For the better part of my educational career, I always referred to any type of learning to assist me as a teacher or administrator as professional development (PD). For the most part, this consisted of attending mandatory district “PD” days, professional learning communities (PLC)’s or approved off-site experiences such as conferences, workshops, or webinars. In March of 2009, I began to use Twitter, and it was at this time that I began to create a Personal Learning Network (PLN). MORE

Undeterred, I continued to talk about the concept of a Personal Learning Network (PLN) and what it had done for my professional growth. Best of all, at least in my mind, was the newfound ability to learn anytime, from anywhere, with anyone in the world for free. Little did I know that this conversation set the stage for one of the most significant learning shifts we ever experienced at my school. It become all about the learning. MORE

First and foremost, make the time to learn, grown, and get better as opposed to finding the time. There is nothing more important to an educator, outside of working with kids, than professional learning. Through social media a Personal Learning Network (PLN) provides a great antidote to the age-old time excuse. You can now learn anywhere, with anyone, at anytime you want for free. MORE

Eric Sheninger, Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) and Scholastic Achievement Partners (SAP) , kicked off the 2015 Leading Future Learning conference with his keynote on Digital Leadership. It’s not so much that our students learn differently, it’s that the environment in which they learn has changed. Digital leadership is not new construct of leadership. MORE

It is not that our students are actually learning differently per se, but the environment in which they are learning is dramatically different. They have embraced this digital world as it provides consistent relevance and meaning through an array of interactive experiences. If students cannot learn the way we now teach or in the conditions that are prevalent, maybe we need to teach the way they learn and create a school environment that more closely aligns with their world. MORE

Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar with a new idea each day! The teachers are very new to web tools, developing Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) and are currently teaching full time. I look forward to grading their reflective eportfolios, because this is when my students begin to look back at their learning journey and see how much they’ve grown. Reflective Learning with Student Digital Portfolios from Shelly Sanchez Terrell. MORE

Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar with a new idea each day! The teachers are very new to web tools, developing Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) and are currently teaching full time. I look forward to grading their reflective eportfolios, because this is when my students begin to look back at their learning journey and see how much they’ve grown. Reflective Learning with Student Digital Portfolios from Shelly Sanchez Terrell. MORE

How can we best harness the positive aspects of technology to improve student learning and the schools we work in? When we apply principals of efficacy to the Pillars of Digital Leadership , we’re well on our way toward integrating technology with confidence that learning will be transformed. The 7 pillars of digital leadership. Pillar 1: Student engagement, learning, and achievement: Enhancing essential skill sets that society demands. MORE

Covina-Valley Unified School District teachers having way too much fun learning about Quizizz at a CUE Launch event. Professional learning can and should be fun! Participants will be asked to capture the collaboration and connectivity of the #fallcue experience in the streamlined Chrome Warrior gamified learning environment. If you are still waiting for your personal invitation to join Twitter, consider this it! MORE