Helping Colleagues Get Connected One by One

[Frank]

It's been a great week. Over the past few years, I have been working on getting connected with technology and the Web, building professional development networks, and doing lots of personal reflection about the art and mastery of teaching and learning. But, at the same time that I have been growing in these ways; I have also seen the technology gap growing between me and my colleagues. A gap which was widening even beyond the difference that I was already keenly aware of; that I am a predominant right-brainer. I was teaching about multiple intelligences and learning styles; yet my own differences seemed to be isolating me into a void space or vacuum of sorts. I guess some people will always be on the fringes exploring new things; it can be both lonely and exciting. But things are now changing. And, this past week is hard proof. One by one I have been helping colleagues get connected. And, the local feelings of isolation are starting to disappear.

This past week in Mexico City, I gave a presentation on connectivism and the networked teacher to teacher trainers, teachers, and administrators in the field of education, principally English as a Foreign Language. The group was made op of my university colleagues. One participant was the ex-president of the Mexico City MEXTESOL chapter (Mexico Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), the largest professional society for English teacher in Mexico and sister organization to the USA TESOL organization.

The session was titled "Connectivism - Personal Learning Networks for 21st Century Teachers" and we covered basic Web 2.0 tools for getting connected, including:

1. microblogging (twitter)
2. social networks (META Web 2.0, Classroom 2.0, eflclassroom, etc.)
3. RSS (Google Reader)
4. blogging & wikis (edublogs.org, wikispaces, etc.)
5. social bookmarking (del.icio.us)
6. digital photo sharing (Flickr)

Alec Couros' graphic, "The Networked Teacher" was indispensable in charting the differences between the typical teacher's networks and those of a connected teacher using technology.



The icing on the cake came later in the week, when I sat down and helped a local colleague, and coincidentally also a past president of the Morelia MEXTESOL to increase her connectivity. So let's keep an eye on Ellenblog as she starts on her blogging voyage. Lots of goodies to come from Ellen, of that I am sure. Now she is also set up on Google Reader and del.icio.us. She is on her way to being connected, and all of us will benefit, as will she and those that she teaches. Ellen has asked me to sit down and guide her bit by bit to demystify Web 2.0 and getting connected in the most productive way. Perhaps you already know Ellen from her social networking at Mexico English Teachers' Alliance :: Web 2.0 where she has been an active member since this past summer. Wow, my head is still spinning!

After reflecting a bit on my workshop and individual coaching session, I realized just how many "Ellens" there must be out there. Those educators that have a wealth of experience and offerings that aren't yet widely connected (perhaps a forum here or forum there and some emailing). I now see just how important it is for those of us that are connected to help others get connected one by one. Like Vicki Davis has said, "The first step is getting connected yourself."

With my Mexico City and local colleagues getting more connected, I don't feel so isolated here in my region. And, it feels really good. So look for some new faces on twitter ... cause here they come. There is no turning back!"

[Frank]

I see the same with my American, German, Dutch, English, etc, colleagues .... technology is scary and uncharted territory .. but like Cathy Higham from Cambridge has said, "Technology won't replace teachers ... but those teachers that use technology in the classroom with replace those that don't." And, I am seeing this start to happen already -- the new crop of teachers coming out of Escuelas Normales and other university-level programs are hitting the classrooms with true 21st-century constructivist learning. The students have been using technology for years as Digital Native ... the canyon between student and outdated teacher is just starting to narrow.

[Jacki Richey]

Using the new tools for networking (blogs, social networks like Facebook, twitter, and groups like metamexico and yahoo) are important and very supportive. However, we should not overlook the "older" tools of email and Internet searching. I have found that many (most?) of my Mexican collegues have not learned how to do different kinds of searches using google nor how to make groups of email contacts so they can easily send out messages to a group of people. I would love to teach a class on how to do these things. However, I haven't found a computer lab that is connected to the Internet.

A warning. Remember when you send out any message by email, blog, network, whatever, it is electronic publishing. It is out there forever somewhere. You can delete your message, but you don't know how many people have already copied it or forwarded it to others. Don't write something you will regret later.