#CEPLNCourse Final Reflection

Much of my professional growth as an educator has come from online collaboration and shared resources as well as face to face interactions at conferences. Although nothing beats a live face to face meetup, it isn’t always possible for people to connect in the same place at the same time. Work, kids soccer, vet appointments, hair cuts, you get the picture. Scheduling can be challenging to say the least. So, you can wait it out, keep rescheduling, or take advantage of some online tools and keep the momentum going. The convenience of using social media and other web tools to connect with a PLN to get answers to questions or share a new favorite tool whenever I want is truly powerful.

Twitter is my go to social network. With my busy schedule TwitterChats and Tweetdeck make the most sense to continue learning and growing as a professional. There are numerous chats related to what I am most interested in #EdChat, #LeadUpChat, #KidsCanCode and so many others. Even if I can’t make a scheduled event, I can always go through the chat to review what was shared or find new people to add to my PLN. Tweetdeck offers more convenience by organizing your data using filters. Whether you want to follow a specific person with their handle or use relevant hashtags, you are bound to find some great content.

Writing has never been my favorite past time. Add my own personal reflections to the mix, and the expectation that I will share my thoughts publicly and I’m ready to run and hide or find something else to do. For this reason, the Personal Reflection, Blogs and Portfolios module of this course was by far the most challenging for me. That said, it also offered me the most growth. It forced me out of my comfort zone and actually made me start a blog. Now I have written my fourth post. This is really something that I have wanted to do for a long time. Fingers crossed I keep it up. 

As a Digital Learning Coach, online adjunct, and conference presenter, it is crucial that I stay informed of new digital tools and strategies to provide current and meaningful professional development (PD). Social media and other online tools provide an opportunity for PD anytime, anywhere, with just about anyone. I’m most excited to build my PLN and PLE and hope to participate in some new Twitter Chats. How lucky I am to have 24/7 access to so many other like-minded people that want to learn with me, and you.

Equity in Computing

In the fall of 2018, I was elected for one of the CSTA Greater Boston Co-President positions which I share with David Petty. We are a local chapter and part of CSTA National, Computer Science Teachers Association. In my role, I help facilitate monthly meetings, run workshops, manage our Twitter account and website, and more. This year the Computer Science Teachers Association chapters of New England are kicking off our third annual CSTA regional conference. For updates or great resources, follow the conference on Twitter, #cstaNE2019. The Greater Boston chapter has partnered with Boston University to provide learning opportunities and discussions about "Equity in Computing" on Saturday, October 26. 

This is the first time I am coordinating something of this magnitude and I'm ready. The activities and ideas shared in the module on Connecting to Enrich Face-to-Face Professional Development, have given me new insights and ideas running a successful event. In my role as CSTA Greater Boston Co-President, I am excited to help navigate these waters and learn alongside my peers. It takes a village or in this case, CSTA chapters. 

Without giving away too much of the fun activities we will plan for the upcoming regional conference, I love the idea of previewing and connecting with the presenters via social media before even attending the event and of course following the conference, #cstaNE2019, to start making connections. I'm excited to explore a few ideas for conference challenges, like @ShellTerrell's selfie game or a versions of her BINGO board activity. Anything to connect the participants and anyone through social media interested in learning more about computer science education. 

Other ways to get involved 

follow us on Twitter, Greater Boston @csteachersgb or CSTA National @csteachersorg
join CSTA National, or
look for your local chapter, or start your own.

Join us if you can!

Learning Together Beats Doing It Alone

We have come a long way. I remember teaching teachers how to use email back in the mid-90s when it was just taking off. I can hear the dial up modem now. At that time, we were using AOL, independently, not as a district requirement. There weren't a lot of options at that time. It would be years before this was the case.

It amazes me how far we have come and how many virtual opportunities we now have to share and grow with each other. One of the first curator's that I remember at the time is Kathy Schrock. I was so excited to participate in a workshop of hers a couple years ago on Virtual Reality at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference. Yes, she is a trailblazer, but really think about how far we have come. We can communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime using tools like Google Hangouts, Twitter, Thinglink, and so many more. In fact, in the summer of 2018, Lee Araoz, Colleen Terrill and I ran a conference workshop to show educators how to run a Mystery Hangouts with Google Hangouts. Colleen leads a Googlepalooza event each August which I have presented for. In the summer of 2018 I had an EPIC adventure planned so I could not attend, in person.

Colleen, Lee, and I were excited to run this activity and share our love of learning to collaborate with our peers while breaking down barriers and connecting classrooms. Colleen lead the helm here in Massachusetts while Lee and I dialed in with Google Hangouts. I was able to connect from Warsaw, Poland, to participate. Good thing Lee is a history buff as he was able to answer some questions about Warsaw for me. The participants had to find out where in the world Lee and I were by asking yes or no questions while Colleen helped moderate in Massachusetts. We had a blast thanks to video conferencing and some curious teachers.

Today we have more tools than ever to identify primary sources, share ideas, and communicate in real time with people around the world, even in our PJs. Computer technology puts the world at our fingertips. As an educator, the learning is endless. Check out my Wakelet Collection to see some of my favorite resources. Together we can achieve great things.

Where Does Your Digital Footprint Lead?

Have you ever discovered a cool "new" tool, then tried to create an account only to discover that I already have an account. Well, you aren't alone. With so many web tools and options it can be challenging to say the least to keep up. As an educator with a limited if any budget, I'm always most interested in cheap and free tools. Unfortunately these tools, whether free or not, have their own set of rules for using your personal data. When you click "agree" on the acceptable use policies for these tools you could be signing up for more than you bargained for. Often they are collecting our personal data, our contacts data, or both. This is why it is important to understand the policies for any account or tool we wish to use. Make sure to review the policies, monitor and apply settings most appropriate to your account and the privacy of your personal information. It is also important to know the purposes of the creators of the apps and tools we access, on and off line. Are they selling or sharing your data with others? Is your data safe? Be in the know, make good choices.

As part of this assignment I was required to review some resources that made me think about the accounts which I use, in particular, Facebook. I was an avid Facebook user for a long time but after the scandal with Cambridge Analytica I have concerns for my privacy. Take a look at "The Great Hack" a documentary on Netflix about data privacy, the 2016 US Presidential election, and Cambridge Analytica. Data mining, like any powerful tool, when used inappropriately can result in damaging results. Be in the know, make good choices.

Using social media for professional purposes is a powerful way to communicate with your community. You can share your expertise, provide resources and contact information to gain the support of your community. That said, everything you post is a reflection of yourself. One negative bit of data can lead to professional demise. While attending a teacher conference I sat in on a panel of union attorneys about social media and educational professionals. During the panel discussion they shared several true stories about educators that lost teaching positions because of the choices they made using social media which included posts with alcohol, scantily clad outfits, and friending students. Personally, I think these educators may have been targeted but in the end it doesn't matter.  Many argued that these posts were part of their private, personal lives but in the end they lost their arguments and their positions. Take a look at this post from the NEA. As a public figure we have an image to uphold for ourselves and our students. Be in the know, make good choices.

It's About Time!

It's been a long time coming but here I go. Life is short and I have a lot to say. Maybe my ideas are just like everyone else's or maybe, just maybe, they are not. Time will tell.

So why now? Well, I signed up for an Ed Technology Specialist course called Connected Educators with Shelly Sanchez Terrell, as a student. You see, I am also an online facilitator with ETS. As a teacher, I know that I will also always be a student which is great because I love to learn, especially when I can learn with like minded others that are passionate about learning and education. This is yet another step in building my PLN, personal learning network, and PLE, personal learning environment. As a direct result of this course, I am beginning my blogging journey.

While reviewing some of the "Blogs and Portfolios" resources and finding a few of my own, I created a Wakelet Collection for future access. This collection has resources to some blog and portfolio favorites as well as a few how too items. I can't wait to give the look of my learning blog a new makeover. Stay tuned.

Thoughts, tips, and questions are welcomed in the comments below.