0 Observing and Learning: TLL and LLL

I've been quiet. I should have been posting to my blog all these months but I've realized, I'm in my "quiet phase". You know, just like the ELL students in your classes. I changed jobs in March this year, from PYP Curriculum Coordinator in elementary school to Director of Educational Technology across the whole school. I recognize now that I am a TLL (Technology Language Learner) and a LLL (Leadership Language Learner) and am replicating similar steps as ELL students.

According to Judie Haynes at EverythingESL, there are five phases of ESL acquisition: Preproduction, Early Production, Speech Emergence, Intermediate Fluency, and Advanced Fluency. I am in my Intermediate Fluency phase as a TLL since I "use strategies from [my] native language to learn content in [technology]," meaning that I am able to take my background in curriculum and translate that through technology. I have the ability to put the two together in exciting, relevant and challenging ways.

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1 Best Ed-Reform Resource Right Under Your Nose

I did a little twitter spring cleaning tonight (well actually this morning because the only time I don't have two kids jumping or sleeping on me is in the wee hours of the morning!) and went through my followers and those that I follow as well as lists I have made.  I was absolutely humbled by the extreme talent, dedication, and in depth thinking that is represented by all of the members of my PLN! From well known bloggers to lesser known tweeters, message after message contained something insightful that was found or a link to a blog post that had astounding original applications and solutions for what is happening in education today.

This got me thinking.... if all of those great minds are out there and connecting on twitter, is anyone noticing? I mean, yes, me and about 1 million other educators who are advocates of twitter have noticed, but have any of the people in politics starting paying attention to us yet? I've seen many politically connected names and important positions on twitter but do the people who are making the laws and reforms watch our twitter feeds?  Many of the people who are making decisions for education reform today are still mainly politicians and other "non-education" persons speaking on our behalf.  I would love for them to spend a week looking at the twitter feeds and reading the blogs of some of the leading education reform bloggers and tweeters out there.  These are quality people who aren't spending their time complaining but are sharing the amazing ways that they make change and inspire learning to happen every day!  One week reading things from @kevinhoneycutt, @web20classroom, @angelamaiers, @gcouros ... (the list goes on and on!) and they would have their fill of innovative ideas for learner centered, engaged learning with new technologies and suggested ways for the leadership of that change in the educational sphere.  Surely after one week they would gather enough ideas and suggestions to make significant changes in the system today. Is this happening? Are the politicians and reform makers using the most amazing resource that's right under their noses?

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1 A Tale of Two Twitterverses

A funny thing happened to me recently.  Now that I'm on vacation I've been using Twitter a lot more (sorry for all those extra tweets everyone!) and during very different times than my normal schedule.  As I have a pretty heavy workload during the day, I'm usually on Twitter at night after I finish being a Coordinator, Mom, and Wife.  That means I'm not cracking open my TweetDeck until 10 or 11 at night.

Now, during my North American summer holidays, I have LOADS of time during the day to surf, update, and explore Twitter.  And a funny revelation happened to me.  It started with the recent relocation of a friend and twitter pal of mine (@amichetti) to my old home in Singapore.  Now that she's moved there, it's like she's vanished from my Twitter radar! Unless I specifically do a search for her or dedicate a column to her, her witty banter that I'm used to seeing throughout the night is no longer visible.

That got me thinking.... what else am I missing over there in Asia where I know so many amazing and dedicated teachers who are on the forefront of educational technology?  Because I was up late at night I would see the daily tweets of my friends and technology gurus over there but not any more. They provided some amazing insight into the various issues and struggles that are happening in their educational contexts.  And those contexts are VERY different than the ones that are currently in the media here in North America.

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8 Reflection on ISTE11

For my inaugural post on my blog I thought I would begin by reflecting on what I learned at the recent ISTE11 educational technology conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  It was a long journey from Chile but definitely worth the trip! There were so many excellent workshops, student displays, and inspiring educators there!  What is below is a run down of the speakers that "stuck with me" so to speak.  They had a message and now I'm trying to apply it in my context.  I encourage you to click on the links and find out how their message can inspire you as well!

@kevinhoneycutt: A simple message but powerful. Use tradigital (traditional and digital) resources to inspire our students to be more and go farther.  We shouldn't limit them but get behind them and help them soar in the 21st century.  His website had a million tools to view and inspire teachers and students and he encouraged everyone to take a "digital safari" on his site.

@leecrockett: He was passionate about promoting 21st century fluency skills (be a committed sardine by visiting his site!) The message was another simple one-we need to teach the skills that students need for the future (solution, collaboration, creativity, media, information) because the economy of the world is changing in favor of creative, collaborative jobs. 

@willrich45: Presenting with another colleague, Rob Mancabelli, they led us through a great discussion about change and how to help educators embrace the changes coming in education.  The message was so clear and useful- consider the emotional side of the arguments against change as well as the rational.  Their book recommendations (click on Reading List) are a valuable resource alone!

@stevehargadon: While I wasn't fortunate enough to see him give a session, he did a wonderful job hosting a social media roundtable discussion which I was fortunate to be a part of.  Another powerful message came from this- Administrators and teachers alike need not be afraid of social media. We need to unlock, unblock and unthether the students from the four walls inside the school.  While the social media debate is similar to the one that has raged for decades on sex education in schools, let's use our time to teach admin, teachers, and students how to use these tools appropriately through engagement.

So, what's the mashup? I plan on continuing to work on our PLN (Personal Learning Networks) at my school but start the next semester with a look at the emotional arguments toward change by discussing the "elephant scenario" from Chip Heath.  After, I'm hoping to challenge my staff to a digital safari looking for resources to teach and develop aspects of the 21st century fluencies that are needed.  While I would love to address the open network issue, I believe I'll table that for another day (or blog post!)

How might you use these resources above? Did you attend ISTE11 and find resources that you too want to mashup into your personal context?

Jessica