Catching my breath!

coakes photo 2013

The beginning of the school year is always a blur for the first few weeks. I am not complaining, I am not whining, it is just a fact! Finally, we have a long weekend in October where it seems like it's the first time to stop and notice that the weather patterns have shifted, the leaves have changed colors and happitly, I notice that I am back in a routine, my students are into a routine and it seems like juggling everything I juggle has settled into a manageable pace.

If anyone is looking to have some exciting online professional development, you should consider checking out the Annual offering of the K12online Conference 2014 Igniting Innovation! There are many opportunities for meaningful 20 min presentations to take advantage of. There are several strands available: 

1. OPENING KEYNOTE
2. STORIES for LEARNING
3. GAMING AND GAMIFICATION
4. PASSION-DRIVEN LEARNING
5. STEAM

My presentation was accepted in the Stories for Learning strand. If you are interested in learning about digital tools that help level the playing field for all learners then check out my presentation the week of October 20, 2014. In this teaser, Victoria takes the controls and demonstrates some of the tools that she uses in her learning. 

Victoria demonstrates the digital tools she uses to access the content for her general education classes. This demonstrates what happens when students have CHOICE in their assignments as well as CHOICE in the reading level. This is the backbone of differentiation and Universal Design for Learning with the student driving the direction of the instruction.

Victoria shares  her favorite tools.

Make a plan to schedule in some YOU time. The YOU time should be for your learning, your exercise, your entertainment, your enjoyment. Chris O'Neal presented at ACTEM 2014 and challenged all educators to schedule time for your own learning. Put it in your calendar, make a plan and stick to it. It doesn't have to be long, just a 15 min learning break will be a welcome addition to your daily schedule!

Plan to schedule some learning time during the two weeks of the K12online Conference 2014, you will be glad you did.

Wisdom of the Crowd~it's Everywhere!

What an awesome group of dedicated 21st Century Educators I met in E. Bridgewater, MA on July 10, 2014! The day was hot and  humid, the school was incredible, brand new, state of the art and even had air conditioning! No mistake it was a summah day!

Four things I love about being involved with Summer Professional Development:

1. Educators choose to be there
2. Educators are relaxed
3. I learn something new each time because educators SHARE!
4. Everyone is so appreciative

Find a summer professional development that you can join. There are many online and archived, you can participate on your own terms. Share what you learn on Twitter or Facebook, learning continues!

Here is one of my favorite online spaces K12OnlineConference !

k12onlineconference.org is Everywhere!

What are you doing the next couple of weeks? How about joining, for FREE, the k12onlineconference.org . If you haven't participated in the k12onlineconference in the past from 2006, 2007, 2008 and now this year 2009, don't worry, you can pick up with this year and still participate in the sessions from 2006 since everything has been archived and believe it or not, it is all still very timely!
If you are thinking that the timing is wrong, you are remembering correctly, the k12online conference used to be in October. But the conveners thought to shake things up and in a global manner has provided the k12online confernce at a time when some of our closest educators are finishing term and going on vacation and have plenty of time to joining in the conference.

Last week I was lucky enough and caught up with a fireside chat with Keynote Kim Cofino. It was amazing to listen to Kim's keynote and then to have her available to ask questions or get more clarity about her presentation. Now where else can you get that kind of connection from a face to face workshop? The best thing about it, was there were over 120 of us in a chat room asking questions of Kim and each other. That fireside chat and text is available at http://tinyurl.com/yfcwt9w
Take time and head over to k12onlineconference.org and check out the schedule.
Add k12online to your twitter, your facebook and join the k12online ning.

Hope to see you at the next fireside chat! Oh, did I say this is all FREE? Well it is.

Resources:

You can follow @Twitter k12online

You can follow on Facebook k12onlineconference

You can follow @ the Ning k12online.ning.com

Cross-posted at cheryloakes.com

What did you accomplish this past month?

If you have any connections to the blogosphere you already know about the k12onlineconference.
However, if you have not heard of this great FREE resource read on, but first check out some short teasers to give you a glimpse of the types of presentations you can attend. I have participated in this virtual organization for the past three years. The first year , 2006, I was part of the crew choosing the presentations for a strand. The second year I participated with two groups and presented with Women of Web 2.0 and Seedlings, Flat Agents of Change.
This year with my good buddies Alice Barr and Bob Sprankle, we were invited to Keynote, How to Get Started with the ReadWriteRevolution! When you ask educators to develop a proposal for an idea, send to it a juried process, then publish for the world, it can be a scary proposition. Then someone like David Warlick posts this message. "I like Cheryl’s quest to make the classroom like an ongoing homecoming.  On top of some many things that means, it attracts the involvement of the community — because the community has been there.  We’ve all been there, in the classroom, and we remember — and we can be inspired to be a part of the “revolution,” as they call it."
I sent an immediate message to Alice and Bob, "he got it!" We were so excited. Why?  Because we shared our personal experiences, our personal stories, and we wonder. Will people understand? Will people view this and make a connection to their own journey? Will our stories help move others to try educating their students for the 21st Century? Yes and no. Another viewer who watched our presentation didn't get the value they were looking for. They posted their reflection and it will become part of the online dialogue.  It is all part of the continuing conversation! Everyone gets a voice and everyone can choose to continue on. Personal choice!

This year the k12online conference was so well done that I have barely had time to get past the first week. I like the fact that I can go back to the conference when I want to and have the time to spend. I like that I can recommend presentations for others and the presentations will be there.
I especially have enjoyed the  CupOJoe this year! It keeps me going back to see when new comments are made and it makes me reflect!
Oh, and I really like to read blogs with the k12online08 tag, it reminds me to head back and spend more time. So, thanks to the conveners Wes Fryer, Dean Shareski, Darren Kuropatwa and Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and all the behind the scenes folks. This year was really special and I enjoyed it!