While I know that like any profession, there are good teachers and bad teachers, I don’t see many bad ones. My work usually has me working with passionate, caring teachers who truly want what’s best for kids. They dislike bureaucracy and red tape (doesn’t everybody?) and will try anything if they think it will help students learn. I do know of a few teachers who do not fit this bill but honestly, not very many.
What I have come to realize is that teachers who share are the best teachers. Even better if they choose to share online. Sharing online requires, in most cases some careful thought and consideration since the implications and stakes are much higher.
I was fortunate to spend an hour with some of these outstanding teachers;teachers who have an online presence of some sort and are willing and excited to open up that space for others to join them and participate in their learning. Alec and I are teaching undergraduate courses and are matching up our students with several of these teachers. Listening to them describe their
classrooms, you can sense their passion and it’s palpable. They love kids and they love teaching. Many of them made statements about their work as if they are just learning to use these sharing tools and they shouldn’t be seen as leaders. In that respect, they are wrong.
Sharing and meta cognition should be inseparable. Deep reflectors of their practice are constantly modifying instruction to make learning more effective. This is not about them using technology, it’s about sharing. I’m not saying you have to share to be a great teacher, I’m saying if you do, you are. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.
This group of teachers includes a few that in their last year of teaching, some in huge high schools, in small rural schools, some teaching in Indian reserves, some Kindergarten teachers and some senior classes. The one thing they have in common is that their classrooms are open to the world. What would our schools be like if every classroom operated this way?
Here’s a link to their spaces for you to check out yourselves.
Carey Pohanka
Chad Brannon
Chris Harbeck
Colleen Glaude
Donna Fry
Eldon Germann
George Mayo
Jaqlyn Schmitt
Jeff Whipple
Jennifer Clark Evans
Karen Chichestor
Moira Moritz
Anne Smith
Kristen Leclaire
Kelly Hines
Kyle Stevens
Lois Smethurst
Maria Knee
Mavis Hoffman
Matt Montagne
Jessica Lipsky
Debby Cothern & Michelle Ellis
Tracey Ruark and Cathy Daniels
Nellie Duetsch
Sandi Kerney
Seth Dickens
Sheri Edwards
Sophie Rosso
Stephanie Affield
Stephanie Olson
Susan Carter Morgan
Paula White
Teryl Magee
Thank you all for sharing.
Images: Teachers introduce themselves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holtsman/3235968267
Dean,
I couldn’t agree more. I am so fortunate to spend most of my days with passionate, intelligent, and reflective teachers. I encourage them to share with one another ( and now the world) their practices. In the beginning, they are very shy;not wanting to portray arrogance or superiority. Once they see the power in this dialogue and the tools like Twitter, Nings, and Blogs that can take the conversation global – the learning is endless!
Thank you for sharing this list of incredible educators – I look forward to spreading this message!
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Share(ski),
Just had this conversation with my students (pre-service teachers) yesterday. Thank you for assembling this artifact. I will definitely share this!
Chris
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Dean,
If every classroom operated this way, then all classrooms would be a fun and exciting place to learn…every day!
I am very excited about this opportunity and my excitement is being passed on to my students. They love learning with technology.
I learn something new all the time from my students. I know that your students will enjoy this as much as me and my students will.
When the students have ownership of their learning in an inquiry based curriculum enhanced with technology the possibilities are endless.
Chad
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Thanks for making this possible Dean. It’s really easy to take that step to make your classroom open and share what you know and what you’re doing, but the connections take time. Your project is making it possible for my group of teachers to connect for the first time and it is creating a unforgettable learning experience for your students. Thanks for including us!
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Connections can make a teacher’s job so much easier. Nice post, Dean.
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Darren,
Love that graphic. Thanks.
Great teachers are always evaluating what works and what doesn’t work. They are thinking about how to make their lessons better. Sharing opens you up to getting opinions from people who are not as invested in a lesson as you are. Those comments can then help you to think about the lesson in new and interesting ways. They can help you extend the learning beyond what you initially developed. I have been using my PLN to glean ideas and it has made me a better teacher. My next step is to take the risk and share what I’m doing in my classroom. Thanks for the push.
Hello Dean. Thanks for sharing. ;0)
If the sites I list below work for your needs, please feel free to share these as well. All are mine:
8th Grade Google Sites project sample: http://sites.google.com/a/mcsi.org/jamestown/
My Resources for 3G in Ed (GPS, Geocaching, and Google Earth): http://sites.google.com/site/3gined/
My sites for sharing AUPs and other related documents I use: https://sites.google.com/site/aupsandstuff/
Resources for PHOTOgraphy FUNdamentals project: https://sites.google.com/site/mcsphotofun/
My Google Site for sharing FREE tools for educators: https://sites.google.com/site/freetoolsforeducation/Home
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You make some excellent points on how much we can learn from other teachers. Also, keeping in touch with other educators can help us to overcome obstacles and rekindle our fire every once in a while by learning new techniques. The availability to do it over the internet is a great way to get input from a variety of teachers in similar situations. I completely agree, even though I’m not the best blogger or discussion board enthusiast, that it is essential to keep improving ones teaching abilities.
It might sound lame, but I do believe as well as many others that sharing is caring. This is part of the job description as teachers. Teachers are to share their information and knowledge with their students, that is the whole purpose they are teaching anyway. Teachers need to expirement in order to find out which teaching methods and strategies work best, this also makes them good teachers. If an instructor finds something technology related that will benefit his/her students it will not only help with that subject, but it will also help students to discover more and interact with technology on a strictly educational level. When teachers use blogs that can help them uncover what has worked for other teachers and new teaching methods and styles as well. This is why it is important for educators to keep up with changing times because if they do not their students might be the ones lagging behind.
Teachers sharing and becoming close with their students are two very important aspects of teaching in mind. I think teachers need to always experiment by doing and learning from their experiences. If a teacher finds that some source of technology works best for their students in understanding the material being adressed, the teacher will most likely use this in his/her future classes. Keeping in touch with other educators can help teaching students. By listening to other teachers talk about their strategies and what has or hasn’t worked in the past it can give the teacher an idea of how it would or wouldn’t work in the classroom. I think blogging is an excellent way of communication and as a future educator I plan on using it in the future.
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Are special education teachers included? That would be nice.
I am currently an undergraduate student who is in the Elementary Education Program. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was six years old, and it’s amazing to realize that I am so close to one of my dreams. This semester I am enrolled in a course called Computers in Education. Recently we have been learning about educational technology. Our class has discussed how technology can be helpful to teachers and can be easily integrated into a classroom. Technology allows educators to find new and efficient ways to help their students learn.
First, I definitely agree that there are so many wonderful teachers in this world. These are people who are passionate about their students and who want their students to succeed. I have met very few bad teachers. I think that bad teachers are probably people who are in the wrong profession, and aren’t happy themselves. Teaching has to be something that you love, and I believe that some of us were born to teach. It is a challenging yet extremely rewarding profession.
Current and future educators need to understand that we all have a wealth of knowledge, and it’s a great idea to share this with others. Not only do we share our knowledge with our students but our colleagues as well. It is so beneficial to take the time and listen to what other educators have to say. The internet allows us to connect with many different people, and we can easily share our ideas with other educators. It is evident that we can all learn from each other in so many different ways. All teachers should take advantage of using new ideas from other teachers, especially once you know what has worked in the past. It’s very simple to share lesson plans, websites, and activities with other teachers.
I wanted to say that it’s so nice to see how many educators truly care about their students and their learning. It’s our job to encourage children in a variety of ways, and technology is a new and useful tool to help us accomplish this. Just as our minds expand our student’s minds will too.
You absolutely have to include Sammuel Sennott’s blog http://alltogether.wordpress.com as it is remarkable for its promotions of technology for special education.
Sharon,
There are thousands more that could be included. It wasn’t meant as any type of exhaustive list, just the folks participating in our mentorship program.
I posted an open invitation and there are a few special education teachers represented here. We certainly value and encourage diversity for our students as much as possible.
So sorry that I missed the Elluminate. I hope that I can participate in this learning as it always goes both ways for me. I’m the teacher because I love learning and sharing thoughts with my students and with other teachers.
Hi Dean,
I work with two of the teachers on your list and they are indeed teachers willing to share their knowledge and open their classroom to the world. They are also learners – joyful learners who are willing to take a risk and try something new – knowing that their own learning will greatly benefit their students.
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Dear Dean,
If you would like a complimentary copy of ‘Multiple Intelligences, Howard Gardner and New Methods of College Teaching” please send me a street address. The anthology covers various disciplines.
Clyde Coreil
Great post!
I would love to share my blog: http://www.alltogetherwecan.com
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smashwords.com a place to be published for free! check out my fact family lesson and book at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4064 you can do this for yourself or your older students!
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