In my previous school district, I was the only teacher teaching a physics course with set, district-wide learning outcomes. These same outcomes were also taught in physics classrooms at the other high school in our district. But at our school, I was one of the 2 physics teachers. The other teacher taught the AP-level physics courses. So, in many ways, I had opportunities to incorporate strategies I believed were best for learners and that I found worked best for them without being seen as out of alignment with anyone in our building. My amazing friend and one of my teaching philosophy goddesses, Katie Novak, stated the following misconception about alignment: All teachers must deliver instruction in the exact same way. True alignment, she says, is about shared goals, rigor, and outcomes. Thank you, Katie! Katie has taught me to truly believe that learner variability is the rule, not the exception. I encourage you to take 10 minutes to listen to Katie Novak explain it in the ...
Have you ever gone to a conference and seen that one person in the back of the session who seems to be engaged but its not interacting with anyone else? Or maybe that one person who seems to be eating lunch at a table by themselves? That’s me.
I attend around 3 educational conferences every year. I have a great time learning from presentations and keynote speakers at all of these conferences. By definition, a conference is meant to be a meeting of people with a shared interest. When I think about my conference attendance, I rarely meet new people. Am I defeating the purpose of a conference in many situations?
I’m always quick to tweet out to a hashtag and follow presenters with great insights, but rarely will I find a new face to face connection. It’s crazy to think about it. 90% of those attending a conference probably have something we could connect about or discuss. From edtech tools to educational philosophy, there is an incredibly population of individuals I could be connecting with. A ton of face to face connections waiting to be made if I just introduced myself.
So, my word for 2018 is “Hello.”
I helped organize an EdCamp in March of 2017. When I think back on it, I was so into the process of putting on the event that I didn’t make any new connections that day. This year, I resolve to meet new people at any conference I attend. To say “Hello” to people I don’t know and learn a little about them. More importantly, at EdCamp Elmbrook that we are hosting in March, I will go out of my way to say “hello” to every attendee.
I find it so easy to ♥ a post on twitter or reply to a tweet. I need to build that commitment to do the same thing in person. I’m so quick to offer my voice to a Twitter chat, including GIF’s with aplomb. But when the chat is face to face, that part of me hides away.
I will continue to meet and converse with new people virtually. I am always willing to say “hello” to new opportunities. I hope to find that same courage to say “hello” to the new people I see in 2018.
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