Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs. In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year. Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home. I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms...
I just got home from an amazing experience at University School of Milwaukee's Spark Conference. I saw some amazing presenters. These are people whose books and blogs I have read and adored. I saw Aaron Hogan, Tara Martin, Michael Matera, Shelly Burgess, and Julie Smith.
But looking at the #USMSpark feed, I saw so many people taking selfies with their #EDUHeroes or their PLN. Looking back on the 2 days, I realized that I did no such thing. The main reason is my crippling shyness. I have be working on just come up and say “Hello”to people this year. Now, I actually have to ask if you’d take a picture with me? That would take me way out of my comfort zone. Yes, it is probably something I need to work on. But, I don’t think I’d get the same high I get when I see something else in my Twitter feed.
The thing that really gives me the feels is when one of my #EDUHeroes retweets something I said or even better quotes me in a retweet. Think about it, we live in an age where we can express our thoughts to anyone connected to Twitter with a simple tag. If they see that message or thought, they can validate it by liking it or retweeting it. They can not only agree with your thoughts, they can use their mouthpiece to amplify your message. They think what you have to say is of such value that they are going to repeat it to their audience.
I remember the days when we used to keep autograph books (I have Meryl Streep’s somewhere - probably lost in a move.) Today’s autograph is taking a selfie with our heroes to collect evidence that we shared a moment with that person. A great selfie can commemorate an experience with one of our heroes. That’s the way I see many of those we take at an education conference. It’s an artifact of a relationship that was probably cultivated online first. But for me it would be more like a fleeting moment where I was covered in flop sweat.
So while I may be seeing some of my EduHeroes like George Couros, Katie Martin, Barbara Bray, Kasey Bell, and Matt Miller at upcoming conferences, I probably won’t have the courage to ask them for a selfie. And, I can live with that because their validation of my thoughts and work through retweets and comments has created a stronger connection to them than any selfie would. But, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to get a selfie with any of these amazing people!
So yes, you’re retweet means more to me than that selfie. Think about that the next time you have an opportunity to celebrate the work of your students or provide them with positive feedback. Does your feedback reflect their work or your place as their teacher obligated to provide it.
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