Professional Learning Network

"We shape our tools and then our tools shape us" - Marshal McMluhan
Open Thinking, Open Learning

This statement couldn't be more true for the society that we live in. We are living in a device  controlled world that is always connected, plugged in and searching. Shaping your tools is important because that determines which manor in which you will use them.  Most people either use their tools in a negative or positive way. By using them in a positive way we are able to share our resources and knowledge in an "Open Educational Resource" environment. With this type of environment we are able to connect with people that may not have the resources for furthering their education.

To capture the Spirit of open networking we must be willing to share our work. By sharing our work with others we are transforming the way people learn by giving them access to things they may not have had access to previously. With is type of sharing and learning we are able to get ideas from people all over the world. Participatory cultures are becoming a widely used resource by people all over the world. In a participatory culture anyone and everyone is able to connect and participate. "21st century learning networks have tons of tools and a number of people that you can connect to, with tons of ideas from all over the world." - David Wiley (Open Education and The Future) With this type of open network an educator is able to get ideas and tools that they can then expand further for the education of their students.

Open access in a classroom is having the resources and tools available to you at any time.  With the information that is available on the Internet expanding by the minute, students have access to just about anything at the tips of their fingers. Open access in the classroom is not just having access to the information that you are teaching, but having access to others information. I thought this video was very interesting; Open Education Matters . Is showed how quickly and effectively information spread throughout the world on one simple subject that is taught daily. I didn't realize just how easy it is to access things like that until I watched that video. It is so interesting to me that climate change was taught all over the world because this one guy shared his video. I hope to have this kind of open connectivity in my future classroom!

I am so excited for the future learners that will have access to things everywhere and anywhere! David Wiley said this in his video Open Education in the Future, "Successful Educators are those who share most thoroughly with the most students." This statement stood out the most to me because it isn't just about the students in your class anymore. It is about the number of people that you can reach with the information you are teaching. Not all kids have access to education like we do in America. But by sharing and making it available anytime, anywhere and to anyone it makes education available to those who previously did not have access. 

I live by the motto "you learn something new everyday." That is exactly what happened to me while watching these videos. These have been my favorite set of videos so far because I am all about reaching out to those that do not have the resources to reach out to us. In the video Open Education Matters, I learned that with Open Education Resources students can save over $900 on textbooks! That may not seem like a ton of money, but for a struggling college student that is tremendous! Having access to books and resources online can change the way students learn by completely getting rid of all textbooks. This will save students money and they will have access to tons of resources online that they may not have had access to previously.

At the end of the day sharing truly is caring. But it is important to remember to do it in a safe, conscious way and to always make sure you are aware of what you are posting and the audience in which you are posting it to! Remember, there are people in the world that do not have access to the things we take for granted, so by sharing our knowledge and resources they can become the educated citizens they have dreamed of becoming.

Week 3 Prompt:

Professional Learning Network

       Coming from a small community school sharing is not something that is natural to me. Being a college forces me to share and I must admit, I like it! Watching the video "The Moral Imperative by Dean Shareski" really opened by eyes to the world of sharing.

        Teachers and leaders should share their work in a professional manor. It is critical for professionals to communicate to their students professionally. Communicating in this manor opens up a world of professionalism to both students and other educators. Teachers should also communicate their work openly, in a form that is view able to everyone. This ensures that the teacher is protected and cannot be accused of saying something inappropriate. Lastly, teachers should communicate their work truthfully and reference any sources that they are including in their work. Along with using professional speech, this will teach the students to always reference their sources.

          I absolutely love the thought of the glass classroom! Having transparency in the classroom is such a crucial thing to have. While having transparency it is important to be mindful and safe with your words. Everything you share must be helpful to others. Hurtful words last forever, especially on the internet so it is important that you watch what you say. It is also OK to share entertaining things. But most importantly, make sure what you say is something that you would say to your mother. I good rule of thumb is; if you wouldn't say it to your mom, don't say it online. 

        Sharing face to face is also very effective. Some students learn best through face to face interaction. For me it is a challenge to have an online class because i do not have something in front of me on a weekly basis telling me what i should be doing. Helping students is your number one priority so it is important to share both face to face and electronically. 

       There is HUGE value in sharing! As Dean said in the video a lot of teachers didn't know exactly what you were teaching in the classroom. But by sharing that you can help other teachers and students. Those teachers and students can view your work, which can help  them learn from you. Also if others are sharing their knowledge and resources online it can help you to improve your teaching. 

       As a teacher I will cultivate the community I need for helpful and constructive criticism by communicating and sharing with knowledgeable and reputable teachers. This can help me to recieve that criticism but also to grow as a teacher. I believe that criticism, both good and bad is extremely helpful in all aspects of life. 

      I believe that public writing should not be error free and should be formal. This is crucial for helping teach other students to learn how to share in that manor. If we as teachers or educators set the example then students will want to replicate our work. 

      We can create a culture that encourage transparency by encouraging it ourselves. The more educators make their work and lives transparent, the more others will. It is a very effective way to reach out to others. Transparency is also important for other people that may not have resources such as great teachers. By making our work transparent, other students are able to learn from it.

Week 2 blog topic

1. Who are you?
        I am a energetic, fun, loving elementary school teacher. I currently teach Art, Physical Education, Health and Technology, along with running an after school program at Akron First Academy.  I have been teaching for the last 5 years and it has truly opened my eyes to the world of education. My hobbies include jet skiing, hanging out with friends, sports photography and football.

2. What type of social media do you currently use?
        I currently use Facebook, Instagram and snap chat. I am trying to get the hang of using Twitter for this class.

3. Do you agree or disagree with what the writer said about social media?
       I agree with what the writer said about social media. I think that it is used in both a negative and positive way. It is a great way to communicate with others especially in a school setting. I think it is a great tool for teachers to incorporate in their classroom.

4. How do you represent yourself in the world of social media?
       I represent myself in a very professional manor on social media. I work at a Christian school so I am expected to honor their standards in regards to posts. Also, I have a very close relationship to some of the parents so remaining professional is a must as they are my Facebook friends. But in the same sense I do not do things that would represent myself in an unprofessional manor. I love the fact that I can stay connected to my students and their families through social media.

5. What are your initial thoughts on technology, specifically social media, in the classroom?
        I think that social media in the classroom could be a world changer. Students are always plugged into the world of social media so it could potentially help them to remain focused and on top of their assignments. But a downfall to social media in the classroom is that not all students have access to social media outside of school.

6. Anything else that you would like to add to introduce yourself:
       I am super excited about this class because I myself am a technology teacher. Logging on to this class has already given me tons of ideas to do with my students. The idea of an ongoing blog is a wonderful idea to have with my students!