map it

As I consider, create and curate my digital identity, I began to think of the resources I use to support and construct my identity.  The online environment is full of learning resources and places to share information.   Using MindMeister, I created and mapped my Personal Learning Environment.  Within this environment, my online identity exists.  The creation of my personal learning environment helped me to categorize my use of online tools and resources as an educator.  As an art teacher, I spend a great deal online researching for relevant and innovative art styles and techniques that I can apply into the classroom.  I get inspired when I browse and collect ideas because during this online exploration, I am led to other channels, links, paths, etc. to peek my interest and curiosity.  Through this exploration, I develop my own learning and build new knowledge that I can share and collaborate with other people.

As I continue to build my personal learning environment, I have been able to participate in online communities that foster growth in individual competencies through knowledge exchange, sharing of ideas and collaborating with other professionals.  We are able to share and learn from each other facilitated through the use of online tools and applications.  Creating such networks will highly strengthen my teaching and communication skills and my digital presence online.

 

 

 

PLNs, CoPs, Connectivism

By using Padlet I am able to demonstrate my understanding of CoPs, PLN and Connectivism.  This web application is a great tool to connect and collaborate.  Participating in UNH’s 6th year certificate program has created a common thread from this group of people.  I am able to share learning of new knowledge and sharing of ideas.  As the program progresses, there will be a natural evolution of the group since we share a common interest in the field of education and our continual pursuit to be educated in the areas of technology and digital media literacies.  With this Padlet wall, I created posts of my classmates and our leader Ian O’Byrne with individual links to their blogpost.  The ability to collaborate through this web application allows for ways to connect our learning and experiences.  We are able to synthesize the information gathered in order to build knowledge.

The connections created with technology and digital tools allows me to search and find knowledge.  There is no clear cut direction or path to find knowledge or information, but rather knowledge is obtained by explorations and the many connections between the group.  We are given  opportunities to explore each other’s creations and by doing so, along the way, we stumble on things we have yet to understand.  Our curiosities lead us to seek more information to assist and support our learning to better understand the unknown.

 

pin it!

Pinterest is an awesome site!  One may not consider and associate Pinterest with education, but now is the time to have a different viewpoint of the website if you haven’t already done so.  Check it out and you will find a great amount of resource useful for the classroom.  I use to think that Pinterest was a place to look at other people’s collection of visual bookmarks, but I have discovered that it is more than a collection of photos, recipes, etc.

Using Pinterest for a Personal Learning Network is a smart decision because it enables you the opportunities to learn and develop new skills.  You are pretty much creating and involved in your very own professional development.   What I find very useful with Pinterest is that it provides related boards which leads you to explore other areas of learning.  Knowing that there is a collection of tips, advice, articles, tutorials, ideas, etc. is definitely a great resource for staying current with technological changes in education and society.   It is also easier to collect information and obtain knowledge when there is insufficient time to meet with colleagues.

Pinterest has been a great tool for my classroom since it has provided me a resource full of art projects and ideas.  Browsing through,  I am able to look at many examples of art projects and be able to construct new ideas by building from old ones.  It has given me insights on the many possibilities of what I can accomplish in my classroom.  It is good to know that if and when I need more information about using social media and other digital tools in the classroom, that I have Pinterest to turn to.

it’s personal

Every now and then the staff is scheduled for vertical meetings after school throughout the school year.  What that means is that each subject area or department meets together and collaborate with each other for an hour or so.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with being independent, but when you’re the only art teacher in the school it is hard to share ideas, share resources, and reflect on teaching practices by yourself.  I can certainly share ideas with myself, but that’s just plain crazy.  Ideas and resources sometimes need to be shared and discussed for opportunities to collaborate.  Plus, it would be great to hear other people’s thoughts and ideas.  When situations like this happens, it definitely would be great to have someone or somewhere to turn to when I need to develop other forms of creativity and to be innovative with my teaching.  Though I don’t work in a cubicle, the classroom in some sense can become a cubicle if I don’t extend the areas of where I can gather and share information.

Creating and being involved in a Personal Learning Network (PLN) can and will be very beneficial to my teaching.  Dr. Wagner lists 10 Tips for ways to be involved in creating a personal learning network or networking to learn.  Taking part in this new journey for the IT&DML program has already began to open and expand my personal learning network as I press and type this sentence in this newly created blog.  There is a wealth of knowledge, help and advice online and the use of digital tools that I should take advantage of in order to stay current with the change and to sharpen my teaching skills.  I know by creating a Personal Learning Network will help me to connect with other professionals in a global network in order to have a better teaching and learning experience.