Will this be the year?

As another school year begins across the country, here are questions we, as educators, need to ask ourselves.Will this be the year?
Will this be the year we utilize 21st century tools like Twitter, blogs, wikis and Google. Or will we continue to live in the last century, hindering our students progress in real world skills?
Will we incorporate the 4 C's of the 21st Century, Collaboration, Conversation, Communication and Creativity? Or will we emphasize rote memorization, lecture and standardized multiple choice tests?
Will this be the year we finally create a professional learning network of like minded educators from around the world? Or will we close the door again and be satisfied for what we learn from the teacher's lounge?
Will this be the year we transform our classroom to a student centered culture of learning? Or will we remain teacher centered, limiting the student's learning to just what we know?
Will  this be the year we actually begin teaching our children the responsible and ethical use of technology? Or will we continue to make excuses such as a lack of time, too difficult and it's not safe?
Finally, will we adopt professional learning as an integral part of our plan for success? Or will we show up, go through the motions and say wait till next year?
Hopefully this will be the year, the tipping point, where we venture out and accept the challenges of 21st century education.

MY Professional Learning Network

Effective 21st century education must be about the 4 C's- Connect, Collaborate, Create and the Conversation that follows.

With this in mind, I continue to utilize and be impressed by my professional learning network (PLN). Social media such as blogs, wikis, Google Reader and especially Twitter have become a part of my every day life. These tools enable me to connect with teachers and administrators from all over the world. From them, I learn new techniques for classroom activities(lesson plans), technology(cell phones, Ipads, Ipods and netbooks) and current trends in education(1:1 laptop initiatives, four day school weeks etc.). Simply put I am more knowledgeable and effective because I can connect with others who share similar passions.

I know Twitter from time to time is misunderstood by many as a "why do I need that" type of service, but I find it more beneficial each and every day. I recently discovered back channel hashtags# as a method of answering questions and eliciting feedback from students. I will  also utilize these back channels for my professional learning classes coming up the end of the month and then again in November. I'm looking forward to learning not only from those taking the classes but also from those  who may chime in through Twitter. Once again, 21st century education is about being able start conversations and connect, collaborate and create with people outside our own area we call home.

We're Back !!!

The end of the summer break has for all intents and purposes already arrived. The schedule, barring personnel surprises, is in the final stages. My colleagues I need but don't see often during the summer are returning and of course the heat and humidity are unbearable. I've read many excellent educational and thought provoking articles and books and am ready to put into motion several new ideas dealing with instruction, technology and curriculum.

I hope the buzzwords for the year include wikis, blogs and backward design. Teachers and students should be excited about these 21st century tools. Technology plays an integral role in most student's lives, they shouldn't have to check that at the door when they enter school. We are the digital immigrants they are the digital natives. We are preparing them for careers that may not even exist at this time. Teaching them to be problem solvers is the key.
I've also inherited a new position in addition to the Academic Coordinator and that is Lower School Principal. I'm looking forward to the challenge but at present I reside in the first stage of awareness, I don't know that I don't know. Everything is uncharted territory but hopefully with the help of an energetic faculty I can progress to the second level soon.