A Teacher Journal #1: Connectedness

After many years of saying "someday," I'm finally enrolled in an Educational Technology Master's Program. My current course requires me to keep a journal to document "connectedness." Below is my first entry. 

We've been challenged this week to expand our online connections. Already an avid Twitter teacher, I've chosen to focus on three other social networks. I have joined these three in the past, but I feel I have underutilized as opportunities for connection.

1. Instagram

I joined Instagram awhile back and have heard great things from teachers about using it. However, I never really used it much. I've started by looking through teachers I already follow and seeing teachers who they follow. One that I especially admire is Brittney Root (aka @miss5th). Here's an example of a heart-warming idea that she posted that would work well in my classroom.

A post shared by Brittney Root (@miss5th) on Apr 20, 2018 at 3:52pm PDT

2. Facebook: California Middle School Science Teachers Group

I joined this group awhile back but have not really been much into following what is posted. I grew a little tired of Facebook in general and don't use it much. Looking through their discussions, there's really great ideas and support on it. I think following it more closely will be a benefit. For example, looking through recent posts I saw one about USD Oakland and their stellar NGSS resources. I'd attended some of their workshops a couple of years ago at CSTA conference. Great discussions going on here about NGSS and best practices. There's so much to learn in this group!

3. Pinterest

Jennifer Gonzalez (aka Cult of Pedagogy), Lisa Highfill, and Maria Popova (aka Brain Pickings) are all people I follow in other ways online and find inspirational. I dug around on Pinterest and found them all to be very active on this social network. I also found organizations that I love such as KQED, Edutopia, and Common Sense Education on here. I'm finding it a little hard to view them all. Pinterest is definitely made for hopping around.

Searching through these three networks, I'm reminded of just how much information is out there online. What a great time to be a teacher! Any ideas for people or organizations I should follow? Please let me know in the comments below!