A Connected Educator/ICE Webinar

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In recognition of Connected Educators Month I have decided to blog about something that has revolutionized educators globally. This revolution is known as: Connected Educator. So what is a connected educator? A connected educator is an educator that connects with fellow educators and/or professionals to help enhance and improve their teaching as well as collaborating with others for the benefit of students’ education.

ICE Webinar: A Connected Educator

Image Source: Screenshot of ICE Webinar: Connected Educator presented on 10/09/13 by Jen Smith

In order to expand more on this modern concept of a connected educator I will elaborate on a webinar that I recently watched that focused on connected educators. This webinar was hosted by ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) and was presented by creative innovative specialist, ICE member, Jen Smith, live on October 9^th, 2013. Specialist Jen Smith explained that connected educators actually originated in teacher lunch rooms in which teachers communicated with each other discussing lesson plans, students, pedagogy, and many other topics that emerge within education. However, this teacher lunchroom/staffroom was limited because the only members communicating were those in the room at the time of those conversations. This began to change once the internet revolutionized communication in the millennium. The new method of communicating instantly and globally through the internet allowed educators to engage in communication and collaborations globally; thus the modernized connected educator emerged. However, as Smith stated, the connected educator is more than communicating and collaborating, the connected educator is someone who accepts advice and implements it in the classroom, afterwards reflects and shares their reflection with others in order to help others improve by this dissemination of insightful knowledge. So how does one take advice, reflect publicly, and disseminate their wisdom? As presented in the ICE webinar, the answer is four letters: PLNs. PLNs is the acronym for Professional Learning Networks; these are the outlets to become a connected educator. So what type of outlets constitute as Professional Learning Networks?

Professional Learning Networks 

  

Image Source: Screen shot of a PowerPoint presentation I created about PLNs

Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) are outlets in which educators can collaborate, interact, and disseminate knowledge with other educators via the internet.  PLNs help educators develop professionally by interacting and creating connections with others educators. They are crucial for helping educators keep up with the latest education news especially in their subject. PLNs essentially are resources for educators to seek answers to their questions and to share their wisdom. The great thing about PLNs is that the potential networks are limitless because there are no geographical boundaries because educators only need the internet and they can connect with other educators anywhere in the world. There are many forms of PLNs such as: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Teacher Tube Google mail, blogs, and professional building websites such as wix.com, visit my professional page to see how one looks like at: http://dbramirez.wix.com/ramirezdaniel    

More on the ICE Webinar: Connected Educator  

The ICE webinar itself is a form of a PLN because through it Specialist Jen Smith was able to communicate with 25+ members participating in the live webinar presentation. The webinar is an online LIVE presentation in which one member or more can communicate a presentation vocally and show the visual presentation simultaneously to active members logged in on their own computers or smartphones at home or anywhere they have access to the webinar webpage. Webinars’ page layout, such as the one presented by Jen Smith, provide a platform for all members to participate and engage actively in the presentation without interrupting the presenter. Members are able to participate because the webinar page layout provides a section to visually see all the members active in the webinar as well as their name and number count of members. Innovatively, the webinar also provides a section for live online chat among all active members; this is how the presenter can continue presenting without being interrupted. If a member wants to ask a question they simply type in their question in the chat box and the presenter can always look at the chat section in order to answer some question. 

During the ICE: Connected Educator webinar Jen Smith explained many different web 2.0 tools and many PLNs websites and during this time many members shared many other websites and tools through the chat box. The presentation also mentioned Twitter and during this part of the presentation almost all members in the webinar shared their twitter handler (twitter name). Although webinars are active online live presentation some webinars can be viewed through after the matter through the archives (not all but some webinars). I will provide the archive link for the ICE: Connected Educator webinar within this blog. Ultimately, the ICE webinar explained that educators that benefit substantially from becoming a connected educators through PLNs. If you are reading this blog then you must be invested in education so I strongly suggest beginning your journey as a connected educator by beginning your own PLNs, here is how you can start: create a twitter account and add me @DannyBRamirez

*The URL link to the ICE: Connected Educator webinar below* 

 http://connect.illinicloud.org/p5elr4ervgr/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

My View on Webinars and Connected Educators  

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I love the concept of the modern connected educator. I think that all members of PLNs learn an abundant from each other and are able to help globally. Imagine helping a new teacher in China or Mexico without ever traveling and paying those expensive airline tickets, well this is all possible thanks to PLNs. PLNs are great for educators to expand their friendship and acquaintances which will help expand their potential educational reach. The connected educator is the education revolution that actually allows one educator to make an impact globally through his/her digital dissemination of knowledge. I also like webinars because they have revolutionized the way we look and think about education staff meeting, we no longer have to rush to make all the teacher conferences and pay to attend them. We now have the technology to have instant digital education conferences anytime and with anyone globally. I am an advocate of the connected educator, PLNs, and webinars.

For more information on PLNs/Resources:

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1. Educational Technology and Mobile Learning
This is a great blog that essentially covers everything you need to learn about PLNs
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/

2. Teacher Tube
This is a great resource to help you refresh your mind of all the subject concepts within all the grade levels. This is the equivalent of YouTube but designed directly for educators for them to upload and view videos specific to their educational field.
*Please take a look at this website it is an educational gem*
http://www.teachertube.com/

3. Free Professional Website Maker
Wix is a great resource to use to create a FREE professional website that you can promote to help you connect with other educators. This website can be used to elaborate on resources that are helpful for you. You can also elaborate on your educational philosophy and provide your contact information in order to expand your network and collaborate with other educators.
http://www.wix.com/

4. LinkedIn
This is a website that is specifically designed to help professionals connect with other professionals within their field in order to share information and assist each other in job searches. Many educators know about LinkedIn and I strongly suggest that you create an account in order to assist in your job availability.
http://www.linkedin.com/

5. The Educator's PLN Website
This is an actual personal learning network website for educators. Educators can create their own page and collaborate and converse with other educators through tutorial videos, blogs, forums, and direct messages. Users can also provide helpful links for resources and create and join groups with common interest in specific areas of education. another great aspect is that news feeds regarding education are updated and allow for educators to converse about these relevant education news that are in the national spotlight.
http://edupln.ning.com/

6. YouTube Video: Personal Learning Networks for Educators
This video explains the importance of PLNs mainly two reasons: 1.Accessibility, and 2.Connectivity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6WVEFE-oZA

7. PDF: Professional Learning Networks Designed for Teacher Learning
This PDF files explains how PLNs are essentially beneficial for teacher learning, reprinted from an teacher educational journal.
http://acce.edu.au/sites/acce.edu.au/files/pj/journal/27_1ProfLearning_Networks_p34-38.pdf

If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to ask me via the comment section. I will try my best to answer your inquiries.
ramidaniel@my.dom.edu or on Twitter @DannyBRamirez

Remember add me to your PLN!