PD That Makes You Think

Have you ever been to a presentation where the speaker said so many interesting things you just wanted to write them ALL down? You try to write it all, but you just can't keep up. So many insightful things said. So many things you want to remember but just can't keyboard fast enough.

This was the case for me tonight. Luckily, I had Twitter, so I just tweeted out as much as I could.

Our speaker was Angela Maiers. She's an educator/speaker and the author of Passion Driven Classroom: a book I read this summer for a group study. Angela spoke about Twitter and its value. I'd heard her speak this summer, but this session was different and I learned more tonight.

But before she spoke to our faculty tonight, she stopped by my classroom this afternoon (accompanied by my principal). Imagine how excited and nervous I was!
My students showed Angela our classroom blog, and she had a GREAT discussion with them about blogging and tweeting (we just started tweeting as a class).

Angela Maiers in my classroom showcasing our blog!

I watched in pride and amazement. My students answered her questions with a brilliance that made me think just how privileged I am to be a teacher. Even though we've just been together for three weeks, my students have learned so much & all the credit goes to them! I realized then just how much we teach when we model in front of our students. Every time we blogged together, every time I modeled my own writing, and every time I shared my thinking with my students, learning was happening! I was so proud I couldn't speak.

At her presentation, Angela said a lot of insightful things about being connected and the value of information. But there's one concept that I am taking hold of tonight. And I'm blogging to share it here:

Our students must be digitally literate, and teachers must model this literacy just as they model reading and writing. (Book recommendation here: THE DIGITAL WRITING WORKSHOP by Troy Hicks. I read this one for my National Writing Project Summer Institute.)

This was my big AHA moment. This made me appreciate the importance of my contribution and participation. Every time I take part in digital forums & spaces, I experience something that prepares me to teach my students to do the same.

Reading, connecting, writing and learning! My students and I are on this journey together, but I'm traveling ahead to be ready!

Learning More About Twitter From Angela Maiers

Today was a busy day for this teacher!
My district started its annual summer conference this week. I love this learning time because it's an opportunity for teachers in our district to learn together.  There were many interesting sessions on technology, curriculum, and programs. I presented  a session on QR Codes with a fellow teacher from our district. Even though I was the presenter, I was learning, too! I learned about myself and what I could do. I learned about how to read an audience. I learned more about how to think on my feet, problem-solve, and anticipate the needs of others. I picked up great ideas from the kind people who came to our session, and I met some very dedicated teachers who are doing great things. I loved that part!

But the best presentation of the day was the one I attended with Angela Maiers, author of The Passion Driven Classroom: A Framework for Teaching and Learning. I've been following her on Twitter for a very long time and have always learned from her tweets. Her presentation was called "I'm On Twitter: Now What?" In this session, Maiers described Twitter in a very interesting way. She used the analogy of a barbecue, and how Twitter users were the neighbors who brought in the dishes to share with others. When you're new to the neighborhood, she explained, you're excused from bringing a dish the first time. But after a couple of barbecues, you're expected to offer something, and it should be homemade, special to you, and not store-bought! "Twitter is a community," said Maiers. In a community, you spend time with others. You connect with them by introducing yourself and replying to questions. You care about what you share. "On Twitter, your contribution matters."

So I'm thinking tonight about my contribution----especially to my own communities on Twitter.  I learn so much everyday, and I enjoy the dishes everyone else brings. But it's time for me to share more than I have been. I'm thinking about what I'll bring to the barbecue. I'm going to make sure my next dish is a good one. It will be homemade, and I'm bringing it because I care and because my Twitter PLN has always shared with me.