If you are reading this, you already know that the world is changing, and you know that as a leader in education you need to be connected. But where do you start?
This month, OSSEMOOC is taking you from beginner to connected in 10 minutes a day.
In education, we work long hours, and boundaries between home life and work can blur. We know we need to learn, but finding the time is challenging.
If you can commit to finding 10 minutes to connect each day in November, we will help you establish some habits of connecting, creating and sharing that will start you on the road to becoming a connected leader.
So let’s begin!
If you feel a bit unsure when it comes to technology, here is a great place to start working on your mindset for learning.
The next video is old (2008) but still relevant as we consider why taking the time to learn to be a connected leader is critical to the success of our students.
Now in our remaining three minutes, let’s consider the video that supports Ontario’s renewed vision in education (follow the link in green). What are the needs of our students in today’s world?
Video transcript:
“I’m an Ontario student, and my world is constantly changing.
I live in a world where technology is everywhere.
I can connect with a friend in another part of the globe, just as easily as I can with a friend down the street.
When I graduate high school, I will enter a world that is more competitive and connected than ever before.
My education will prepare me for that world.
My school will be a place where my friends and I can be successful, regardless of where we come from.
A place where we are inspired to learn by engaging teachers using new technology.
Our diversity will not be a barrier, but rather a reason for our success.
We will develop the strength of character to overcome obstacles and be resilient, whatever comes our way.
We will feel safe and welcome, and know that our well-being is supported inside and outside of school.
We will be the innovators, community builders, creators, skilled workers, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.
As an Ontario student, I will achieve excellence.”
In your last minute for today, consider the reasons why it is so important for education leaders to own their own learning, and to connect with other educators online. Perhaps some of the resources posted below will be helpful to you.
Learning through online videos is just one of the many ways you can direct your own professional development.
Check back here tomorrow as we start looking at how Ontario education leaders are making their thinking and learning visible.
Stay connected!
Further Resources:
Connected Educators, Leaders and Schools
Why do our students need connected leaders?
OSSEMOOC 
It is easy to connect for ten minutes a day. I like what we did before where we invited people to write blog posts to the connected community and then we commented on them. This serves two purposes, it encourages writers and it gets a dialogue going. These seems so hard to do! It is nearly impossible in my area and it is not really encouraged. However, as administrators we need to take the responsibility to connect seriously – how else can we be expected to actually learn anything new that is not already mandated?
Happy to connect every day for the next 30 days – thanks for getting this started again!!
LikeLike
My first 10 minutes turned into 30…and also re-invigorated me! It is a call to action as a system leader to encourage my colleagues to engage in this learning!! Looking forward to tomorrow’s time!
LikeLike
I really appreciated the clips, especially the “Learning to Change and Changing to Learn clip”. It resonated with me. I have to become more tech savvy and must do so in the presence of the teachers. I feel like I was somewhat disconnected to others as I have recently taken on a new job. Our Board office is 800 km away! That being said, it isn`t anyone’s fault it just happens to be the circumstances. Now, I have something that will truly keep me in an on going professional learning journey! Thanks Kim, for providing me with a way to build my content knowledge, to learn the vast uses of technology and most importantly, to keep me connected with my old friends and colleagues!
LikeLike
Ten Minutes of Connecting
I take ten minutes of quiet breathing space before my day begins, or when my day ends to collect my thoughts and reflect on the events of the day. I felt that working on the completion of the 10 Minutes of Connection a Day Challenge would be a great fit for this space.
I feel that as an educator, my use, knowledge, and level of confidence that I have in the use of technology is quite high. However, after viewing the 10 minutes of online content today, I feel like a small fish in a global pond.
I really appreciated one sentiments shared during the video, Learning to Change-Changing to Learn. One gentleman used the term “ingredients” to describe the development of technologically minded youth within the school system. Such a description leaves room for two things. When planning a meal, one household may select one set of ingredients, and another household my select a set of entirely different ingredients. Here then, the application of technology can still reflect the localized demographic needs and wants of children but continue to act as a point of connection on a global scale. It made the increased integration of more technology into the field of education a little more palatable (enjoy the pun!) as we can add the ingredients that we see our students require locally to continue along with their global journey.
I appreciate the offer to engage in this challenge to further understand the cyber community.
LikeLike
Ten Minutes of Connecting
I take ten minutes of quiet breathing space before my day begins, or when my day ends to collect my thoughts and reflect on the events of the day. I felt that working on the completion of the 10 Minutes of Connection a Day Challenge would be a great fit for this space.
I feel that as an educator, my use, knowledge, and level of confidence that I have in the use of technology is quite high. However, after viewing the 10 minutes of online content today, I feel like a small fish in a global pond.
I really appreciated one sentiments shared during the video, Learning to Change-Changing to Learn. One gentleman used the term “ingredients” to describe the development of technologically minded youth within the school system. Such a description leaves room for two things. When planning a meal, one household may select one set of ingredients, and another household my select a set of entirely different ingredients. Here then, the application of technology can still reflect the localized demographic needs and wants of children but continue to act as a point of connection on a global scale. It made the increased integration of more technology into the field of education a little more palatable (enjoy the pun!) as we can add the ingredients that we see our students require locally to continue along with their global journey.
I appreciate the offer to engage in this challenge to further understand the cyber community.
LikeLike
You can learn anything however the knowledge that you are being assessed can inhibit how much you learn and grow
LikeLike
Thank you for inviting me! I appreciate the personal touch because I have read a lot of the research so that is not what drew me to this learning, it was knowing that you were investing in the learning and wanting to be a part of that!!! Looking forward to this!
LikeLike