Rules of Engagement - Being A Connected Educator

As we continue to grow as educators, we know that there are key elements to being a connected leader that are essential to our impact on others, and ourselves. Whether having read Digital Leadership by Eric Sheninger or What Connected Educators Do Differently by Whitaker, Casas and Zoul, it is ever apparent that being connected is imperative to our success. We can not afford to be disconnected. As we dive into the connected world, keep in mind the following:

1. Follow. There is an endless number of educators that will expand your own knowledge when it comes to the profession in which you've chosen. As you take to twitter, blogging, podcasts and other platforms of sharing of information, hold on for the ride as you will be immersed in information. Make sure you are following people that can grow you as a learner. As is known in the twittersphere, growing your PLN (Professional Learning Network) is a game-changer for your growth as an educator.

2. Lead. Get your message, your passion and your desire for teaching AND learning out there to the greater educational community by taking a leadership role in the connected community by what you post. There is no net that can contain the amount of information that you can share via twitter, blogging or other creative forms of social media like podcasts and blab. Regardless of your role, we are all leaders in our profession and your voice needs to be heard.

3. Observe. As important as it is to follow and lead, there is also plenty to be learned from simply observing other connected educators. Make sure you check out the landscape of what is out there and take time to digest what you come across your device. Don't feel obligated to respond to everything you see and read all of the time. Just like sharing, observing can be equally as fulfilling in your growth as a connected educator.

4. Engage. Get into conversations with colleagues over a post, topic or blog that has inspired you to grow as a leader. And, equally as powerful is to engage in a conversation with others that you may not be aligned with. If you come across something that sparks your curiosity, then by all means dive into the topic. One of the greatest purposes of sharing out information is to get feedback from others. It is an essential piece of the process.

5. Inspire. A fear for some with social media is that what we share may have little to no value to others. There is a struggle with our own sense of failure when it comes to being connected. Remember that you have an amazing opportunity to impact the work of your connected colleagues near and far. Your life experiences, along with those around you, have the potential to inspire others on their journey of being an even better educator. Getting connected was half the battle. Now that you are, get out there and share your story.

If you have stumbled upon this post, you most likely are already a connected educator in your professional growth. Being connected is powerful. It will grow you in all aspects of your work. Model to others the impact that this has on your teaching and learning.

If You Inspire Others, Who Inspires You?

(courtesy of lettervoice.com)

You are an inspiration to many in the field of education. Others look up to you. Your colleagues are always learning from the knowledge you bring to the table. Students and parents are listening to the message of your class or school and anticipate the next opportunity to grow.

Simply stated, you inspire others.

So, who inspires you?

For me, there is a simple answer. I turn to those that are reading this blog, or my twitter feed, or attending our professional conversations at school or those that sit down in the chair across from me and take the time to talk, and listen. Many times those conversations, in person or online, is just what I need to be better at what I do. For many of you it is these same platforms that motivate you each day.

Human instinct, and being humble, will keep most of us from recognizing that we are in fact, inspirational. As I think through what each of you offer me in my growth as a leader, here are the commonalities:

• You challenge me. It works because I am open to the conversation. Don't challenge someone or something just because of your personal and/or professional beliefs but look at the situation holistically and through the eyes of a child and the lens of the organization. 
• You are a problem solver. If you bring me a problem, bring me some possible solutions. From there, we can process and determine the best course of action. I appreciate those that want to make the system better.
• You are critical. Share your constructive criticism, commonly known as "feedback". This is much different than complaining. Feedback offers direction, complaining just weighs down the progress. Ask questions, accepting answers is a part of the process.
• You have an open mind. You are only as strong as those we are surrounded by. Turning to teachers, parents and the students is critical to our success. Many times it is the youngest minds that give me the most inspiration to be better.
• You are a leader. Regardless of your title we each have the capacity to lead. Look at your role and find a way to offer your insight and your passion. You don't need a "title" to be a leader you just need to have the desire to make a difference.

I appreciate those that I work with, and those that I connect with, that offer me the inspiration I need each day to lead. I am better for my students and my teachers and my community because of what you have taught me.

With that, continue to inspire others. You are amazing at it.

Stay the Course

(courtesy susansly.com)

The idiom "Stay the Course" means to persevere, endure to completion. Educators live this. Educators work diligently, and passionately, to accomplish all of their tasks in a day. Those that do so give the rest of us something to strive toward.

The reality, however, is that many days we fall short of completing our lists. Not due to lack of desire or passion but often to the reality of our work. Our days are not even close to consistent. That comes with the territory and we knew that when we took the charge to be teachers and administrators.

Furthermore, to "stay the course" we also know that one has to be self-disciplined, organized, focused and have a thorough understanding of what their end result is going to be. Character traits that we each posses at any given time without a doubt. However to apply these each day with each task, challenging at best.

For me, there is a "compass" that points me in the direction to ensure that I do not deviate from the intended course. And it takes each of these points, not always as simple as they may seem, to increase the likely-hood of reaching my intended outcome. They are:

Write it down. Once you have determined what your goal to accomplish is, make sure to write it down on a piece of paper, journal it or place it on an index card and post it in your office. When the tasks are big, make the post-it note even bigger. Make sure you can read what it is that you are hoping to accomplish so you have a constant reminder of where you are heading.

Find smart people, inspiring people, and surround yourself with them. I often share with others that without the support of those around me growing up, I would hardly be where I am today. Without hesitation I can give credit to certain people that were somehow placed along my path that helped guide me to where I am now. Whether a high school or college classmate, my first teaching colleagues or members of my administrative team, each person played a significant role in my success. And in todays digital world, we are connecting with those inspiration people each and every day. I make sure to find brilliant, inspirational people and surround myself with them.

Breathe in, and out. Too many times we get so focused on where we want to get to that we forget to catch our breath, take
inventory of where we are in the process and regroup to finish off the work that needs to get done. I am not suggesting we take long lunch breaks or drop it for a long period of time, just breathe, appreciate what has been done, and then get back to work. The more rushed you are the less productive you will be.

Fail and move on. We have all heard the stories of the Abe Lincoln and his lack of success with voters prior to his Presidency. The story of Michael Jordan being passed over for his basketball team. And of course, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and the stories of how their success came via a less then "traditional" academic path. The reality is that we are each going to fail from time to time. And, the harder we work and the more the more failures we will endure. Accept that it is a part of the process. The challenge therefore is simply to learn from those failures and move on. As we tell our own children as they stumble in life, "pick yourself up and brush yourself off". Failure is part of the process.

Remain focused. Now that you have your goal written out, have your support system in place and your permissions to fail, you are off and running on your endeavor. Keep in mind these familiar quotes:

If want something bad enough, go out and fight for it. 

Or, as Theodore Roosevelt shared; Nothing in life is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty...". 

So as you progress through your tasks each day or each week, remember to keep focused on what it is you truly want to get accomplished. Many great ideas have fallen short of coming to fruition because the mind behind the idea lost its way. If you believe in what it is you have set out to do, then finish what you have started.

It is those that stay the course that bring the greatest success to their own lives and those around them. 

Characteristics of Connected Educators

(courtesy connectivist.com)

con·nected

kəˈnekt/ed

adjective

1

:  joined or linked together

2

:  having the parts or elements logically linked together<presented a thoroughly connected view of the problem>

3

:  related by blood or marriage

4

:  having social, professional, or commercial relationships <a well-connected lawyer>

5

of a set :  having the property that any two of its points can be joined by a line completely contained in the set; also :  incapable of being separated into two or more closed disjoint subsets

— con·nect·ed·ly adverb

— con·nect·ed·ness noun

There are always opportunities to learn and to grow. It is my choice as to the depth I go in understanding the tools at my disposal.  In the most simplest of forms, I am learning. We, are learning.

In a relatively short period of time I have come to understand what it means to be connected and value its importance. My success is dependent on it. The future of my work relies on it. My existence as a leader is held to it. Connecting with others is essential.

I am a Connected Educator, therefore I am: 

a problem solver

a dreamer

a believer

a risk-taker

a collaborator

Being connected is at the root of who I am. I must learn, share and reflect. With that I will grow as a leader and a learner. I will model what it means and how it impacts others. My passion for being connected will be my drive.  

Are you connected?