The Clever Sheep

Pulling the Plug

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:07:00 +0000

As summer approaches, it's often the best time to reflect not only on the accomplishments of the passing school year, but to consider what it is that really matters most. The UnPlug'd experience has always been about connecting in meaningful ways with co-learning teachers embroiled in a common lifelong mission as learner and leader. And as much as that connecting with others does matter a whole lot, lately I've come to recognize the importance of connecting with my immediate world.

In the adrenalin rush that comes from being noticed, or from being invited to hang with the cool kids, or from having one's idea valued by others, we sometimes forget the reality that there are other people in our lives that are more important than those we may strive to impress with a witty tweet or an artful photograph, or a compelling blog post. And even as surely as we treasure our daily lives with immediate family members, we won't be able to add full value to their lives, if we don't take care of ourselves first.

So, as summer approaches, I'm sensing the need to unplug... to go deeper, and to once again figure out who I am, and what I want to be when I grow up. Seriously, having recently turned the page on 50 years, I can't help but wonder what else it is that I'm supposed to be doing, now that retirement from teaching is approaching like that stop sign just a few miles down the road.

It so happens that I'm also dealing with a mostly minor health issue that calls for me to 'stay out of the sun'. As you might have guessed, I see hiding in the shade as a metaphor of sorts. It will be a rare treat to be free from teaching online this summer, one that is calling me to be quiet on the social media front as well. As one who commonly seeks distraction from distant folks I'm happy to call my friends, it will be no small feat. Ironically, some of my shade will come from the withdrawal of what had been planned as this summer's UnPlugd13 summit.

In lieu of organizing an opportunity for others to forge deeper connections through UnPlugd.ca, I'll be taking that time and attention to truly focus on my personal needs. I'm going to spend a few months being still. I will relish reading, in place of tweeting; thinking in lieu of blogging; meeting face to face instead of gathering in virtual spaces.

Before I take leave to my shaded hammock, I wonder:
What's your plan for rejuvenation this summer?

UnPlugd13: Fuel Your Passion

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:42:00 +0000

Who: Educators and their families
What: A summit for educators interested in making meaningful connections with colleagues while pursuing a wide range of creative and recreational pursuits.
When: August 5-8, 2013
Where: Northern Edge Algonquin
Why: Because we’re worth it!

Over four days and three nights, you will interact with kindred spirits who long to share stories and ideas amidst the natural splendor of Algonquin park. You’ll be amazed at the meaningful connections you can make in an off-the-grid setting.

Whether your yearn to engage in rich conversation; to dive into uniquely Canadian recreation; or to dine on nutritious and delicious meals, you’re sure to find the unplugd13 experience to be rejuvenating in ways you’ve never imagined.

UnPlugd13 is limited to the first 40 participants, so if you are at all inclined to join us, visit the registration page while space is still available.

Learn More:
·       If you’re not yet familiar with the concept of learning and relaxing in an unplugged setting, consider visiting UnPlugd.ca, or review photos and reflections of recent participants.
· Follow past participants via #unplugd11 or #unplugd12.
·       Feel free to connect with me via phone, email or video conference.
·       Join in on the pre-event conference call for registrants.

Letters from the Edge

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:14:00 +0000

It's here!

'Letters from the Edge' is the collaboratively authored 'book' from this past summer's UnPlug'd 12 event. We really struggled with the challenge of authoring a book that could be accessible by on any multi-media device, so rather than adopting a portable book format, we settled on HTML5.

Coding our book using modern HTML, results in a work that can be experienced in similar ways whether viewing on desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The format also allows us to engage audio, video and photo elements to deliver a multimedia reading experience.

I encourage you to take time to savour our e-publication. The letters were written and edited by educators from Canada, the USA and Australia who participated in the first international UnPlug'd event. Video and audio elements were recorded at 'The Edge', our host site, which is perched on the border of Algonquin Park.

UnPlugd12 authors can be followed on Twitter and through the personal blogs which are highlighted alongside each letter. Although the back-stories are known only to the participants, I'm sure that you'll be able to relate to the lessons shared between the pixels.

Personal Learning Neighbourhood

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:10:00 +0000

A few days ago, Ben Wilkoff posted From Network to Neighbourhood, a reflection on the cul-de-sacs of his personal/professional learning network. This morning I was walking when I received a message from Jabiz Raisdana who teaches on the other side of the planet. His note prompted me to take a minute to reflect on some of the more distant members of my PLN.

There are many, many other educators with whom I engage in public (and private) conversations on a regular basis. My neighbourhood/network was founded in late 2007 via Twitter, but has expanded many times since that time through a range of tools, experiences and events. If you're still trying to make sense of Twitter and the role it may play in your own PLN, Keri-Lee Beasley and Jabiz Raisdana have just published Twitter - A Cultural Guidebook. The book is based on Seven Degrees of Connectedness, and is available as a free download.

Visualizing Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:49:00 +0000

The relationships we build with other online learners will vary depending on the frequency of our connections and the nature of our sharing and collaboration. In this diagram, I've drawn on my personal experiences in specific learning environments, in an attempt to highlight the intellectual and emotional connections I've made with colleagues.

Although we don't often think about our professional relationships as being 'intimate' or 'emotional', over time I've come to value my online relationships far beyond the intellectual connection that first drew me to this online world.

Is it possible to highlight such rich and evolving relationships in a personal/professional learning network (PLN) diagram?

7 Degrees of MOOC

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:45:00 +0000

In one of the opening sessions for #ETMOOC, Alec Couros hinted at the ubiquity of network connections when he shared the link to The Oracle of Bacon. That site, based on the Six Degrees of Separation, highlights the interconnectedness of the acting community.

I prefer to consider the range of connections within what many educators now refer to as the 'PLN' or personal learning network. In recent months, I've done a fair bit of thinking about how educators in the online world experience at least Seven Degrees of Connectedness.

The 7 Degrees Infographic was collaboratively developed in an attempt to qualify the wide range of relationships we experience online. My original blog post later led to this K-12 Online Conference presentation that goes into more detail about the tools and connections many are now familiar with.

Knowing that ETMOOC participants are engaging in many and varied experiences with co-learners, I'd be interested to know whether or not these stages resonate with participants. For those new to blogging, tweeting and sharing online, it might be even more enlightening to revisit this infographic at the end of the course.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES: My colleagues on the eastern side of the planet have just released Twitter: A Cultural Guidebook which is based on the 7 Degrees of Connectedness. What's more, it's a free download.

Wheels Within Wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:19:00 +0000

"Wheels within wheels in a spiral array,

A pattern so grand and complex,
Time after time we lose sight of the way,

Our causes can't see their effects."

from Natural Science, by Rush

References:

Moving Forward
by Alec Couros

#ETMOOC is Overwhelming. So, Let's Make Some Meaning
by Ben Wilkoff

Like Spokes on a Wheel
by Rodd Lucier

Week One Graph through Social Media Research Foundation
via Marc Smith

Like Spokes on a Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:10:00 +0000

As the ETMOOC gets underway in earnest, many of the participants will be blogging about their learning, some for the very first time. As participants draw connections between their ideas, these blog posts will rub up against one another, and like spokes centred on a common central idea, we'll all be able to move forward together. This, in spite of the fact that reading habits, (and consequently writing habits) are changing. These ideas led me to the two minute reflection below...

Related Posts:
We are Called to be Open Spokes in a Fidgital World by Ben Wilkoff
Imagining a Classroom without Blogs by Clarence Fisher

Photo credit: Spokes by kozzmen

Projecting Anatomy

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Many of my colleagues are making use of mobile apps as teaching tools, and it seems to me that more might give it a shot if they knew what it entailed. Here I profile a few anatomy apps that are 'free' for a limited time along with the dongles that make projection possible. If you coach or train as an athlete, or if you teach anatomy/health/fitness/biology, you might want to download these particular apps before the offer ends.

FootDecide
HandDecide
EyeDecide
ShoulderDecide
KneeDecide
ENTDecide

and don't forget to tell your friends about AppsGoneFree.

Making Connections as a Fidgital Native

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:24:00 +0000

Today, I connected the ideas of three distinct authors writing words 10 years apart from one another, on different platforms. Below, I use my voice, to highlight the connection I made between two invented terms: 'screenager' and 'fidgital'.

Consideration of that connection, led me to a new term: 'Fidgital Native'. I wonder if that phantom vibration in a student's pocket will be used as diagnosis?

So, what did I connect?
Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today's Pop Culture is Actually Making us Smarter by Steven Johnson
Welcome to Generation "Fidgital" by Katie Mcdonough
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants by Marc Prensky

Does this lead you to consider any related connections you'd like to share?

Wheelchair Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:32:00 +0000

My colleague Jim Pedrech may not realize it, but his sharing of a recent TED Talk has reminded me that the technology at our fingertips needs to be leveraged for tasks yet unimagined. Just as Sue Austin has experienced something extraordinary thanks to a blend of assistive technologies, we need to encourage our students to use modern tools to invent, rather than to re-create.

After viewing my take, be sure to to take a few minutes to reward yourself by dreaming with:
Sue Austin: Deep Sea Diving... in a Wheelchair

The Secret to Finding 'Good' Free Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:41:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered how folks know when good apps suddenly become 'free'? My secrets are revealed in this short video.

Resources mentioned in this brief podcast include Free App Alert and AppsGoneFree. It's also worth visiting Appolicious.com if you want to see which apps folks recommend, whether paid or free.

What's your source for finding apps that fit needs you never knew you had?

Microphone Extension

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:31:00 +0000

There are more than a few benefits to having an extended range microphone connected to your recording device. Items mentioned in this video include:

3.5mm MICROPHONE ADAPTER FOR iPad iPod iPhone;
10 METRE TIE CLIP LAPEL LAVALIER ELECTRET MICROPHONE.

Niji Sousaku: Secondary Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:24:00 +0000

It all started when I read this Wired Magazine article about Hatsune Miku. I'm sure you'll be interested to see the recorded 'live' performance that resulted when creatives, building upon the work of one another, brought Hatsune to life.

The Power of Hand-Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:44:00 +0000

A story about McMaster medical students being welcomed to the profession by hand-written letters has me wondering what might happen if practicing teachers took to the pencil or pen more regularly. There is wisdom in sharing a legacy of ideas via the written word... with colleagues, with students; perhaps to inspire those new to the profession.

One Million Tweet Map

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Want to really get an idea of what's happening in the world... as it happens? Watch tweets in real time as they appear on a map of the world via ~~One~~ Two Million Tweet Map.

What might you track this way?

* uprising in a foreign country (neighbouring countries)
* natural disaster (flood, earthquake, ice storm)
* social event (television show, party)
* major sporting event (SuperBowl, Olympics)
* conference hashtag (#ISTE, #unplugd)
* school community (zoom in on your school)
* global holiday (New Year's Eve)
* famous places (Disney World, the Louvre)

A New Way to Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:42:00 +0000

K12Online: 7 Degrees of Connectedness

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:24:00 +0000

This week the K-12 Online Conference kicks into high gear with video presentations that cross four strands. If you know of any teachers who could use some mid-semester encouragement or motivation, please point them to the conference.

My presentation is based on 7 Degrees of Connectedness, and will go live in the "Getting Started" strand on Wednesday. This video was produced with the support of a few of my online colleagues whose stories weave in and out of the narrative. In short, my talk invites educators to foster authentic relationships by connecting with others through a range of social media tools.

What is it for you that leads you to pay closer attention to the learners in your network? Do you feel close to those colleagues you interact with, even if you've never met? Are you more attuned to those people whose voices are amplified because you met at a conference; exchanged stories; shared a meal? As our connections grow with online colleagues, we may find ourselves in qualitatively distinct relationships with co-learners. By sharing our ideas alongside details of our personal lives, we have a tendency to become more and more familiar to one another. Augment these connections with voices and imagery, and it can lead to deeper and more fulfilling connections. In this presentation Rodd Lucier (AKA The Clever Sheep), invites you to walk along with a few of his colleagues who join him in reflecting on how modern tools are impacting our online relationships. The concept of '7 Degrees of Connectedness' is introduced as one way to qualify the relationships we foster with online colleagues.
Presenter: Rodd Lucier Location: Komoka, Ontario, Canada

Increase the Achievement Gap

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:12:00 +0000

The constant flood of articles and system goals that proport to 'close the achievement gap' has always left me a bit dismayed. Is the 'gap' really a problem that should be addressed?

My take is that we should actually aspire to the goal of increasing the achievement gap. We would be successful should our highest flyers manage to reach beyond the expectations of those who imagine and publish learning outcomes. Of course, we should celebrate the wonders of our most amazing students, not at the expense of other learners, but while we continue to help all learners achieve to their fullest potential. It's just that those with the greatest of potential, are rarely challenged to race beyond what most of their peers are capable of.

But too often, it's the gap that matters. While ignoring or impeding the learning of our brightest students is one way to decrease the achievement gap, there is another 'mathematical' way to bridge the difference: Play the shell game.

Secret Tips on Closing the Gap

In the province of Ontario, students enter either academic or applied streams of courses in grade 9. The academic courses are designed for kids who got the 'I do school well' gene; while the in theory, the applied courses are meant for learners who do better with concrete learning experiences. Locally developed courses are provided to meet the needs of students with functional deficits or intellectual challenges well beyond those of the average student.

When it comes to measuring achievement in mathematics, the Education Quality and Accountability Office or EQAO, tests HS students in grade 10. The results are reported for both academic and applied streams board by board, and school by school . So each school gets a report highlighting the percentage of learners who were successful in each type of course.

Want to 'reduce the gap'? The easiest way, is to reduce the number of kids taking academic courses. Think of it this way. Students in the high end of the applied courses, will naturally pull up the achievement rates for that group. But if these same learners are in the academic courses, they are more likely to pull down the results of that group, all while leaving the applied courses with fewer successful students.
So, if a school hides its modestly talented math test-takers under the shell of applied courses, then both the applied and academic classes are more likely to have higher passing rates. The academic courses will be filled with mostly high achieving math students, while the applied courses will benefit by having more students capable of passing the test.

Sure, we'd be increasing the gap within the applied courses, but we'd be decreasing the gap in the academic courses, and the resulting EQAO statistics might well make school administrators blush.

A Test Question?
Maybe this is just the type of 'authentic' math problem that should be on the EQAO test. My guess is that a few bright students would teach the system to spit out high enough passing percentages, that future students and teachers could save themselves from the stress of the test.

Photo credits: find x by dullhunk; bridge by Malcolm Surgenor

Creating a Community QR Poster

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:17:00 +0000

One of the first community publishing projects we undertook in my 'learning strategies' class, was to produce a large QR code that will eventually hyperlink to our class website. Our poster will be 29 pixels square to match our master QR image. If your students use one inch pixels, the group will produce an image almost two and a half feet wide. (Our final poster will be a bit larger than that.)

Step 1: Create a QR code that links to a classroom web page. I used MobileFish QR Code Creator because it allows the user to specify the size of the first printed image.

Step 2: Decide on a way to cut the code into pieces so that each student can take on a part of the project. With 16 high needs students in my class, I began our project by breaking our code into 16 equally sized unique squares.

Step 3: Enlarge each student's piece of the puzzle so that the individual pixels can easily be seen and organized. I enlarged each of the pieces to fit on full sheet of letter-sized paper.

Step 4 (Option 1): Provide each student with a piece of the puzzle. You might elect to print a puzzle grid template on which each student might recreate his/her pixels. Just make sure the grid is filled with enough fairly precise squares.

Step 4 (Option 2): As an alternative, you can simply have each student produce a set number of dark squares that can be added to a master grid by a select team of students. So long as the black pixels are composed of images that appear dark when viewed from a distance, the code should work.

Step 4 (Option 3): Instead of puzzle pieces, cut your QR code into strips, providing each student with a binary strip composed of black and white squares. This solution would work wonderfully for a class composed of 29 students!

Step 5: I asked each student to complete images that represented their favourite things, their talents, and their goals for this school year. For some, it took a long time to develop a list of words or icons that could most apty represent each individual's uniqueness. (It took even longer for students to produce clean dark images with black Sharpie pens.)

Step 6: Put it all together. With our QR puzzle being completed on a part time basis, we hope to have a final poster ready in a week or so.

Community projects like this one call for each student to demonstrate some commitment to the collective. The resulting symbol demonstrates to others that the unified group is made up of many uniquely talented individuals. While we used hand-drawn sketches, I'm confident that a similar project that uses coloured squares of paper, photographs or images cut from magazines, can yield a similarly effective symbol of class unity.

UnPlugd 2012: Assessing the Unmeasurable

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:26:00 +0000

This summer, 39 intrepid educators embarked on a journey that brought them from the skyscrapers of downtown Toronto, to the shores of Kawawaymog Lake in the region of Algonquin Park. With the promise of a wide range of engaging experiences, UnPlug’d 2012 brought together co-learners from Australia, USA, and Canada to share stories about what matters most in education and to collaboratively author a collection of letters that will be published later this fall.

When it comes to digesting a good meal, a sense of satiation triggers positive feelings. In a similar way, participants engaged in our unique unplugged learning adventure, left UnPlug’d with a feeling of fullness, refueled by deep conversation, nourished by rich natural meals, and refreshed through recreation amid the splendor of Ontario’s near north. While we can measure the success of our event by pointing to the product that we produced, many of the hidden benefits our event, are intangible and immeasurable.

How can you summarize the effectiveness of a collaborative writing venture that brings to life the narrative experiences of a diverse group of co-authors? How can one measure the value of a journey in a private rail car filled with kindred spirits? How do you put a value on the achievement of emboldened colleagues who succeeded in their cross-lake swim to an iconic tree on a nearby island? How might you assess the experience of once distant friends sharing their passion for running by connecting for a morning run amidst the wonder of Algonquin region? How can anyone measure the magic of an evening paddle to a sauna, swim and campfire, when capped by the shooting stars of the Perseid meteor showers? Is it even worth considering what it means to hold in your hands a guitar that is made up of historic artifacts from across Canada or what it feels like to hear that same guitar played at a campfire or at a private indoor gathering?

While educators had to take up the invitation to participate in UnPlug’d 2012, it was through generous sponsorships and donations from a number of Canadian and US EdTech companies, that we were able to set the conditions for a rich and memorable event. We are indebted to many partners who supported our mission to dig into our collective memory, to share experiences with distant colleagues, and to edit and publish our most impassioned ideals.

UnPlugd’d participants continue to talk, share, and collaborate by leveraging social media tools, and by gathering for face-to-face meetings and professional development events. Through open conversations on Twitter, and through deeper reflection on personal blogs, participants continue to reflect on their experiences, to consider adaptations to their professional practice, and to lead by learning in public. As our multimedia publications near completion, the dividends from UnPlug’d 2012 are sure to impact connected teacher-learners from Canada and beyond. We invite you to consider coming along for the ride at unplugd.ca.

Image credits: Rodd Lucier, Lisa Neale, Todd Lucier,

Many more images are available in the UnPlugd12 Photo Pool
This article was originally written to appear in the MindShare Learning Report.

UnPacking UnPlugd12

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:43:00 +0000

After an amazing time on the Edge of Algonquin Park in Ontario, we've begun to unpack a lot of things... the most important of which, aren't things, but ideas. The concept map below was drawn by Giulia Forsythe, one of the small group facilitators at this year's event. The sketch reflects the many takeaways identified by participants at our final large group circle at UnPlugd12.

Incidentally, this is not the only awesome image Giulia has created. Beyond her unique ability to represent ideas in doodles, she is also an avid photographer. In fact, one of the images she captured from UnPlug'd 2011 was used as the basis of the postcards being shared by this year's participants. You can imagine my chagrine when I learned that I failed to attribute this photo when creating the postcards. I'll make it up to you somehow Giulia. :)

These images and many other wonderful images by Giulia Forsythe are licensed for use through Creative Commons.

Going Tribal

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 03:06:00 +0000

There was a time not too long ago, when I was lonely in my professional life. Although I felt that I was doing really good work in the area of gifted education, few of my local colleagues had any idea of the work I was doing. It was only when I had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with regional gifted education specialists, that I felt connected to a tribe. Kindred spirits who truly understood what I was going through, began to share resources and strategies and to collaborate in the delivery of regional events for gifted learners.

A few years later I found myself in a newly created provincial role, assisting district school boards in leveraging e-learning tools. My tribe was small, with six widely scattered teachers attempting to do the same work across the province of Ontario. Our team stayed in touch with weekly meetings that always included a few minutes sharing personal and familial stories. Although we only met face to face a half dozen times in the two years I was in the role, I continue to feel a deep sense of connection with these colleagues.

One of my local tribe-mates, Jim Pedrech, is a talented teacher who until recently was unaware that he had many peers who were engaged in similar missions, sharing relevant and compelling learning experiences with students. Today, Jim pointed me to a talk that highlights the value of working and learning with a cadre of compadres.

In this TEDxUSC video, Rodney Mullin tells the story of a skateboarding tribe that builds on the creative work of members in order to ensure the collective moves forward. In many ways the work of these individuals mirrors the work many of us are engaged in when we share the triumphs and tragedies taking place in our classrooms. If you can't spare the time for this entire video, jump to this point... but hear the word 'teachers' when he says the word 'skaters'.

In classrooms all around the world, innovators are doing creative work engaging apt tools to help their students learn relevant skills... and they're doing so alone. Many have yet to discover who their peers are, let along to connect with them in meaningful ways. While a wide range of social media tools now allow such teachers to find one another, most have no idea who their tribemates are. The most lonely, may be those who have discovered true peers in this online world, but who rarely if ever have opportunities to meet face-to-face with their recently discovered colleagues. The lucky few who have intermittent opportunities to engage in conversations and face-to-face meetings, should not take for granted such connective opportunities.

One of my distant colleagues, David Truss has been thinking about the difference between his online self, his real world self. David's words ring more true for me than they otherwise might, in large part thanks to numerous face-to-face conversations we were able to share at the recent Connected Canada Conference: "The point is that we are sharing more and more of ourselves online and that ‘person’ that we share online is becoming a bigger & bigger part of who we really are."

I think that the more comfortable we become within a community of online peers, the more we let our true selves leak into the community. Our voices become more authentic, our lives become more transparent, and our relationships become more meaningful. Just as skateboarders push the boundaries of what is possible by sharing within a tight-knit community, once lonely teachers who might otherwise push boundaries in secret, are becoming kindred spirits and members of a growing tribe.

140 Voices

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 02:58:00 +0000

The 140 Voices project was co-developed by Rodd Lucier and Zoe Branigan-Pipe, who are working to bring co-learners to life through a collaborative project called 140 Voices. The 7 Degrees of Connectedness was created in part to help explain the 140 Voices project.

Why 140 Voices?
It’s the number of seconds that anyone can spare for a quick video.
The number matches the maximum number of characters in a tweet.
Many of the folks who will appear, are actively engaged on Twitter.
How long will it take to engage the voices of 140 educators-leaders-change agents? Here, a short video interview with @Stephen_Hurley explains how the 140 Voices project came about and why we feel it fits so perfectly with the collaborative publishing taking place on VoicEd.ca.

Do you have a story to share?
Do you know someone else who has a story to tell?While you could wait for us to record you in person or via Skype, with a little video-editing playfulness, you can create your own 140 Voices video. Following the steps below, you can share your own story or any story of interest.

To Capture and Post a Story:

1. Film yourself or a colleague using any digital video camera or camera-equipped computer. External microphones are helpful, but not necessary.
2. Answer (or ask) the following questions or respond to the prompts:
* What is your name, role and where are you from (city, organization)?
* What is your current project or initiative?
* How does this project impact student learning? Teacher learning?
* How can folks keep track of your online learning?
3. Upload video content to a video editor of your choice (imovie, youtube editor)
4. Add the 140 Voices intro and extro to your video using the tutorial provided or some other method.
5. Post your video to YouTube using the hashtag #140voices.
To do this part, you will need a Youtube account (or any Google account)
6. Share the link with either @stephen_hurley, @thecleversheep or @zbpipe via Twitter using the hashtag #140voices
7. Videos will be collected and shared at VoicEd.ca
Rodd Lucier explains walks you through these steps in the 140 Voices Video Tutorial.

Peter Skillen and Brenda Sherry, are two dynamic and innovative educators from Ontario. Their videos are the first of what we hope to be 140 short interviews to be hosted at VoicEd.ca.

Seven Degrees of Connectedness... the Infographic

noreply@blogger.com (Rodd Lucier) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:04:00 +0000

While I haven't had time to respond to all the comments I received on the framework I posted yesterday, I did engage in a short conversation with Sylvia Tolisano about turning the Seven Degrees of Connectness into an infographic.

After following Sylvia's work online for a few years, I count myself lucky for having the opportunity to meet her first hand at Educon 2.3. After sharing an idea, and engaging in a short conversation, Sylvia produced the infographic that follows. In my personal learning network, I'm now pleased to count her as a collaborator. :)