I started developing a Personal Learning Network (PLN) just about a year ago after I reacquainted myself with Twitter. In that time, I have gleaned a number of ideas and resources to bring back to the students in the alternative program I coordinate, as well as the "mainstream" colleagues in the junior high where I act as a Building Technology Integration Specialist. Central to the theme of many of these resources, tools and ideas is that notion that we enhance what we do by collaborating.
Inspired, I embarked on a wiki project last year because I wanted my students to see their collaborative efforts pay off in the completion of an on-line resource. In addition, I utilized my PLN connections to gather "real world" consumers of their work and generate authentic feedback from those who accessed the wiki. By the time students had completed their work (or the time to conclude teh unit had arrived) there was a living, breathing student-generated entity influenced by an authentic audience of professional educators serving as aresource for completing a unit assessment.
Reflecting on that task, I see my students gained experience, insight, and understanding through their collaboration. And, I benefited from the use of my PLN as "audience."
But, and here is the central question, had I really collaborated, or had I merely relied on others to assist my students? While drawing on the input of others is an aspect of collaboration, I don't think I really collaborated; instead, I assigned and watched my students collaborate on work.
So, last week when the call went out on Twitter from Beth Still (@bethstill) and Jason Schrage (@oswego98) for contributors to a crowdsourcing effort, I knew it was finally time to contribute to my PLN, to add my knowledge to a collaborative effort.
I visited the site this morning, and marveled at how the site was crafted by people who volunteered their "expertise" to facilitate a greater understanding by people they likely will never meet. It amazes me that from the crowd of Beth's & Jason's PLNs my voice emerged to take it's place in the chorus that is EdTechConnect. Together, the 10 or so voices have composed a resource that could help revolutionize how teachers address their craft.
Now, I'm not just one of the crowd, I'm the one in the crowd who shared what he knew inorder that others might benefit. And, doesn't it feel good right about now.
Click here to view a map of the EdTechConnect collaborators
-SchlegsofTonka
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