Joining in...Stepping out

Sitting in the classroom as a third grader I vividly remember wanting to be near wherever the teacher was going to meet with students. Even then I wanted to be near the conversation. Now as a teacher in my own third grade classroom my favorite place to be is in conversation...in conversation with students, teachers, parents. It is a powerful feeling to truly share a conversation with someone else. It might even be an art form, the perfect balance between listening and contributing.

For the last two years I have had Twitter accounts for both myself and my class. We have enjoyed connecting with other classes and sending out updates about what we were reading or projects we were working on. It was not until recently that I truly began to understand the power of using tools like Twitter to develop a PLN. As is the case with most of the technology I use, I am realizing that it is not the tool, but the power it has to create connections and start conversations that is so valuable.

I have a tendency to sit back and enjoy conversations around me while not always contributing. Having a chance to read the blogs of others has inspired me to try my own. Do I think this post will change the world? No. Have I realized the worth in reflecting , sharing, and challenging my ideas and the ideas of others? Absolutely.

I am not a runner. Occasionally I pretend that I can jog and have even participated in a race or two. I am lucky enough to have friends that will tolerate my slow pace and just let me enjoy the journey. One of these friends is married to a man who truly is a runner. We talked once about why he enjoyed the sport so much. He believes it is such a great sport because it is one where those at the top of their game participate in the same events as those people like me who are just trying it out.

As teachers, learners, students, and parents this format of PLN via social media does the same thing. I am excited to learn from thinkers who are at the top of their game. I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute my own ideas to this community. I am excited to stretch the power of collaboration from across the hall to across the world.

So rather than sit back and watch people pass by I am stepping out and joining the conversation with my own voice. May this be just the starting line of many rich conversations to come.