After reading Chapter 2 of What Connected Educators Do Differently, I began to think about what I want to learn, when I want to learn and how I want to learn. Let's begin with what I want to learn. I always enjoy looking on Pinterest for ideas to use in the classroom. With Pinterest, I find myself looking for art ideas, gift ideas, or ways to organize my classroom. If I am looking for ideas with technology, I will look on Twitter to see what my fellow #iPadacademy colleagues are doing in their classroom. Just the other day, I read a tweet by Cassi Yates about giving a spelling test through Schoology and it saved her 30 minutes. I now have that on my list to do and try.
Like the authors mentioned, "connected educators find time in the evening hours and on the weekends to learn and grow professionally." I enjoy learning through Professional Development but, it depends on when it is. If it's right after school, my mind is still on reflecting the day. If it's a half day, I feel like I have more time to focus on what is being taught and time to use it. Then, when I have time in the evening or on the weekends I will explore the websites and hashtags on my own. Now that I am using Twitter more, I have found many hashtags to follow to get ideas to use in my classroom. I love reading/seeing all the ideas for 1:1 iPad classrooms. As as technology lover, I feel I could participate in more twitter chats. It's always nice to watch and lurk but one of these days I'm going to join right in and share my ideas.
Last, I think about how I want to learn. Twitter is a great source to get ideas for my classroom but sometimes it's nice to learn from fellow educators face to face. In this chapter, the authors talk about going to an Edcamp. Iv'e been to trainings where they teach with the style of an Edcamp but I have never attended one. I do enjoy learning new things "in person" so I have the chance to try out what the presenter is teaching as well as ask questions if I have any.
