VSS12 - Share, Reflect and Call to Action

After an intense four days of innovation, collaboration and presentation(s), I needed a rest from VSS.  What is difficult to explain to others who have never attending this conference, is the effect it has on one's psyche.  Meeting other individuals who share the same passion for educational innovation has a profound effect on you - making you feel that anything you do needs to be taken to the next level.  This year was no exception, and I walked away from New Orleans ready to take on the world.

Sunday began for me with the general membership meeting, a discussion of the vision of iNACOL and their priorities, and an introduction of the award winners for this year.  Feeling energized, I joined the membership on the vendor floor, catching up with colleagues from BSN and PLS and finally meeting Rod Darrow in person, after having worked with him over the last month on the online educators blogging project.  As educators who work in the online environment, we are comfortable working with individuals from around the world virtually, however, when we actually get the chance to meet, the synergy is invigorating, and inspiration seem to flow freely from the collaboration.

I felt a call to action in listening to Stacey Childress, Deputy Director of Education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Her work with the Next Generation Model teams will offer educators cutting edge ideas when integrating technology and online resources into their classrooms, especially when working with underprivileged youth.  My inspiration came in the form of making resources available to everyone - not only available, but easily searched, embeddable and aligned to Common Core State Standards.  I want to find a way to make resources readily available to teachers, students and parents, and offer a road map through the clutter that is Web 2.0, social networking, and source validity/bias.  The librarian in me has been working overtime, and through Childress's discussion, I may have found an outlet for work.

In presenting at this conference, I was able to share ways that the Quakertown Community School District is able to ensure success for online and blended students through the services we offer, and how librarians can support students and teachers by offering their services, resources and expertise in the online environment.  These two presentations were well received, and can be viewed here.  Additionally, I also was able to meet with one of the newest members of my PLC, James Brauer.  We met through the online bloggers group at iNACOL, and as we worked through the projects together, found that we shared a passion and dedication to online teaching and administration which made us more like collaborating colleagues than individuals working separately over 1,000 miles away from one another.  Such is the power of an online collaboration!

It's hard to believe that although I've been home for only two days, I've already begun to frame out my ideas for new presentations and chances for collaboration.  It was a wonderful experience #VSS12, but I'm already poised for #VSS13!

Leadership 2.0

In trying to define what it means to be a leader, I came across the Leadership 2.0 Series offered/organized by George Couros similar to a Massive Open Online Course dedicated to Leadership. I unfortunately was unable to attend the Tuesday session (find the archive here) but was able to attend this evening.  Through nine sessions, the group focuses on the seven dimensions based on the Alberta Education Principal Quality Standard.  Although this is foreign to me, the principles are universal and I found the first session to be inspirational.  Part of what was discussed (and I encourage you to attend yourself!) was the need for a leader to share his/her learning, obtain feedback from a worldwide audience (their possible expanded PLN!) and reflect - just as we would ask of students.  It was a very simple concept, but one that offered deep ramifications when internalized.

Although it is not difficult to share ones learning, it does take an unusual leap of faith to put it online, at least for someone who has been more familiar with keeping a journal rather than a world accessible document.  However, the communication that I've had with my own new blogging experience (thank you Rob Darrow of iNACOL) has made me appreciate the power of this tool, and the ability to personalize ones learning through sharing.

For this week's assignment, we are to look at creating a digital portfolio - how a leader can use a blog to share his/her thinking.  One of the projects discussed was 184 Days of Learning from the Parkland School Division, where various stakeholders share their experience for the day, thus following the learning of a community for the entire year.

One of the most progressive movements our district, Quakertown Community School District in Quakertown, PA, has done, is opening up their required professional development/professional learning for teachers.  Although there are some required work sessions that must be attended, teachers are able to choose their own professional development, so that their learning is fully individualized.  One off-shoot of this with which I was involved was our Upper Bucks EduSummit 2012.  We partnered with two neighboring districts to offer technology based professional development to teachers within all three districts, taught by teachers and administration in the three districts.  This partnering between the districts was unprecedented, and allowed individuals to work together with others over common interest.  It was a small step toward individualizing teacher learning - but journeys always begin with one small step.

I look forward to the discussions we will be having as part of the Leadership 2.0 Series (#leadership20 on twitter) and building my own leadership PLN.  Join me - the journey is just beginning!