Connected Educator Month officially kicked off this week, and there are many learning opportunities for you and your colleagues around the world all month long!
On the main CEM website, you can find a calendar filled with events to help promote connected learning. Events are hosted by organizations, schools, and classrooms around the world.
Looking to grow professionally through connected learning? The Connected Educator Month Starter Kit is a great place to start. It will provide you with background on the rationale behind this month and plenty of activities to help you begin connected or deepen the connections you already have.
Connecting with others via social media is one way to address just some of the following Spartan Digital Competencies:
SDC 2 – Communication and Collaboration with Colleagues
D. Shares and seeks ideas and resources from fellow teaching professionals.
SDC4 – Model Digital Age Learning
A. Exhibits a positive attitude and approach towards using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity within the professional culture.
B. Models and facilitates effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use digital information resources to support research and learning.
G. Models global awareness and cultural understanding by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital communication and collaboration tools (Skype, Google Hangouts, email, Global Read Aloud, Edmodo, etc.)
SDC 5 – Professional Growth and Digital Age Leadership
A. Creates a personal learning network (PLN) relevant to current professional responsibilities by:
- Participating in and contributing to learning with members of local and global professional learning communities through the use of blogging, RSS feeds, education portals, social media and virtual environments.
- Striving to become an innovative leader in professional learning environments
Interested in learning more about Twitter to form global connections, or using Google+ to participate in learning communities? Please contact me, either individually or as a team, and we will plan a learning event to help you get started! Don’t forget, while technology helps us connect on a global level, connections within your buildings and district and local colleagues should also be celebrated during CEM!
Other reads and resources:
Connected Educator Month on Pinterest
Edublogs published The Edublogger’s Guide to Connected Educators Month
Consider participating in the Global Read Aloud!
Via my connected colleague, Chris McCaffrey: “There’s nothing powerful about technology, the power lies in the hearts and minds with the people we connect. Social media just increases that circle of influence further than we could ever imagine.”