Happy new year! 2009 proved to be a productive year of learning, sharing, and conversing. I thank you all for being a part of that and look forward to doing it again in 2010!
(iLearn Technology’s blog graph)
A few days ago I came across a blog post on Problogger titled “Let me Show You Inside a Secret Blogging Alliance.” The idea of an alliance between bloggers intrigued me. To fully understand why I was so intrigued by the idea of an alliance, let me give you a little background about the slow beginning of iLearn Technology, and an article that made me angry enough to long for change.
The Beginning…
My degree is not in educational technology. I started my teaching career as a second grade teacher. I had two old computers (circa 1997) in my classroom and had stumbled on Starfall, Book Adventure, and Read Write Think.org. We had no computer lab in our building, so I used these sites as center activities during my literacy block. My students asked to use these sites constantly, loving when it was their day for the computer centers.
It was completely by accident that I became a computer teacher the following year. I was looking for a change in schools and had applied to CHC for one of their classroom teacher positions. I got a call from our office assistant informing me that both classroom teacher positions had been filled quickly. She followed with, “I know this is a long shot, but we need a computer teacher to teach kindergarten through second grade. I noticed that you have used computers with students and wondered if you might be interested?” My first thought was “no way, I can’t do it. I’m not qualified.” What I told her was that I would think about it and get back to her. I called my husband to tell him about this ridiculous job I had just been offered. He didn’t seem to think it was so ridiculous. We were newly married and could use the money, even if it was only part time. It was getting late in the year to be hired as a classroom teacher. I wasn’t looking forward to the subbing circuit. My attitude about the ridiculous job offer began to change. “Maybe I can do this. It is only part time, I can used my days off to do research, surely I know more about computers than a second grader.” I called the office assistant the next day to tell her I would take the job.
My hunt for lesson plans and websites was on. I started a notebook (the paper kind) where I would jot down site addresses that I found, along with a few sentences about the site and ideas I had for using it in the classroom. I barely made it through that first year, always staying just two steps ahead of my students. It was in my second year that I started my first website. I used FrontPage to create pages of links that were easily organized for students to access. (I was tired of adding every new site I found to the bookmark bar of each computer.) My notebook of web addresses had turned into three and I started using iKeepBookmarks to organize all of the sites I had found. At the beginning of my computer lab teaching career, it was nearly impossible to hunt down a list of good educational links. I was finding amazing websites but couldn’t find any one person who had collected, organized, and shared them all in one place.
I woke up one morning with an email from my husband (@jtenkely) in my inbox. A single sentence stared back at me, “You should start a blog about technology in education.” Attached was a link to Tasty Blog Snack by @ijustine (not an education blog). Although what @ijustine does is not easy, she made it look easy, it was just the push I needed to start blogging. I would be the one to collect, organize, and share education links in one place. But I didn’t want it to just be a list of links…I had found pages of links with no explanation as to what they were. Teachers need it to be easier, they need to be able to see, at a glance, if a site will meet the needs of their students. They also need an idea of what using the site would actually look like in the classroom setting. This would be my blog. I anticipated it being useful for the teachers that I taught alongside, they were my target audience. In my mind, even if they never read it, it would still be a useful way for me to organize my ideas about the websites I was finding.
I had no idea what I was doing. I would type up a blog post, publish it, and hope that someone, somewhere, was reading it. I had no way of tracking or finding out if anyone was actually viewing any of my ideas. I needed some direction and decided to find out if there were any other educators who were blogging (I was naive enough to think I might be the first one!). I found TechnoSpud (now Jenuine Tech) by @jenwagner and 2Cents Worth by @davidwarlick. They were big. They were well known. I was nobody. I started finding other educators who blogged through the blog rolls on TechnoSpud and 2Cents Worth. I have never felt so small. Here were a group of educators who “knew” each other and had debates and conversations about education on a regular basis. I tried to join in the conversation but got discouraged when my comments weren’t responded to.
iLearn Technology exists today for one reason: I am stubborn. I believed that I was doing something worthwhile and decided that I didn’t care if no one seemed to notice. Blogging did something else for me, it made me a better teacher. I understood the learning process better because I was engaged in it on a daily basis. Even though I didn’t consider myself “one of them” I started reading other education blogs religiously. I would occasionally engage in the conversation but for the most part I was happy to sit on the sidelines and watch.
It was around this time that I started Tweeting (@ijustine was Tweeting, I should too). I had NO idea that educators were Twittering. I was there to keep up with @jtenkely‘s funny observations, keep track of @iJustine, and keep a watch out for new Apple products that were coming. I started following @davidwarlick and @jenwagner and a few other edubloggers that I was reading. I can’t pinpoint when it happened, but suddenly I was getting comments on iLearn Technology, I had regular readers, I was getting emails asking for advice, I was involved in the conversation. I was a real blogger.
It isn’t easy to become a blogger, there is a habit that needs to be formed, a commitment to stick with. It is really hard when you are the newb, the nobody. It is hard to keep that commitment when you are painfully aware that you are the sole reader of your writing. @janwebb21 reminded me of this as she told me about her own blog. She has been at it for about a month, has had a few visitors and a comment or two. But it is a slow process. I would have given anything for the PLN, ideas, and resources I have now when I started teaching.
And Now For Something Completely Different…
Since joining Twitter, I have enjoyed conversations with people from all walks of life. I have been introduced to new ideas, resources, and have been forced to think in new ways. I have developed a PLN (Personal Learning Network) and have engaged in numerous discussions about education, technology, and learning. I have been surrounded by greatness and others who are passionate about learning and teaching others to do the same. I have become convinced that those educators that I connect with virtually are among the smartest, most innovative people on the planet.
On Friday I clicked on a link that someone shared on Twitter, it was a story about the use of iPods in Education (I always want to read more when Apple products are mentioned in the same sentence as education, my inner geek comes pouring out.) The article was okay, basically just a short story about how a school is using the iPod Touch in education. What stopped me in my tracks were the comments left in response to the article. Most were negative comments about the state of education and what a waste of money iPods are for the classroom. The comment that really made my blood boil was, “Teachers get to press the learn button, kick back, and think about their next week long vacation.” It became increasingly clear to me that the general public has NO idea what we as educators do. We are not seen as professionals. We are viewed as babysitters with a cushy job. My knee jerk reaction was to respond to each and every one of these misinformed individuals and inform them. Instead I posted the following on Twitter, knowing that you all would be equally enraged by the comments: “Getting all fired up reading the comments after this article http://bit.ly/51RJsk general public doesn’t understand education even a little.” The comments regarding education made me want to stand up and shout about the brilliance that is my PLN. I wanted the misinformed to understand just how misinformed they are. I kept thinking of how different education could look if we were louder.
The Alliance…
After reading the alliance article an idea began to take shape. What if we, educational bloggers, were to form an alliance. No need for the secrecy. This alliance would be a group of educational bloggers who are committed to working together for the mutual benefit of all the members in the alliance. We all have something valuable to add to the conversation of education and learning. Each of us has a unique voice, outlook, approach, skills, strengths, and focuses.
The goal of the alliance is two fold:
1. To encourage educators in their blogging endeavors whether they be new, established, or otherwise. There are so many valuable additions to the conversation that are being overlooked.
2. To create a united network of educators working toward the larger goal of being heard by those not in education. It is time for the general public to see us for the highly qualified professionals that we are.
How the Alliance could work…
1. Commenting on each others blogs– in the Problogger article, those in the alliance committed to commenting on each others blogs at least once every week day. The comments should stimulate interesting discussions, and encourage those involved that someone, is indeed, reading their blog.
2. Linking to One Another- This could be linking to related posts on another educational bloggers website, adding them to your blog roll, or naturally as a result of subscribing to one another’s blogs.
3. Social Bookmarking and Tweeting- This is my personal favorite suggestion, Twitter has done wonders for iLearn Technology as my PLN passes on my posts to others. Promoting posts on Twitter, Digg, Delicious, and StumbleUpon increases awareness of what educators around the world are doing that works. It also connects those new to educational blogging.
4. Guest Posts- Guest posting could be an opt-in option for the alliance. I know that it isn’t always possible to find time to write a blog post for your blog, let alone polish it enough for someone else’s blog.
5. Thank You Page Promotions- When someone signs up to receive your RSS feed, they are generally taken to a page thanking them for subscribing. This Thank You Page could also be used to promote other education blogs. For example: “If you like iLearn Technology, you should also be sure to check out blog A, B, C, and D.”
Do you-want to form an alliance- with me?
So the question stands, do you want to form an alliance? If you are interested, leave a comment linking to your blog with your first name (or Twitter username), and a short description of your blog. Please also fill out this short form so that I can be in contact with you. Lets make our voices louder through a shared vision and mission, lets encourage each other in our blogging and teaching endeavors, lets make this year a year of real change.
This is a great idea, count me in! My blog is a mix of opinion and how-tos regarding education and educational technology.
I would like to be a part of an alliance but a bit unsure. I could not believe the comments to that article! I filled out the form 🙂
I’d be very interested. Please get back to me if you want me to be a part of “the alliance.” It even sounds neat.
I think this is a great idea. I’ve been blogging with my class for 2 years and initially foind it difficult to build up readers/visitors. Last year our class blog (http://thompson67.edublogs.org) was a great success & we ended up with over 7,000 visitors.
I have this week taken the plunge & started a personal blog. I have put this off for a long time as I’ve felt that there are so many others out there saying so much – and probably far more articulately than me! My decision was based more on the idea of forced self-reflection.
it can be very disheartening for new bloggers (personal or class) to have very few visitors, so anything we can do to promote and help newbies is good with me 🙂
I would really be interested in participating. I am a homeschool parent and I run and teach in a homeschooling cooperative with 25 families who have children in prek 4- 5th grade.
We just purchased our first ActivBoard and I’m really excited. I also write reviews for Heartofthematteronline.com and write a homeschooling column for the Examiner.
I like the idea of having a forum for improving both my blogging and use of technology in our curriculum. I know I don’t teach in a traditional setting but I think that makes it possible for me to offer another perspective.
I have 3 blogs but obviously I’d only use one for the alliance. I listed them all so you could see what I’m doing. I’m actually considering a redesign of TeacherMatters.blogspot.com so that I could better share the browser toolbar I created for educators.
Okay, I think I wrote too much and I’ve up since 4:30am
I wish you the best of luck with the alliance. I love your blog and my kids love the flipcharts you sent me! I finally figured out how to get everything working—duh!
I’m not from the “edtech” community – my area is career education, specifically family and consumer sciences education. I’ve been blogging for about 18 months at http://www.mofccla.blogspot.com with a focus not only on how FCS teachers can use educational technology, but also other issues and information related to family and consumer sciences education and the student organization, FCCLA. FCS educators are not always on the front lines of educational technology – but I’m doing my best to change that. It’s a work is progress, and it’s thrilling to see progress happen as a result of a seed I might have planted.
Let me know if you think my blog would fit into your alliance concept. Great idea!
@chollingsworth on Twitter
Twitter: @StarrMatica
I think this is a fantastic suggestion and would love to collaborate. I’m new to blogging and can relate very much to the story of your early days. I’m new to Twitter as well and have already learned so much from the community. I’m exited about the possibilities!
Twitter: @ssweeney602
I have been following the iLearnTechnology blog for sometime now and would be honored to be a more active member in your PLN!
I created a blog in September ’09 as a resource for the teachers in my school. It is focused on using technology to solve problems in a classroom, whether it is content or pedagogy. It is a place for people to submit requests of how they could improve a lesson and more importantly student learning by using technology. Most important to me is that I demonstrate technology being integrated into the classroom for the right reason…to increase knowledge.
http://tech4urcontent.edublogs.org/
I didn’t blog over Winter break, but will start back fresh tomorrow!
Hi Kelly,
What a great idea. I loved hearing about your beginnings!!
I have a blog called Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom. As the name suggests it’s my way of sharing ideas on how to integrate technology into the primary school classroom. I am a Grade 2 teacher and love doing a class blog with my grade as well.
Here is the address of my class blog http://2kmblog.globalstudent.org.au/
And my own blog http://primarytech.globalteacher.org.au
We’re currently on holidays here in Australia and I’m off on an Asian adventure tomorrow for two weeks. I look forward to working with the alliance on my return!
Kathleen McGeady
If anyone is interested in a masters in Educational Technology, I want to recommend a great program at Michigan State. http://edutech.msu.edu/overseas.html
I am going to graduate this summer from it and am going to miss the constant learning, but have formed an awesome PLN during my time. Check it out!
Questions: @ssweeney602 or @maet
I’m just starting out, so this is just the thing I need to connect with other educators!
After reading your post, I’m not sure what interested me most: the idea you’re proposing or your own personal story. Writing URLs out long-hand, eh? Ah, the bad old days before Delicious and Diigo!
You truly are an inspiration to me and so many others in our PLN. And this idea of yours is wonderful!! Count me in…if you’ll have me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “If only non-teachers could understand what a teacher’s day is REALLY like! Maybe then we’d be able to convince the powers that be that we need to earn a wage we can live on.
I’m starting to feel a “preaching to the choir” moment coming on, so I’ll stop now. Well, with one more comment…
I’m so very grateful to count you as an inspirational member of my PLN and, more importantly, as a wonderful friend.
I’m in.
My blog (updated once or twice a month) is a nuts-and-bolts, how-to blog for classroom teachers who are just starting to get comfortable with technology. It is very basic, “first-the-socks-then-the-shoes”-type of stuff. For the most part, I focus on HOW to do various tasks, rather than on educational philosophy.
What an amazing journey! Your determination and desire should serve as an inspiration to bloggers and educators everywhere. Thank you for posting this. I would be honored to be a part of your alliance.
I mostly blog about tech support for our staff…but I’m always eager to learn and to support teachers so that the uninformed can see the light!
I have enjoyed reading your blog! You and I have a similar background- I taught first and second grade before “accidentally” becoming a computer teacher!
I have 2 blogs- Pilkerriffic (http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/mrspilker/) is more about general educational technology, with interesting links and commentary, and my Class Blog (http://www.pilker.edublogs.org) gives details about what we do in my classroom.
You can also find me on Twitter as @lpilker…
What a wonderful idea! 🙂 I would be delighted to be a part of your alliance. I’m an EFL teacher in Madeira, Portugal. Every day I share a tool that might be useful to teachers. I only go into tools that are free and I can actually use in my classes.
My blog (http://zarcoenglish-tooloftheday.blogspot.com/) is in written in Portuguese. Will that be a problem?
I am a bit confused. How does this alliance differ from what edubloggers already do? Or, is this a call to bring more into the fold? Also, I wonder why you didn’t include Twitter on your form.
Hi Carl, I think the alliance differs in that it will be a group of educators who are purposeful and committed to encouraging others. Ultimately we want to encourage those who are new to the scene to continue in the conversation. I hope that this will keep them from getting lost in the shuffle and giving up before those of us who are more established have the chance to find them. Hopefully the connections made will also make us (educators) a stronger web presence who together get noticed by those outside of education. There are a few things that I left off of my form that I later thought, “duh, should have added that”. Twitter and Google Wave names would have been at the top of that list. I’ll send out a welcome email later in the week where I can gather this information.
We will be so glad to have you join! Portuguese is no problem, we may just need to get a Google translator going so that those of us non-Portuguese speaking can read and leave thoughtful comments.
I believe this is a fantastic idea. It’s time has definitely come. I have already signed the short form.
In brief I am intersted in using technology assist to scale up and radically improve the quality of education in India.
Most people don’t know it but we’re fighting a losing war in India.
Every day we cede control of more and more of the country. By some estimates we have lost control of one-third of the districts in India to Naxalites and Maoists.
Who is feeding this terrorism? No, it isn’t the usual suspects. It’s your local College and University. They keep producing graduates who will never find a meaningful job. They are the ones who are preparing recruits for this terrorist army. Demographic trends suggest that this army will grow.
I have been involved in developing programs to make college students employable through intense training in Work Skills programs. The pilot results are very encouraging. While it’s not a solution, it is a way to stem the tide.
But polishing the students at college level is too late. We need to reform the process at a much earlier stage.
What am I trying to do about it? Train an army of Teacher-Entrepreneurs (T-E) who will “creatively destroy” the staus quo of the educational process. In their own way they will create novel and innovative programs that no bureaucrat nor any committee can imagine.
The first such pilot workshop is slated for this Summer with the ultimate goal of a full program through a Virtual University.
I need all the help on things, tools, processes that have actually been tried and found to be of value.
I believe the alliance can give a multitude of ideas.
I am a tech support professional working in a small school district. My blog is mostly about supporting technology use in schools.
I have been following your blog for quite awhile and find it invaluable. Your links are great but the best part is the the way you suggest using them in the classroom. Many teachers would love to use more technology but don’t have the time or where-with-all to figure it out on their own. I want to help them but not being a teacher I find it hard to come up with appropriate applications. You have done this with your blog and I love sharing it with my staff.
Thank you for your diligence and generousity!
Sounds great!! Looking forward to it! Trying to wrap up my master’s this semester, and my project centers around helping one Teacher incorporate tech into her classroom, enabling her to be the “computer teacher” for her own kids.
@klbuley
I’m really excited about what you are doing. I’ve tried to blog a few different times, but found it hard to keep up and decided to focus on the teachers in my building that I could help one on one. Now, I’m a bit older and a bit wiser (hopefully). I’m ready to share all of the things I have learned and things I think others might find helpful. With comments from people out there that have no clue what it is that we do day in and day out, I feel it is necessary that we do all that we can to spread the word about what we do and why we do it.
I’m happy to join the alliance. I’ve signed up and will be retweeting to all 9 of my edufollowers. @thenerdyteacher
Twitter: @COFA_Online
I too am very interested in participating, although I don’t run a blog in the traditional sense. I have just built a new ‘gateway site’ for our small online learning team which documents online pedagogic research we are doing, will very soon have free resources to help any teacher who wants to get started in online learning, details our fully online course offers and periodically features interviews from artists and designers (did I mention we are an art and design college?).
The site will also very soon (a week or two) have an online community where teachers can get help with elearning, share ideas and offer mutual support, much like you are aiming to do with the alliance idea!
We are very committed to pedagogy over technology and solid teacher training. I would love to make new connections and offer mutual support for anyone interesting in progressing online learning. I’ve filled in your form and really hoe I can be a part of this – thanks for the opportunity!
Count me in! A friend and I have a blog that we created to share thoughts in education from a professional development lens.
And what a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing your story, the wonderful links and the idea!
This is a wonderful idea; I have been blogging for a year and a half and although I think sometimes it’s been slow, I can see that this small venture is going forward. Now, this school I’m in has its own blog and every teacher has one for his/her class. This year I started with classblogs to share students publications, and nevertheless the difficulties, they are encouraged. BTW, hello from Mexico.
Mine: http://xceedingxpectations.edublogs.org/
First Year Class: http://publishingcorner.edublogs.org/
Third Year Class: http://thirdonthewall.edublogs.org/
I’m not twittering yet :(, but I will.
Kelly, finding the article about “blogger alliances” and the sad truth about lack of respect for teaching in response to a story on bringing tech to the classroom is VERY timely. Your PLN probably follows you and is inspired by your blog more than you’ll ever know. And the responses to this post are amazing! If the feedback to teacher blog posts were this thoughtful and forward-thinking, I think we would all be more open to sharing our thoughts and ideas. 140 character is not enough to change education. It points us in the right direction, but even a blog post can’t do it…without the reaction of thousands of educators and their opinions…which matter. You rock!
@kmtrain
I loved reading about your journey and I think your idea sounds great! Have learned so much from the blogs I read and would like to be part of your alliance. I’m a new blogger at http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/ I started my blog to encourage other teachers in my school to engage with technology and think about educational ideas. Although my blog and I are on summer holidays at present, I have become addicted to the process very quickly! On twitter I’m @whatedsaid.
Ed
(I think I accidentally gace 2 different email addresses! Either will do)
I’m game to jump into this with you.
Count me in! My blog is something I have sort of neglected but plan on updating asap. Thanks!
Lisa
TwitterID: lisamonthie
Please count me in. I’ve been involved in teaching the kids using computer for 6 months and currently working on my postgraduate research on Teenagers informal learning via technology.
Although I have blogs but it I was very slow in updating it. However this year I will be more focus and serious to update blog.
I’ve been reading your blog for 2 months and I found that there are so many inputs which is very useful and honestly your blog is a benchmark for me to improve my blog and getting the updates on technology in education.
Your idea is good and I would love to be part of educator blogger. Hello from Malaysia 😀
I would love to join. I am a homeschool parent and I teach a number of classes at our local co-op. My blog isn’t updated as frequently as it could be as I am a bit snowed under right now, but I blog about everything that makes learning more enjoyable for kids. I love using technology (I am a computer programmer) – and I really enjoy your blog
@merylvdm
Intriguing stuff. I’ve gotten lax about commenting on others’ blogs, but it’s an important part of maintaining your PLN.
It looks like you’ve got a lot of people in ed. tech programs reading your blog. I’m a middle school science teacher, but teach a 1 credit ed. tech class for rising teachers on the side. It would be neat to hook up with some of the people in these programs to see what they are doing.
How fortuitous to happen across this post. Thank you for sharing your experiences, I am that beginning blogger who needs a push and then someone to help keep me afloat. Ditto to Pam’s comment “I have put this off for a long time as I’ve felt that there are so many others out there saying so much – and probably far more articulately than me! My decision was based more on the idea of forced self-reflection. ” I would add to that that If I want my students to blog then I need to take part in the whole process more myself. It’s time to walk the walk!
New York City Public school teacher working as Tech Coordinator and Computer Teacher. Love the idea…count me in.
Great Idea. Looking forward to seeing it grow.
@mzimmer557
Hello, was looking for my post…its gone. Love the idea of a Technology Alliance. In my previous post- I indicated that I work as a NYC public school teacher/tech coordinator and videoconference coordinator. The Ileantechnology website has supported my computer classes with wonderful and innovative ideas. Happy to have the opportunity to meet wonderful teachers/people from all over the world.
Hi!
I would looooove to be part of this alliance!
I am from Mexico, and I actually live there.
I’ve just started a blog (www.educadoresdigitales.org) because, just as you mention, there is a lack of information about what teachers are willing to do. My intention has been to keep every educator informed of what is happening around the world related to education and to technology in orther to open their eyes, and let things flow.
Under my own experience, yes, there are some teachers who are reluctant to innovate, BUT most of the teachers are willing and actually trying to do something different.
Unfortunately, when they try new things, PARENTS are the ones who won’t let education go some steps forward.
And guess what….? Even they don’t realize it, they are the main EDUCATORS of their own kids.
I’m blogging in Spanish & I would love to share some of the Ideas from the Alliance Member’s in my own language. Of course with the respective link to those Members blogs.
You have no idea of how this would help Mexico and Latin America to improve education as we are at least 5 o 10 years behind in educational issues.
My intention has been also to provide the newest information (launched in English first around the world) and let them have it immediatly in their own language.
Cheers & hope to hear from you soon!
Mariana Ludmila
@yaquesita (I tweet mostly in English!)
Yes, I’m interested! I’m a Middle School Librarian at an independent school in Baltimore. My blog discusses motivating students to enjoy research.