Well I did it... I think. I'm done with my grad work. Time to put some things to use. I'm going to work on sharing some of the PLN experience with my co-workers. I'm excited because there are things that we can improve by scouring the earth for great ideas. We can also begin to get feedback from people outside our small little school. I created the following prezi as a very brief intro to the PLN journey:
It is truly amazing what you can find. Ideas, inspiration, motivation, and like-minded individuals that can actually validate that your ideas aren't crazy. It's powerful. But if you are new to social media or are operating from the more traditional (which isn't bad) paradigm, the thought of endless information, constant connectivity, and the dissolution of the end of the work day can be challenging, if not downright frightening.
But this ability to develop ourselves begs the question if professional development and training in the old workshop "sit and get" form is really something that should exist anymore. For some things perhaps. But I can't help but think that a school that pursues its own development at the individual level would not grow so much more because each discovery would be genuine, non-coerced, and meaningful. And the message that we are sending our students, that learning is lifelong, could not be better.
And what if, just if, we spread this message to our students. It would be a revolution. There are so many pioneers that have blazed this trail that the pitfalls and dangers are beginning to subside. This isn't a frontier anymore. It isn't uncharted waters. It's the way the world is doing its business. It's the way business does business. It should be part of the way education does its business too.
So I digress. I will put my soapbox away. But now that I have nearly finished my graduate work, I feel I better do something good since I spent all that time and money to get to where I am. And a midst a challenging school year, I want to take a step forward. I want to make my school better.
And now it's time to hit the hay before Jace wakes me up. I don't want to cross him, seeing as he is going to be the commander-in-chief someday...
Take care,
Mr. J.
But this ability to develop ourselves begs the question if professional development and training in the old workshop "sit and get" form is really something that should exist anymore. For some things perhaps. But I can't help but think that a school that pursues its own development at the individual level would not grow so much more because each discovery would be genuine, non-coerced, and meaningful. And the message that we are sending our students, that learning is lifelong, could not be better.
And what if, just if, we spread this message to our students. It would be a revolution. There are so many pioneers that have blazed this trail that the pitfalls and dangers are beginning to subside. This isn't a frontier anymore. It isn't uncharted waters. It's the way the world is doing its business. It's the way business does business. It should be part of the way education does its business too.
So I digress. I will put my soapbox away. But now that I have nearly finished my graduate work, I feel I better do something good since I spent all that time and money to get to where I am. And a midst a challenging school year, I want to take a step forward. I want to make my school better.
Take care,
Mr. J.
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