Let’s Talk About: Embracing Your Geekness

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July 13th is “Embrace your Geekness” day.  I just found out, and I’m very excited! If you were called a “geek”  in the late 20th century, it meant that you were smart and tech-savvy. Today if you are a “geek” it means that you are an expert or well-informed enthusiast of almost any distinct social … read more »


Summer Assignment: Build that PLN!

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Are you counting down the days until summer vacation?  I mean, did I really need to ask that question?! I remember one of the hardest parts of transitioning from a teacher to an administrator was not getting to have that feeling of pure exhilaration and excitement going into summer break.  It’s a time to recharge, … read more »


An Introduction to The Social Learning Theory

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Have you heard of the Social Learning Theory?  Don’t worry, I’m not going to take you back to the intro to education classes you sat through in your college days and bore you with theoretical jargon.  Rather, I am going to introduce you to a theory that I feel we must embrace as educators in the … read more »


Are You a Twitter Lurker or a Twitter Contributor?

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I admit it; I am more of a lurker on Twitter than a contributor. I follow many of the most respected names in education and marvel at their ideas and ability to share with others. Every once in a while, I’ll retweet something I find especially interesting or notable. Rarely do I add my thoughts … read more »


Summer – Time to Relax or Time for Learning?

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What do you do when summer break arrives? Is it time for a well-deserved break, or do you use this time for professional growth and rejuvenation? Perhaps a bit of both? If you’d like to try some rejuvenation that you can do at home in a relaxed setting, but still with a group of peers with … read more »


Being Resourceful Part Four: Invisible Web of Educational Materials

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The invisible web is a world of resources not available using conventional search engines. Last month we looked at databases of information found behind paywalls, but often accessible with a library card. Now let’s investigate some sites that are freely available, but take some knowledge and instruction to use. A great place to start is … read more »


What’s the Buzz: Micro-credentials for Educators

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As the ideas of professional development, professional learning, and training for teachers are evolving, so are the ways in which we recognize the accomplishment of learning something new.   Traditionally, teachers would take a course or workshop and at the conclusion be given a certificate of attendance which could then be submitted to your school … read more »


Are you a Digitally Literate Teacher?

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Digital Citizenship
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One of my favorite quotes is from futurist guru Alvin Toffler. In Future Shock, incredibly first published in 1970, Toffler is often credited with saying, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” It first originated with Herbert Gerjuoy, whom … read more »


Growing Your Personal Learning Network

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Summertime is here. It’s every teacher’s favorite season. In addition to having time to relax, summer is the perfect time for learning something new professionally – without the daily pressure of school work. A wonderful thing about the Internet is that makes it easy to learn new skills and connect with like-minded individuals. Many educators embrace this concept … read more »


Let’s Talk About: Professional Learning

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In this podcast I talked about the differences between continuing education, professional development and professional learning.  After you listen to the podcast I would encourage you to shift to professional learning where you can determine what you learn and how it will change what happens in your classroom. Don’t depend on your school district as … read more »