Microsoft Education

Michele Peabody

Z

Microsoft Education
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/default.aspx
This is a free sign up for educators with free classes in all 21st century technology learning. The Skype in the classroom, Skype Mystery State (3-6grade),  real time virtual museums (provides real time docent), and Ask an Expert (via Skype) is a must for any teacher

Professional Learning Networks

Felix Davila III
CO
Moreillon, J. (2016). Building your PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK (PLN): 21st-century school librarians seek self-regulated professional development online. Knowledge Quest, 44(3), 64-69. Retrieved from http://libaccess.sjlibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=112090464&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Moreillon’s work here is a strong reminder of the necessity of developing a personal learning network. A PLN is essentially a core of resources that allows professionals to communicate or collaborate with others of the same field to expose themselves to new resources, tactics and more. The article provides a listing of ideas that librarians should bookmark for future reference. Moreillon includes discussion boards, Twitter groups or hastags, Facebook groups, webinars and blogs as common resources that can provide endless engagement, workshopping and brainstorming.

What is important to realize is that professional development is not simply located at work through employee meetings or training sessions. With technology, professional development is an every day, every hour phenomenon that can allow professionals a chance to grow and develop. Essentially, librarians should not rule out any outlet where they can connect with fellow librarians. This article motivated me to join a Facebook group of students that have taken INFO 254, which allowed me to not only share and receive ideas, but keep in touch with colleagues without compromising my personal social media (an important factor for those that may be really concerned with privacy).

Very helpful starter kit for becoming a "connected educator"

Ramos, Tara

IL

Powerful Learning Practice.  (2015).  Connected educator starter kit.  Retrieved from https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38904447/connected-educator-month-starter-kit-2015.pdf

Summary: This tool kit was designed to accompany the activities surrounding Connected Educators Month in 2015.  It provides an introduction to what a connected educator is and gives about thirty tools and ideas (one for each day os the month) that teachers can engage with to become more connected.  Examples include tips on using Twitter, building your Personal Learning Network, collaborating online, blogging, Wikis and more!  A favorite quote: "To become a connected educator, you must first become a connected learner.”

Evaluation:  I found this kit to be extremely useful as a budding teacher librarian.  It is exactly the introduction I needed to many tools and ideas that I have heard about surrounding 21st century learning and Web 2.0, but that have yet to become instrumental to my practice as an educator.  Just reading through the suggested activities and engaging with several of them, I am seeing a whole new world open to me before my eyes.  I highly recommend this kit to anyone who considers themselves to be at the beginning stages of becoming a 21st century educator.