Reflections on Rejections and Inclusions

I was challenged this semester to be a part of an online community and explore the “community” of this environment in an online context. As the semester progressed, my original choice of an online environment, a Blended Learning professional learning course I was facilitating ended. I looked for a new online community to join.

So, the notice came up that Apple was accepting applications to attend their week long professional learning and networking conference. I applied to go and be an Apple Distinguished Educator and participate in the weeklong session in July. I started following the #hashtags associated with the conference application process: #adechat, #ade2015. In that community, people started sharing their video applications.

Wow, was I impressed. Educators are doing #eduawesome things around the nation and around the world. I found myself watching these videos instead of any old Netflix movie. I mean, these things were exciting! I found numerous new innovators to follow and learn from on Twitter. Of course, I will continue to have the #adechat AND the #adereject in my TweetDeck.

And so, alas, big sigh, I was not selected to be a part of the conference experience this summer. I cannot claim this prize. Will I continue to follow? My goodness yes! Will I continue to participate in the conversation? Why, of course! Am I happy with the professional learning network that was expanded by participating? Yes, can I count the ways? No, they are innumerable.

Some take-aways I have from the experience are not new lessons, they are lessons in practice. I have applied for MANY things that I have been rejected from participating in. And, my philosophy is such that if you don’t apply, you won’t EVER get accepted. This time, I was rejected by Apple (what were they thinking?!?) but recently found a community of people organizing a conference about Personalized Learning and I volunteered to be a conference presenter proposal reviewer. I am SO excited for this opportunity!

One door closes, and a window opens up!  

Reflection on Blended Learning

I recently facilitated an online community of learners.  This was the first of a new wave of professional learning that targets teachers to learn anytime, anywhere in an online format.  The "blended" piece comes as a part of the opportunity for the teachers to have two (optional) face to face meetings, or one-on-one coaching in support of the learning that was happening in the online course.  I found that the coaching sessions were so valuable to clarify and modify the intended learning for the  learner's unique situation. The people that did not connect with a coaching session had less participation and I am sure, less satisfaction with the course. The face to face components were fantastic and energizing. We learned more from our conversations with each other, the road blocks we encountered and possible solutions to them as well as got a chance to celebrate and affirm our work with each other. As far as practical tools that engaged the learners, the Discussion forum of our Schoology LMS was an invaluable place to post, share and reflect.  Also, we created a Media Album in Schoology that housed our video introductions. It was like a Flipgrid, only Schoology style. One teacher really appreciated the ability to learn synchronistically since she has family obligations that require her to learn during other times of the day. I learned the most from wrapping up this online course, that the personal connection and encouragement went a long way in engaging the learners. Since this was our first course, many of the teachers had never taken an online course, so even just learning how to learn in an online format was a stretch for some! Great strides taken, and I am sure the next course will be even stronger.