Starter kit

Task Discussion

• 
  Melissa Seifman   Aug. 10, 2012, 10:58 a.m.

  Use it yourself first, then use it with your students, then share with fellow educators, then ask permission!

  As we know, administrators are often uncomfortable with innovative technology.  As long as you have parental permission, have made it as 'safe' and user friendly as possible, and can show educational connections to learning, they usually go for it!

• 
  Verena Roberts   Aug. 4, 2012, 10:37 p.m.

  • Take on one tool at a time. Try to play with that tool and figure out if it works for you and how it can work for you in your learning environment
  • Don't say to other connected educators - but how do you do it, I have no time. Anyone who is inerested finds time - somehow....:)
  • Get on twitter, start following people, keep a file of great resources from twitter (I use diigo) and follow oher people when they follow you (if they are real people and not spam)
  • Remember no one is an expert and everyone is an expert. Egos are bad in connected learning and everyone always  has something to contribute.
• 
  karen   Aug. 4, 2012, 1:33 p.m.

  What advice would you give to educators just getting started with being a connected educator?

  • Start small with what you can manage.
  • Don't be shy about sharing and adding your voice to the conversation. We all have something to contribute, and you get more when you share.
  • Find great supportive people to connect with. (And if people aren't great or supportive or don't otherwise add to your life, cull.)
• 
  Penny Bentley   Aug. 4, 2012, 7:56 a.m.

  My advice to new connected learners would be to start with a few tools and learn how to use them well. I made the mistake of signing up to and trying out everything I came across...information overload can prevent you from learning well.

  Also to ask for help for anything as there are so many educators out there willing to support you.

• 
  apemak   Aug. 3, 2012, 7:49 p.m.

  Here is a question I have about twitter.  How do you organize it?  Do you use twitterdeck, or is there something else you suggest to use to organize?

  I have just started following a ton of different people.  I do have to say it is addicting, and I am like a kid in a candy store, wanting to check out all the suggested links.  Thank you!

  April

• 
  Valerie Burton   Aug. 3, 2012, 8:05 p.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 3, 2012, 7:49 p.m.

  

   

  Yes I use Tweetdeck.

• 
  Penny Bentley   Aug. 4, 2012, 7:43 a.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 3, 2012, 7:49 p.m.

  I use Hootsuite as it has tabs with streams. It's well worth looking into for organising all your interests.

• 
  karen   Aug. 4, 2012, 1:27 p.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 3, 2012, 7:49 p.m.

  Two Twitter tools I use everyday and really like are Tweetdeck and the Twitter gadget on my iGoogle page. Having a Twitter stream on my main home page means I can stay on top of what's going on and interact at a glance without having to go to a different page or app.

• 
  Melissa Seifman   Aug. 10, 2012, 10:59 a.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 3, 2012, 7:49 p.m.

  Have you tried backhanneling in your presentations?  I'm curious to see how students respond if you permit them to use a backchannel while presenting, and address comments/posts in the backchannel

• 
  Tellio   Aug. 10, 2012, 11:45 a.m.
  In Reply To:   Melissa Seifman   Aug. 10, 2012, 10:59 a.m.

  *I have used backchannel on occasion in my classes especially during student presentations. Plan to use much more extensively this year especially at the end of each class. Might also use it as an opening as well. Bringing the backchannel to the foreground. * On Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 9:59 AM, mseifman <
• 
  Tellio   Aug. 3, 2012, 11 a.m.

  My biggest piece of advice to myself, to you and to any of my students is to allow yourself to ask for help, to comment, to ask questions, and to ask for clarification. 

  These are the greatest technologies.  They are the thrust which makes digital tech work. 

• 
  apemak   Aug. 2, 2012, 4:49 p.m.

  Sadly, I have not really looked into twitter at all.  I just signed up for an account.  I do not have time to start following or look at anything right now, but I am excited about it.  So, I have my foot in the door finally.

• 
  Valerie Burton   Aug. 2, 2012, 9:36 p.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 2, 2012, 4:49 p.m.

  Yay you.  EVERYTHING new that I have done in the classroom for the last few years, I got from someone on Twitter.  It is the best professional development around. Welcome to the Twittersphere.

• 
  Penny Bentley   Aug. 4, 2012, 7:39 a.m.
  In Reply To:   Valerie Burton   Aug. 2, 2012, 9:36 p.m.

  Valerie...I would have to agree with you here. Twitter has become my micro blogging tool of choice, followed closely by Facebook groups.

• 
  karen   Aug. 4, 2012, 1:31 p.m.
  In Reply To:   apemak   Aug. 2, 2012, 4:49 p.m.

  For a long time, I had a Twitter account that I mostly just used at conferences and didn't really see the value of. Now, several years later, I couldn't live without Twitter. I have made many good friends there and it is my "go to" place for information and support.

  For Connected Educator month, we have set up a Twitter account that will have a different connected educator tweeting every day. It is @connecteded . This might be a good way to find some good new people to follow. The profile each day will say who is tweeting that day.

  To me, getting value out of Twitter is all about assembling a great group of folks to follow.