There were a series of readings and activities in Module 2 that I was required to complete. Here are my thoughts:
Nussbaum-Beach & Hall Reading:
Have you moved beyond co-operation? What role is collaboration playing in your professional learning and your practice? What’s new and different about collaboration for 21st Century learners?
I would say much of our faculty planning looks like co-operation but probably gets labelled as collaboration. That being said, the characteristic of working together to solve a problem I think is something that is being done at a faculty level. But the loss of group members, and utilising individual talents does not have an impact on programming.
For a time I was collaborating when I had my previous PLN but I consciously shut it all down about three-four years ago after I had a bit of a professional crisis in relation to it and questioned the value it had for me professionally. Despite my reservations, at the moment I am working on rebuilding connections but in a new field – Teacher Librarianship and trying to learn from my previous experience and mistakes. I am finding it hard as I want to create a delineation between my work and home life but I am still dipping my toe back into the water nonetheless.
Social media creates a bit of a safety barrier to approach other teaching professionals about areas in education you would like to discuss. The irony is, that once those barriers are crossed they come down completely and it is quite easy to communicate with relative strangers about topics of common interest. I made friends with an educator in St Louis, USA. He came out to Australia for the Google Educators Conference and I hosted him in my home as a result. It was a cool experience!
Are you multiliterate? Of these literacies, which is most surprising to you? Which do you find least and most challenging?
The literacies that were identified in the survey taken were:
- Facilitate and inspire learning and creativity
- Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
- Model digital-age working and learning
- Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
- Engage in professional growth and leadership
To some extent I am multi-literate. I am doing some of the things needed to promote digital tools and collaborative learning but I could be doing more. The most surprising to me was engaging in professional growth and leadership. In terms of how the questions were phrased and my current practice I thought I was doing an OK job at this but apparently I am not advocating for these skills and tools. However I am only a term into the TL role so this may change over the course of the year.
I think there are several challenges relating to these literacies. The syllabi and the time given to develop meaningful teaching and learning activities that incorporate these skills. The inequity of access to computers, laptops and portable devices. The levels of competency and willingness amongst staff to get on board with using the tools. In theory the statements are rather idealistic and do not necessary reflect the capabilities of all school contexts and systems.
We’ve described how we think about the connected educator? Take a moment to reflect on your understanding. How are our perspectives alike? How are they different.
I would concur with much of how this reading portrays a connected educator (2012, pg 19):
- Is a co-learner, co-creator, co-leader
- Is self-directed
- Is open-minded
- Is transparent in thinking
- Is dedicated to the ongoing development of expertise
- Commits to deep reflection
- Engages in inquiry
- Values and engages in a culture of collegiality
- Shares and contributes
- Commits to understanding gained by listening and asking good questions
- Explores ideas and concepts, rethinks, revises and continuously repacks and unpacks, resisting urges to finish prematurely
- Exhibits the courage and initiative to engage in discussions on difficult topics
- Engages in strengths based appreciative approaches
- Demonstrates mindfulness
- Displays a willingness to experiment with new strategies
How this differs is that these bullet points characterise an ideal connected individual. The challenge is getting staff on board with this model and up skilling them.
