Embracing Change

Over the past 5 weeks, I have been more active on Twitter than ever before. I have been participating in a slow chat (my first ever Twitter chat) about a book through the ISTE EdTech Coaches Network on Twitter. The book, "Learning Transported: Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality for All Classrooms" by Jaime Donally, was broken into five segments, one for each week.  Participants were asked questions throughout the week with one final reflective question at the week's end. My participation in this book group helped me meet the ISTE standard for coaches regarding being a connected learner. More specifically, I feel it directly connects to the Connected Learner Standards 2a: Pursue professional learning that deepens expertise in the ISTE Standards in order to serve as a model for educators and leaders, and 2b: Actively participate in professional learning networks to enhance coaching practice and keep current with emerging technology and innovations in pedagogy and th...

I am enjoying reading "Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Their theory of change is one I have heard before.  Check out this quick review/summary by  Callibrain .   I have only read the first 2 chapters, but I like what I am reading. I am already familiar with the Rider vs. Elephant explanation for fostering change.  The rider works on logic but the elephant is all emotion.  They have to work together in order to stay on the path of change.  What I like most about the Heath brothers' idea is that we need to focus more on what is working rather than trying to fix what isn't. "What's working and how can we do more of it?" (pg. 45) This is finding the "bright spot" and working on creating positive change.   While this approach can be used in MANY areas of teacher, my focus here is with technology. I have seen some "bright spots" with the use of technology in classrooms.  Here's one...

I feel the need to start by restating something from my first blog post,  "I am looking at switching gears in my career as an educator. This switch would involve leadership, which is something I have always feared, being the person in charge." This change both excites and terrifies me. I am starting to embrace the possibility that this change will be just what I needed and that I already have the skills necessary. Through my coursework, I was tasked with listening to and reading about Simon Sinek. This was a valuable refresher for me. I was lucky enough to take Simon Sinek's "Finding your why" course about 5 years ago. This course was transformative in so many ways. It not only helped me find my "why" but also helped me get to know more about the leaders in my own building.  My "why" is to help others so they can make positive changes in their lives.  I have been trying to do this in the classroom throughout my 20-year career, but now I thi...

Never in a million years did I think I would write a blog. Yet, here I am, writing my first entry.  I'll admit it isn't my idea to be doing this.  It is actually part of an assignment. You see, I am looking at switching gears in my career as an educator. This switch would involve leadership, which is something I have always feared, being the person in charge. I have always been somewhat fearful of authority figures. Chalk it up to bad experiences and anxiety (as well as the tendency to not want to disappoint others), but I have always been nervous when talking with my principals and teachers over the years, as a child and as an adult. Now I am looking at being one of those leaders! There are a few leaders I have admired in my career as a teacher and as a student.  I can't say with certainty that there is one particular leader that I admire most. Instead, it is more of a compilation of the traits that different leaders have demonstrated that stand out. The leaders who ...