Becoming a Connected Leader & Learner – The Journey

If there is no sharing, there is no learning (David Wiley)

Over the last year, I have focused on becoming a connected leader and learner. Through Twitter (@kfilane), Facebook (Holy Angels School), Instagram (@hasrocks), and blogging I have been building up my online presence, have been connecting with others, and have been developing relationships that are crucial in education. Through my own learning journey, I have been modelling, and have been sharing and connecting with others – serving as a way to develop my Principal Qualification Practicum, and to develop my digital learning network.

As part of my learning and establishing my digital footprint, I took a chance and started sharing my learning and reflections in my blog:

Putting my thinking and wonderings out there for anyone to read was both exciting and humbling – would others care what I thought? would they see how much I didn’t know and how much I still need to learn? would they care what I was thinking? would my thoughts resonate with anyone?  In my journey to be connected, I have developed an amazing network of colleagues, sources of inspiration, and models of learning that have taken my own learning and have exponentially helped me grow in ways I never would have thought possible.

A year ago, I was not able to attend a conference that really mattered to me:

Through that “missed opportunity” I learned more, and was set on a path of learning and connecting that I never knew was possible, and here I sit today, reflecting on my PQP journey of leadership and preparing to hand in my Practicum. Through my connected world, I have learned about the power of innovation (creating things that are new and better), I have limited the isolation that I once felt (“Isolation is a choice that we now make” @gcouros), and I hope that I have modelled for others the power of connecting, and taking risks in your learning.

“Leaders will more easily effect change if they allow others to see them taking risks, failing, recovering and risking all over again” 

(The Innovator’s Mindset, 2015. George Couros, pg 59)

Today, I participated in a wonderful learning opportunity organized by our own Katie DiBiagio (SNCDSB), and Stacey Wallwin (SGDSB), our regional Technology Enabled Learning Teachers (TELTs) who facilitated George Couros spending the day with System Leaders, Principals, and Digital Learning Teachers from both Boards.  The topic was Leading Innovative Change, and it was like the cherry on top of my PQP Practicum sundae – as a system, we were connecting and hearing the message all together!

Today, George inspired us all with his innovative mindset and his focus on relationships and connecting (first to the heart, before we can connect to the mind). I was able to share this day with people who have inspired me, influenced me and learned with me in this journey.

As a leader and a learner, I think it is vital that we build connections not only within our Board, our school and our communities, but also throughout the world, where we now have access to many others who are so willing and eager to share their learning. As this is the future for our students, if we don’t connect and learn how to be innovative together by building a digital learning network, we will soon become illiterate in the world that our students are living in.

By becoming connected, we build trust, and through trust, we transform systems:

“Alone we are smart, together we are brilliant” (Steven Anderson)

Day 20 – Using Google Drive for Collaboration

Day 20 – How Leaders Use Google Drive for Collaboration

  

Since our Board uses Google Apps for Education (GAFE), we have incorporated Google Drive in it’s collaborative nature throughout our Board.  We have set up different groups:

• SNCDSB Lead Learners for Principals and Senior Admin
• Digital Learning Volunteers (for teachers from our 9 schools)
• Faith Ambassadors (for those who help with our Catholicity)
• HAS Teachers (for staff in our school)
• Student Summit 1.0 & 2.0

In these folders in our drive, they are shared with those people who can collaborate with and use the resources and ideas shared to make things easier.  With Google Drive, you can access it on any device (computer, tablet, phone) so you always have access to your files and work.

We recently started a Math AQ course in our Board, so I created a shared folder for all learners and put in the initial information (modules, evaluations, resources) that might make it easier for others, and invited everyone to use it and add to it.  Instead of doing the work just for myself, I put it out there for others to access because I know that I  appreciate it when others do it for me.  We don’t need to start from scratch every time we do something – through collaboration and sharing together, we become much stronger then doing it all on our own.

I love collaborating, and I know that I learn best from modelling, examples and other people’s sharing.  Google Drive is a wonderful tool to use, and it’s features are straight forward and user friendly.

Students in our Board are also active Google Drive collaborators since we were fortunate to host not one, but two Student Summits featuring Google over the last 2 years. Students know how to use these tools and they are using them to engage in peer editing, conferencing and collaboration as we learn together.

In April 2016, we will have 40+educators from SNCDSB attend the TBCDSB Google Summit to continue our learning together – it is empowering to know that not only have we bought into GAFE, but we are also being supported in our learning together and our vision for the future includes empowering both students and educators to learn together, collaborate together and take risks in our learning as models for others – it is very promising and exciting knowing we are doing it together!

• How have GAFE tools changed practices?
• In what ways have you benefited from collaborating with others using Google Drive?

Day 19: Collaborating with Google Docs

Day 19: Collaborating with Google Docs

        

A few years ago, our Board (Superior North Catholic) became a Google Apps for Education Board (GAFE). We started using Google Drive and Docs, and our Technology-Enabled Learning and Teaching Contact, Katie DiBiagio, had the vision that we should host the first ever Student Summit featuring Google.  SNCDSB became the first Board to host students, rather then teachers, to learn all about Google Apps and then become the teachers for others.

In October, 2014, we had 10 students from each of our 9 schools come to Holy Angels School to learn all about Google Apps, and these students went back to their schools and began to teach others.  Students started using Google Docs to collaborate together, to share with their teachers and to engage in their learning.  It was amazing to be a part of, and together we learned how Google Apps could be used. (Check out the link below to our school Facebook page, Holy Angels School, for pictures from the event)

In November, 2015, after purchasing Chrome Books for all our students from Grade 5-8, we hosted a second Student Summit for all our Gr. 5/6 students in the Board, thinking that we would empower our Junior Students to become the learners and leaders in using Google Apps.  Now our students regularly use Google Docs, Slides, Drawings and Forms – it’s amazing to see what they can do.  Students share documents with each other, as well as their teachers, and we can collaborate together.

In our PQP course, we used Google Docs to work together both during our face-to-face sessions, as well as our distance ed learning. It is a valuable tool in working together, asking for feedback and sharing resources.

• How has collaborating with Google Docs changed your practices?
• What benefits do you see in GAFE?

 

Day 18: Collaborating Online

Day 18: Collaborating Online

      

Collaborating online has become something that has become very important to my learning.  Since I made the commitment to become a connected learner, I have interacted with so many amazing people – people who I would have never have had the opportunity to learn with had I not gone online.

One of my favorite online collaborations right now is The Innovator’s Mindset Book Club

 Being a huge fan of George Couros and his blog, The Principal of Change, I ordered his book, The Innovator’s Mindset as soon as it was available. After reading the book, and loving the questions that George posed, I was very excited when a group of educators organized an online book club to dig more into the innovator’s mindset.  By collaborating online (using twitter #innovatorsmindset & @OSSEMOOC) and following along on the google hangout, I have been able to share my thoughts and learn from many others.

Through this online group and collaboration, I was introduced to Voxer, an app that I had downloaded but didn’t quite understand how to use.  Once I joined the Voxer group for Innovator’s Mindset, I entered into an online collaboration among some very amazing and passionate educators.  Although I didn’t feel like I had a lot to contribute yet, I have been listening and reflecting on many different aspects of education and innovative thinking.

Collaborating online is a tool that can connect you to people in your building, as well as people around the world, who are willing to share, challenge and work together for the benefit of us all.

How has collaborating online influenced you? What opportunities have you taken part in?

Day 17: Photo Sharing with Flickr

Day 17: Photo Sharing with Flickr

      

Have you ever wanted to share and access beautiful images?  Flickr, an image sharing site is an option.  You can save your own photos to Flickr (once you sign on and create a Yahoo account), and you can keep them private, share them with family and friends or you can make them public.  You can also access photos shared by others, and use them through the Commons – the OSSEMOOC Day 17 post does a good job of explaining this.

I had heard about Flickr before, but hadn’t used it much besides setting up an account.   If you are new to understanding Flickr, I found a couple of YouTube Videos that explain the basics:

• Why You Should Use Flickr 
• Flickr Tutorial 

If you have used Flickr before or are still using it, in what ways have you used it personally, professionally or in the classroom?  I am interested in learning more about how our students could use Flickr:

13 Ways You Can Use Flickr In The Classroom (by TeachThought)

How have your students used Flickr?  Are there other photo sharing services that you use? In learning more about Flickr, I saw a comparison between Flickr and Google Photos:

• Lifehacker Faceoff: Google Photos vs Flickr

What are your thoughts?

 

 

Becoming Connected – Day 16: RSS Feeds

Day 16: RSS Feeds

           

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” ~ Confucius

This quote seems to sum up things quite nicely for me lately.  I seem to be falling a lot, and I never seem to have enough time in the day for all that I need to do. Lately, I find myself apologizing for being behind in emails, for not getting back to people, for not getting to my kids before they fall asleep … I seem to be falling, but in falling you need to get back up – and each day is a chance to rise again.

Being connected is hard, keeping up with every thing going on not just in your immediate radius, but in that social world just at our fingertips – Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Voxer, … can be overwhelming at times and you think, “I just don’t have the time!”

What I’ve learned from my own experiences, and from some very wise and connected educators (thanks @fryed) is that being an educator isn’t easy, but it’s also an opportunity to be a learner, and to connect in ways that were not possible just a short time ago.  In this connected world, there are so many people willing to share and connect and learn with that it absolutely amazes me. If you are all caught up, check out the OSSEMOOC Day 16 and learn how RSS Feeds can help you keep up with your favourite blogs and websites.

If you need a refresher and want to learn about being connected, take a look back through some of the topics we’ve covered over the past few months (it was only meant to be a short break at Christmas, but when you fall, get back up and rise again 🙂 and pick one or two areas to connect with – start small – but make sure you just start!

Day 1: Dedicating Time
Day 2: What are other educators thinking?
Day 3: What can you learn online?
Day 4: Listen while you work
Day 5: Twitter is where it’s happening
Day 6: Building your PLN
Day 7: Follow Friday & Virtual Conferences
Day 8: Inside a Twitter Chat
Day 9: Beginning to Share Content
Day 10: Pinterest
Day 11: What do we need from our PLN?
Day 12: A Deeper Look at Curation
Day 13: Curating with Scoop.It
Day 14: Twitter as a Curation Tool
Day 15: Commenting on Blogs

Over the last year, I have been learning how to connect, why it’s important to connect and how connecting can push your learning farther and faster then you realized it could.  I have developed relationships online, in person and with people I would never have found had I not made the effort to connect.  Although I still have so much to learn, I feel value in my journey, and I if I can inspire you, then I have done my job at being a learner, a leader and a connected educator!

 

 

 

 

“30 Days To Getting Connected” Update

As a leader and a learner, I have come to realize that I learn best with and from others. In completing my Principal Qualifications (PQP), the area that I have chosen to focus my Practicum on is “Being a Connected Leader and Learner”.  I have come to value the educators who so willingly share what they think, know and wonder, and from this sharing, I have learned the importance of giving back.

In November, we started with OSSEMOOC’s 30 Days to Getting Connected.  After 15 days of connecting, we took a break (it was Christmas and it was becoming a chore rather then a learning experience).  I would like to finish Day 16-30 and I hope that you are on up for the challenge.  Join up, follow along, share your learning with us and with others.

 

Add your email address to the right and you will receive notifications when a new post is made – it’s that simple!  I know we are all busy, but let’s take time to connect!

Becoming a Connected Learner

As a leader and a learner, I have come to realize that I learn best with and from others. In completing my Principal Qualifications (PQP), the area that I have chosen to focus my Practicum on is “Being a Connected Leader and Learner”.  I have come to value the educators who so willingly share what they think, know and wonder, and from this sharing, I have learned the importance of giving back.

Becoming a Connected Leader & Learner

Over the next 30 days or so, I am inviting you to participate in OSEMOOC’s (Ontario System and School Leaders Edtech MOOC) “30 Days to Getting Connected” series with me, which will take just 10 minutes of your day! Together, we will learn what it means to be connected, how you can build your PLN (Professional Learning Network), and you will meet a lot of amazing Educators who  willingly share and…

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Day 15: Commenting on Blogs

Day 15: Commenting on Blogs

“The most important practice in becoming connected is dedicating time” (Donna Fry, OSSEMOOC)

We often ask our students to share their thinking and learning with others, but do we model this practice our self? I have come to learn that there are some fantastic, reflective and collaborative educators who share their thinking and learning with others through blogging – we just have to make the time and find the blogs.

I have tried a few strategies to follow blogs, but I must admit, I have not made the time to regularly read the blogs.  If you look to the right side of my blog, you will see that I share 20 blogs that I follow – if you find someone who supports, pushes or challenges your thinking, look to see who they follow to look for connections.

On most blogs, you can sign up for to follow blogs through email so you can get notifications when a new post is made.  I had found that I was getting overwhelmed with all the email I received – and I was missing important emails so I “configured my inbox” for my gmail so that the Primary tab had my work emails, but my Updates and Promotions tabs had emails from blogs and sites that I subscribe to.

Once you find blogs you want to follow then you need to make some time to follow them, and eventually, share some of your questions, comments, and thoughts on the blog for others to read.  By commenting on other people’s blogs, you are nurturing and encouraging others to keep sharing.  I love when I receive a comment or feedback on my blog and I ‘get’ how valuable feedback is to people, no matter how young or old.

In our 30 Days to Getting Connected, we are halfway through – we will take a break over the holidays so we don’t rush the learning, so others can catch up and so we can spend time ‘playing’ with what we have already learned.  I have learned so much by preparing these posts and commenting on feedback from others – looking forward to more in the new year.

 

 

 

Day 14: Twitter as a Curation Tool

Day 14: Twitter as a Curation Tool

  

On the journey to be connected, I have been following @OSSEMOOC’s 30 Days to Getting Connected, and I have been sharing my thinking and questions using my blog.  Being almost half way through (and also being on the countdown to Christmas), I realized this morning that sharing everyday was getting to be too much – maybe we needed to take a break to allow others to catch up, to spend some time reflecting on the learning we have done and to refocus in a few weeks to continue the journey.  Sometimes we need to go back before we can go forward.

I love using Twitter as a way to collect and share information for myself and others – when I retweet or share a resource, it is like I am bookmarking it so I can find it again.  Over the last few days, I have been learning about curating, I have come to realize that I don’t just want to collect resources, but I would like to curate them.

I need to push myself and a learner, and take that next step to sharing information – I need to find value in myself and create connections, share resources and put in perspective what I am learning and how it might help others learn.  Through my blog, I have come realize the importance of feedback from others, and I have come to value how important it is for others to share their thinking, challenge my thinking and push our thinking outside of the box.

I have connected with different educators and resources more purposefully in my journey to being connected, and it amazes me the connections that come together and overlap:

• 3 Ways to Curate and Share Great Content – George Couros, Connected Principals
• Becoming Connected – Nicole Morden Cormier
• It’s Just No Longer an Option – Katie Maenpaa
• Digging Into Curation – Donna Fry, OSSEMOOC

Twitter can be used for different purposes, but one that I need to spend some more time developing is following those who challenge and deepen my thinking, and taking risks in sharing my thinking and reflecting so that others can learn with me.

How can twitter be used to strengthen you PLN? How do you balance things so that you are able to not just collect, but to contribute to the PLN of others?

 

 

Day 13: Curating with Scoop.It

Day 13: Curating with Scoop.It

 

Being a learner, you need to realize that you can’t know everything, and when you have an opportunity to try something new, take it.  I’ve heard of Scoop.It before, but I have never used it.

Since this connected is all about 10 mins a day, I followed the instructions and signed myself up for Scoop.it

When you first sign up, you need to pick some keywords you would like to search.  I picked Education, Leadership, Learning, and Strength Based, and the above results came back.  Since I was interested in the article on being a more effective learner, I clicked on that and liked the article.

I shared the article  to my twitter feed, referencing where I found it and sharing it for others to learn from too.

In just 10 minutes, I was able to try a new platform, find an article that I wanted to share, and I shared my learning with my Twitter network, and through blogging.  Now I need to continue my learning by going back to Scoop It, seeing if it something that works for me and then either using it, or using other things that I find useful.

Have you ever used Scoop it? How does it work for your curation?