Photo Credit: Loverboy Official Website
Classic rock is about heavy hooks, power chords and tight harmonies. But it’s also about letting loose and enjoying the good times. And there’s no better time for that than Friday evening, when we pick up our paycheque, punch out of work and enjoy a couple days of much-needed rest and relaxation.
In 1981, a Canadian rock band named Loverboy released their second album titled ‘Get Lucky’. One song on that album went on to be a hit single and still rocks the radio today as arguably the all-time greatest Friday-night rock anthem: Loverboy‘s ‘Working for the Weekend.’
Flash forward 34 years and many of us are still working for the weekend. And that’s cool, I love BBQs and beer as much as the next guy. But lately I find myself working for the ‘geekend’.
That’s right, the #geekend!
Over the past 3 months I have literally traveled the globe participating in numerous conferences in the pursuit of knowledge, experience, and lifelong learning. I’m actually starting to think that I’m a PD junkie. I just can’t get enough. I love attending events, making connections and finding time for meaningful conversations about what works and why. Presented with the opportunity, I will gladly choose a ‘geekend’ over a weekend.
This past summer I was fortunate enough to attend a week of hands-on learning at the Logo Summer Institute held at the Hewitt School in New York City. I spent 5 incredible days learning and experimenting with project-based learning that supports creative expression, computational thinking, and STEAM.
For those who don’t know, The Logo Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization devoted to informing people about Logo and supporting them in their creative use of Logo and similar programmable learning environments. Think Scratch. Think Makey Makey. Think Arduino. Think Hummingbird Kits. Think Awesome! The Logo philosophy of education is best described as Constructivism, a theory of learning formulated by Jean Piaget. Constructivism conceives of learning as a process in which learners create knowledge in their minds as they interact with things and people in the world around them.
The constructivist approach that we employed that week really got me thinking when I read George Siemens article, Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. One of the points that he makes, is that
Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday is also critical.
Having read further about connectivism and constructivism got me wondering. Are they not the same thing? Is connectivism not just a reworded form of constuctivism? Are the connections we make a result of the constructivism activities that we do?
What I do know is that becoming a connected educator relies heavily on both learning theories.
Becoming a connected educator is so vital in today’s learning landscape. Change is accelerating exponentially. What this means for educators is that to be effective, it’s critical they be able to make connections for learning, both for themselves and for their students. Educators today must prepare students for a world that doesn’t exist yet. Creating connections enables educators to adapt in order to stay relevant.
By reaching beyond school walls and connecting with colleagues from around the globe, we as educators can discover vibrant learning communities in which teachers and leaders are sharing ideas and propelling each other to grow.
I think this ISTE infographic sums up the Connected Educator quite well.
1. Dedicate time for networking.
For me, attending these conferences presents the perfect opportunity to network and meet like-minded people where the conversations can really prove invaluable. Although I prefer face to face, I am learning to extend my network by setting aside time on a regular basis to initiate conversations online.
2. Participate in ed chats.
Really something I haven’t done enough of. I used to laugh at these online Twitter chats and wonder if people had nothing better to do on a weeknight. Since joining COETAIL, I have come to realize that I too should be participating in these talks if I want to stay relevant, up to date and connected.
3. Join a network.
I have joined numerous networks, from Google+ communities to ISTE PLNs. I have no qualm in joining a network, I just have an issue with posting responses. They do serve as great PD, I just need to move beyond being a ‘lurker’ to one who shares his voice.
4. Attend conferences and edcamps.
Check. These conferences provide a great chance to meet distant colleagues in person. It’s always nice to put a face to the avatar.
5. Share your ideas.
True connection is a two-way street. Sharing content online — rather than merely consuming it — can help you find like-minded colleagues to collaborate with. My side of the street is still being paved…I just need to get the workers off lunch break.
6. Ask a connected educator for help.
Never be afraid to ask for help. Face to face or online.
In my mind, being a connected educator is more than a set of actions: it’s a belief in the potential of technology to fuel lifelong learning.
And that’s what keeps me working for the #geekend!