What’s Next?

It’s been over nine months.

Did you miss me?

I could write a rather long post that fills in the blanks of why these pages have been blank since August or I could describe it well with just one, single word.

Life.

So now, what’s next?

I’ve been grappling with how to fill these pages.  Should this be devoted to education, students and learning?  Should it be a journal of professional self-reflection?  As an educator, I have a lot to say about the present and future state of education.

Unless, I decide to fill this space with more musings on family life.  As the father of four (yes, a change since my last post), I believe I have a lot to add about fatherhood, family, and faith.  I’m not saying that I lead the most interesting of lives but I do think I have something to share.  I once said that my life would be far more exciting if Gus Johnson provided the commentary.

Gus Johnson Erupts Over Ben Watson Header

I could also decided to split this space between education and family.  Both are connected and I am currently doing this here to a small extent.

I am leaning toward adding a second blog.  Making one with a focus on family and one devoted to education.  Besides, that would give people a chance to not read my musings twice.

Your thoughts?

What’s next?

Be a Connected Educator

For teachers, at times, the classroom can be a lonely place.  In an effort to bring teachers out of isolation, schools and districts have brought teachers together in one venue for professional development.  PD, at its best can be exciting and inspiring, allowing teachers to interact, collaborate, and arm them with new and innovative ideas.  At its worst, PD can be boring; a time waster, where teachers are spoken at in a warehouse setting, with little hope of collaboration or inspiration.

In their recently published book, The Connected Educator: Leading and Learning in a Digital Age, authors and educators Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Lani Ritter Hall provide a road map to guide teachers to connectivity in the ever-changing world. Nussbaum-Beach and Hall use their years of practical experience and unique understanding of our changing times to give teachers powerful ways to break through the isolation of a solitary classroom to use powerful resources: one another through powerful technological tools.

The authors recognize that teachers are at different places with their own teaching, learning, and comfort with technology.  To meet teachers where they are during their own individual journies, each chapter is systematic in its approach and provides three common sections:

-Where Are We?

-Where to Now?

-Get Connected

To engage the reader, the chapters also present the authors’ personal stories and “Think About” boxes.  This approach enables the reader to learn and grow through a conversation yet professional style with the authors.  This book truly provides professional development that is interactive and engaging.  It gives the teachers the tools to travel down their best avenue for PD.

As we begin 2012 and want to learn and grow as educators and learners, The Connected Educator, is a necessary “How to Guide” and a must have for our personal and professional libraries, Kindles or iPads.  Be a connected educator!