What I’ve learned from blogging this year…

A year ago today, I launched the Dyslexic Professor with some apprehension and today I want to take some time to share what I’ve learned this year.  Here are a few of my favorite posts: I Carry Your Heart; Learning From our Mistakes: The Art of an Apology; Writing My Wrongs; The Utter Joy of Curiosity; Around the Rotary: The Roundabout of Learning; A Letter to My Son on Father’s Day and Total Trust.

My “coming out” to the online community permanently as the dyslexic professor has been an empowering experience.  My first post on February 23, 2011, Modeling Being a Risk Taker EDUC 536 stated:

Ok, here I go walking the walk and talking the talk and trying something new.  A little nervous, a little anxious, but excited to take the risk!  It’ s Wednesday morning and I’m creating my first WordPress blog before class tonight.  It’s a new format and I’m used to navigating through my Weebly and Ning accounts.  Plus, I’m very aware that my words and feelings are now public and I find myself typing, deleting and retyping to make sure I’m as accurate as possible.  We’ve been safe in our own PLN in our class Ning, but now our boundaries are expanding.  Are you ready to jump in with me?  In class tonight, let’s take time to try something new.  Get comfortable with the uncomfortable and embrace being a change agent!

A lot of wonderful things happened to me once I started blogging.

1. First, I learned the difference between a RT, MT and #FF as I began to develop my PLN through Twitter.  In a year, I’ve sent a little  over 7,500 tweets and made some amazing connections with teacher educators all over the world.  Here are a few of my Twitter posts: A Little Like Casablanca; What Took Me So Long?; I Applaud You and Thank You PLN for Changing Teacher Preparation.
2. I was fortunate to have Nick Howley (@nhowley) as a graduate student in my Educational Psychology course last spring semester.  His research on LGBT teens, The Social Education of LGBT Teens has greatly influenced me as a parent and as a teacher educator.  Many of my posts this year have focused on changing how we treat others both face to face and online.  Here are a few of my favorite posts on this topic: Dinosaurs of Tiaras: Facing Intolerances; I Care Jamey Rodemeyer and A Million Reasons and More.
3. I attended my first EdCamp in Boston, went to ISTE for the first time and helped plan the first EdCampCT.  These experiences have inspired me to submit a proposal to ISTE (I’m presenting in June) and host an unconference on our campus this May, Dialogue 21.
4. With my colleague, Tracy Mercier (@vr2ltch) we launched a weekly #digcit chat on Twitter.  There were times in the beginning that I was unsure if the chat would catch on, but am so pleased that there are so many dedicated educators committed to modeling and teaching digital citizenship in their classrooms.
5. I taught my first First Year Seminar, Pleased to Tweet You: Are You a Socially Responsible Digital Citizen? This authentic learning experience was a defining moment for me as a learner and teacher educator.  In May, I blogged hoping to collaborate with high school students: High School Skype and Twitter Project Request and this post was my first introduction to Beth Sanders (@MsSandersTHS).  We met at ISTE a month later and our collaborative iCitizen project became a reality, What Does it Mean to be a Citizen: Nationally, Globally, Digitally?  As a result @MsSandersTHS and her students hosted #digcit chat, #digcit Chat: A Defining Moment and also inspired planning the iCitizenship Town Hall Meeting  which focused on creating positive school climate and engaging others in a conversation  about what it means to be a socially responsible iCitizen in the 21st century: #iCit21: iCitizenship Town Hall Meeting on 2/9.

And all of this was captured on my blog!  The more I wrote, the more I learned. Connections were made through Twitter and I was able to provide virtual mentors to my preservice teachers.  As a result of blogging, I’ve become a better learner and writer.  I’ve become more reflective and as a result my teaching has changed.  As I write this reflective anniversary post, I marvel at all the things I’ve learned, unlearned and relearned in just three hundred and sixty-five days.  I continue to be inspired by my family, my students, my colleagues and my PLN.

*An extra special thanks and #youmatter to Lisa Sandstrom @scram_socrates @ThomasRiddle_II @JoAnnJacobs68 @ncarroll24 @yourkidsteacher @francesblo @MrMusselman @Grade1 @tsocko @engaginged @hmfryan7 @vivimat78 @K_Rose201  for your constant support and encouragement this year!  You have been invaluable to my own professional development and for this I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

High School Skype and Twitter Project Request

#EdCampBOS and our collaborative Skype session with #EdCampDet got my wheels spinning. Anything is possible with Skype and Twitter. I’m planning to teach a First Year Seminar for the first time this fall. My seminar, Pleased to Tweet You: Are You a Socially Responsible Digital Citizen will allow freshmen to examine social media and digital citizenship. Here’s the course description:

Schools across the country promise to provide a safe environment for learning, but so many students are afraid and embarrassed to come to school.  In today’s globally diverse and digital world, a bully’s reach goes far beyond the playground.  As more teens use computers, cell phones and other electronic devices they will experience being harassed, threatened and humiliated publicly online at greater rates.  Cyberbullying is the biggest hazard our young people face today and will continue to face in the future as more teens consume and produce digital media.  An interactive multimedia approach to this course will provide students an opportunity to explore the problem and extent of cyberbullying through readings both on and offline.  Using a reflective lens, students will create an action plan to help others navigate the Internet as responsible digital citizens.

I’m looking for a high school teacher or several high school teachers to collaborate and participate in our Saint Joseph College First Year Seminar experience in the fall.  Any takers?

Timing is Everything #EdCampBOS

Timing is everything in life. #EdCampBOS was last weekend.  Two days after the last week of classes and just before the week of finals and commencement.  Not the best timing for me professionally.  I had every reason to take a pass, but I’m so glad I didn’t.  Going to #EdCampBOS last weekend was exactly what I needed at the end of a long semester and academic year.

It was my first EdCamp experience and it was so rewarding.  Teacher educators committed to being agents of change, passionate about social media and 21st century learning and dedicated to being lifelong learners were willing, able and ready to share and learn together.  It was a day of reflection, renewal, growth and hope – the perfect way to end a semester.

I was thrilled to be part of the collaborative Skype session with #EdCampDet with Michael Kaechele @mikekaechele.  Stimulating conversation and fabulous ideas on cross-classroom collaboration were shared.  The highlight for me was when “The Epic Romeo and Juliet” Nicholas Provenzano @thenerdyteacher was part of our session.

A special “Woo Hoo” shout out to Greg Kulowiec @gregkulowiec for sharing his QR Codes session.  My mind was spinning with the endless possibilities.  We appreciate the challenge to figure out how to incorporate them into #EdCampCT on August 18th!

I’m so looking forward to being part of the very first #EdCampCT – what a perfect way to start my academic year!  Hope you’ll start your school year with us too!