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A Tech Teacher on a Mission

One Year Later - Thank You, PLN

4/9/2014

13 Comments

 
PictureImage by Lindsay Giguere
Happy "connected educator" anniversary to me!  It's been exactly a year since I stumbled into my first #edchat and #patue chats, which inspired me to start my own blog. 

That's where this journey of transformative career growth truly began for me. On this day last year, I think I was following 30 people and probably had the same amount of tweets. One year later, I find myself reflecting on the professional journey I've taken and I am considering some thoughts:

  • I became seemingly unconnected to suddenly connected; what changed for me that day? 
  • Why did I keep coming back for more?
  • How did Twitter and blogging transform my practice?
  • How do I feel now?

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Unconnected To Connected: What Changed For Me That Day? 

Nothing really changed about me as a person that day. Or the next. Or the next. 

What changed was the tools I used to get the job done (the job being to find resources and ways to professionally develop myself and grow as an educator).  I came into that situation with a growth mindset and I learned about a place that would feed that motivation. Most social media users are motivated to be present, participate, help, and share. Some watch from afar (AKA lurking), and that's cool, too, but the general idea is that everyone there is trying to grow their pedagogy and practice.

Why Did I Keep Coming Back For More?

Twitter was easy, fun, and I could access what I wanted, whenever I wanted, through the power of a hashtag. I could connect with educators I didn't know, chat with ones that I did, and even make new connections in my own district through it. 

Because of the list of Twitter educational chats curated by Jerry Blumengarten, Chad Evans, and Thomas Murray, I had access to several topical areas in education that I may be interested in. This list guided me on many occasions so I knew which hashtags to use for specific questions I had.

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How Did Twitter and Blogging Transform My Practice?

When I jumped into the Twitter world, I dove in head-first and prolifically tweeted for the first 4-6 months...

Twitter chats. Impromptu discussions. Questions to hashtags. Late night work crew. Google HangOuts. Online edcamps. 

The pedagogical ideas and philosophies that are offered through these networks of educators on social media only scratch the surface of what became a transformative change in my practice. Blogging helped me to reflect on how I designed learning opportunities with my students and how I approached specific situations. Discussions with educators from varying regions helped me to gain a huge appreciation for my own province, district, and school settings by being exposed to other educational climates and their respective challenges. Connecting with these peers at local and global levels also held me accountable to my word -- when I told someone that I was going to try something, I really had to try it -- I did say it on the Internet, after all!

Advice for newer edu-folks taking this road: The tools are aplenty and the ideas can be overwhelming. Take what you need and take a break when you need it. Social media and those motivated & sharing educators will still be there when you come back. Check out this post by David Truss that outlines (literally) everything you need to know about tapping into Twitter as a professional development tool.

PicturePhoto by meinalem on Flickr
How Do I Feel Now? 

My feelings, one year later? One word: grateful.

I'm grateful for my PLN and all that they've done for me. I'm grateful that they are better than Google or any educational database out there when I'm looking for that one thing that's going to make that lesson pop. I'm grateful that I have support locally and globally on my students' and school's initiatives. I'm grateful for the opportunity to travel, present, and share the stories of my students and to learn about the students of others. And most of all, more than anything, I am grateful for the connections that have blossomed into incredible friendships. 

So, PLN, thank you. We all stand on the shoulders of giants, and you're mine. 

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13 Comments
Karen Lirenman link
4/9/2014 04:18:57 pm

Wow! We are all so lucky to be learning and sharing with you my friend.

Reply
Victoria Olson link
4/10/2014 08:06:40 am

Thanks, Karen! :)

Reply
Dave Guymon link
4/9/2014 04:26:01 pm

Victoria, happy birthday! As evidenced by this post, you have certainly grown to be a more reflective, honest educator. I plan on sharing this blog with those in my local "offline" network to candidly display what being connected can do. Keep up the great work.

Reply
Victoria Olson link
4/10/2014 08:08:47 am

Dave, thanks for your comment and for your kind words. Being connected undoubtedly helps us to become more reflective about our practice, even if we don't share what we're doing from day to day -- at least it has for me. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Steve Clark link
4/9/2014 11:08:56 pm

Wow! Time Flies Victoria.It was a pleasure to meet you through twitter about a year ago and I have really enjoyed sharing your journey. I have shared your inspiring story with many people.

Looking forward to a face-to-face meeting one day!

Happy Blogging Birthday!

Reply
Victoria Olson link
4/10/2014 08:10:14 am

Steve, thanks for your comment and kind words. I remember when we first chatted about iMovie and picture-in-picture options. As much as it feels like yesterday, it seems so far away, too! Thanks for the blogging birthday wishes - one day we shall meet!

Reply
Jennifer Hayhurst link
4/11/2014 12:32:29 am

I know what you mean, one day I just "got it" and ever since I am amazed at the amount of resources that are available. It's like the world is our university. We're all learning together.

Reply
VictoriaOlson link
4/11/2014 08:00:46 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jennifer! Collective learning communities on social media and blogging are so empowering for today's teacher. Tapping in to what you want when you want it means that our learning is more personalized than ever, just as our students' should be. But it does take time for that realization to "click" for some folks... glad you got it! :)

Reply
Chris Rogers link
4/11/2014 01:34:15 am

Awesome post! I am looking forward to a 1-year celebration of my own in about 4 months. It's amazing what becoming connected can do for your effectiveness as an educator. Thanks for sharing and being a part of my PLN!

Reply
VictoriaOlson link
4/11/2014 08:02:03 am

Thanks for commenting, Chris! I look forward to your reflections as well. Glad we could connect!

Reply
Joe Jung
4/11/2014 01:41:23 pm

I didn't know it was your birthday! Congratulations. Rest assured that you have been a "giant" with shoulders for others to stand on as well. Thanks for all the learning!

Reply
Victoria Olson link
4/14/2014 03:37:41 pm

Thanks, Joe! It's always a team effort!

Reply
vicky link
8/16/2016 02:02:42 am

You may also hear one of these similar/related questions that are not .... In these cases, it will be expected that your five-year plan will include more schooling. .... the interviewers laughed and brought it up later as a response they loved.

Reply



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    Victoria Olson
    A curious and passionate educator in Langley, BC

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