware of. I can truly say I need connected learning.

I love finding connections(people and groups) with such similar interests as myself that it is almost scary.

I have found some questions, how do I work on "connected learning"? Are there any articles I should read for etmooc for this week? Am I participating enough? Why doesn't my diigo look as cool as Alec's in the tutorial?? So so much, BUT, It's OK, This is what I love to do, love to tinker, to figure it out. I have found no links on what should or shouldnt be done for the topic of connected learning as outlined in the calendar for #etmooc, but that's cool, It took one day, a few thoughts and boom, I remembered a post from a dear friend and mentor Jeff Utecht, so to him I say thank you as I do to Alec, Shareski and all of those I have watched and learned from since "2009". I thank connected learning as I would not even know thier names. These connections are much more relevant to me as an educator in technology than some of my professors in the lecture halls back in the day....

Planning for the 21st Century

Once again and as usual, Jeff Utecht has left me with a lot to think about after reading his chapter in “Wired for Learning” – An Educators Guide to Web 2.0 by Terri Kidd and Irene Chen. In this chapter (case study) Jeff discusses how schools need to embrace the change that is 21st Century Learning with includes and should focus on open access to the cloud, systems that are designed for both teachers and students that have all in one solutions. An integrated system that is web based and allows for instant access to teacher and student websites, instant access to lesson plans and assignments along with the ability to upload, plan and reflect. It would be great if school districts across America could lose the large file systems of old and replace them completely with a course management system that was completely web based. Talk about a reduction in cost and support,( though support of the new infrastructure ie. The CMS is definitely important and required.) It has been my experience that districts are not ready to make the jump or are just well “stuck”. Why is this? Are districts afraid to make a complete jump to a 2st century infrastructure or do they have unreliable internet access or it is just habit? The failsafe of knowing you have that hard copy even if it is not easily accessible or sometimes found.. I found this to be a wonderful chapter that left me with a great deal of insight and curiosity as to when I will see that new technology plan fully implemented for 21 century learning.

Conference call with Jeff Utecht

I have to admit, one of my major highlights in a long time for me was a conference call I had the pleasure of hosting with Mr. Jeff Utecht this week. Well known international technology educator and author the book “Reach”. Jeff was kind enough to Skype in my class for Emerging Technologies of which his book is required reading. To be honest, after reading it. I couldn’t think of a better book to introduce teachers to new concepts in education, technology and the power of Personal Networks or learning communities. To summarize, the conversation quickly turned to Google applications. We all love them and you can tell that Jeff is very passionate about them. When asked to choose just once resource for educators, his response was “definitely, Google applications, they are so powerful and allow for true collaboration as well as the ability to port your work quickly online. NO more corrupt files or flash drives, login from wherever you want”. Just starting with Google applications myself in education, I was sold immediately and will continue my journey with the installation of Google Chrome, more fun playing I’m told. I am currently implementing Google applications with my 8th grade students. When I asked Jeff, what he suggested he stated “naming conventions for email addresses”. Well I already blew that one  but I did keep track of all 93 emails through Google excel so I don’t feel so bad. I think it will be much easier for me to quickly indentify my students with a naming convention such as username and year of graduation. Thanks Jeff! The conversation turned to standards based grading due to a recent post of Jeff’s. He stated that “he believed in it only if it assessed skills” and I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think my student care or know what the Power standards for my state are (much less do they care, they want to create, have fun and learn, and it’s technology). Did you know face book is not blocked in China? His students are truly connected and are very responsible about their digital identities. They take pride and ownership of their online work and blogs and I hope to instill this in my students. A sense of ‘I am REPRESENTNG me, my family and my school district”. I could go on and on but I believe this is the longest blog post I have written to date. Thank you Jeff, I learned as always and to my students and colleagues, C. Liss, L. Paul and M. Koehler for attending and adding to a wonderful conversation about collaboration, web 2.0 and life long learning.

Reach by Jeff Utecht- Chapters 1 and 2

After reading the first two chapter’s of Reach by “Jeff Utecht”, I find myself reminiscing of the time when I was lucky enough to have Jeff as an instructor and continued mentor (whether he knows it or not). His networking class at Plymouth State University really opened my eyes to the philosophies that surround web 2.0, cooperation and collaboration at its best. Learning communities that create themselves and evolve into meaningful experiences where you meet meaningful people who change or challenge the way you think about teaching, learning and technology in the 21st Century. Jeff does a great job showing us the reality of our ever changing world while providing us with valuable tools and tutorials to help us begin our journey into PLN. I think I love my PLN’s of which I am most collaborative on Classroom 2.0 and Scratch.edu by MIT have truly helped me evolve as an educator, being able to express ideas and read other teaching experiences has been the best professional development I have ever had and the best thing for me is that it is endless. I recently set up two igoogle accounts where my knowledge of feeds, widgets and html have given me a wonderful “tool”, in one look at my home page from anywhere in the world I can view my daily and weekly calendar, my classes, the blogs I follow as well as post and respond to wiki’s and tweets (twitter). My new passion is definitely “threads”. All the information I need or would look for daily is in one place and better yet, up to date, email, tweets, new blog posts, my life on a page. What a way to live. Thanks Jeff, I look forward to the rest of the book.