The Relevant Educator: How Connectedness Empowers Learning

by Tom Whitby, Steven W. Anderson

Overview

Professional growth and social media savvy at your fingertips!

This information-packed resource from digital experts Anderson and Whitby makes it easy to build a thriving professional network using social media. Easy-to-implement ideas, essential tools, and real-life vignettes help teachers learn to:

• Find and choose the best social media tools, products, and communities
• Start and grow a collaborative, high-quality PLN using Twitter, blogging, LinkedIn, and more
• Use social media to enhance 21st Century education
• Engage in authentic personal and professional learning

Includes invaluable resources and an in-depth analysis of the social media landscape. Collaboration has never been easier with this must-have guide!

The Corwin Connected Educators series is your key to unlocking the greatest resource available to all educators: other educators. Being a Connected Educator is more than a set of actions: it’s a belief in the potential of technology to fuel lifelong learning.

"It is incumbent upon all educators to connect with other educators who can reignite their passion for teaching. The authors generously share their wisdom for those who want to accelerate the development of a personal learning network. " 
Angela Maiers, Founder and President
Choose2Matter, Inc. and Maiers Education Services, Inc.

"Learn how and why educators must connect in order to truly be at the top of their game. This book gives practical advice on how to connect, engage, and grow as a learner."
Adam Bellow, Corwin Author Untangling the Web

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483371733
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/01/2014
Series:	Corwin Connected Educators Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	80
File size:	946 KB

About the Author

Tom Whitby has presented at many national, statewide, and local education conferences as well as Edcamps. He has contributed to the WISE Conference in Doha, Qatar, an International Education Conference, for the last two years. He served as a social media consultant for SmartBrief and a contributing Editor for SmartBlog on Education for SmartBrief.

Tom is a retired Adjunct Professor of Education at St Joseph’s College in New York, having taught for 6 years. He came to that position after 34 years as a secondary English teacher in the Public School system. He was also a leader in the New York State United Teacher Locals for 30 years. He has founded a number of Educational Groups on Linkedin including Technology Using Professors Group.  He has been recognized with an Edublog Award for the most Influential Educational Twitter Series, Edchat, which he founded.

Additionally, Tom hosts The Edchat Radio Show for the BAM Network, which is available as free podcasts from K-12 education at the Apple iStore. He blogs at My Island View and has contributed articles to several education journals and has been a guest blogger with contributions to The Royal Treatment and Teacher’s Reboot Camp. He created the Ning site, The Educator’s PLN: http://edupln.ning.com/.  Follow him on Twitter @tomwhitby.

Steven W. Anderson is a learner, blogger, speaker, educational evangelist, and Dad. As a former teacher and Director of Instructional Technology, he is highly sought after for his expertise in educational technology integration and using social media for learning. He regularly travels the country talking to schools and districts about the use of Social Media in the classroom and how they can better serve students through technology. Steven has been a presenter at several educational technology conferences, including ISTE, ASCD, FETC, VSTE, and numerous state and local conferences. He is also responsible in helping create #edchat, a weekly education discussion on Twitter that boasts over 500 weekly participants. Steven has been recognized with the the 2009 and 2011 Edublogs, Twitterer of The Year Award, a Microsoft Heros of Education Award, along with a 2013 Bammy Award - recognized worldwide as the Educational Emmy - for his work with #edchat. 

Table of Contents

Preface by Peter DeWitt
Introduction
1. Connected Learning
2. Social Media in Education
Who is Using Social Media
Acceptable Use Policy
Myths and Misconceptions
3. The Effects of Culture on Change
School Culture
Internet Culture
4. Social Media for Professional Development and Professional Learning
Blogs in Learning
Why Blogging?
Personal Blog
Class Blog
RSS Feeds
Zite
FlipBook
5. Components of a PLN
What is a PLN? ...And What It Isn′t
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Skype
Podcasts and Webinars
Chats
6. Education Conferences
National Conferences
Unconferences/Edcamps
7. Social Media Communities
Nings
EdWeb
EDUPLN
Edmodo
8. Getting Started
9. The Connected Educator
10. Apps/Sites for Social Media

Editorial Reviews

"In the 21st century, the smartest person in the room, is the room. It is incumbent upon all educators to connect online with other educators who can reignite their passion for teaching, and share learning and experiences. Tom Whitby and Steve Anderson generously share their wisdom and the "rules of the road" for those who want to accelerate the development of a personal learning network. Their book is a worthwhile investment that will repay itself many times over. "

Angela Maiers

"To those educators who've felt like detached retinas in the digital age and those who love and support them: This book is the best driver's ed course for connected-learner beginners that I've seen to date. For those who've jumped in with both feet, this book provides rationale and fresh new perspectives to increase the effectiveness of your connected learning time. Steven and Tom have managed to do something rare in this space. They have built a human, understandable beginning for would-be connected educators. Hats off my friends. "

Kevin Honeycutt

"The Relevant Educator touches on the heart of what it is to be a teacher who feels unsupported and ill-trained in our digital world. Tom Whitby and Steven Anderson offer a solution: get connected to educators online who freely share lesson plans, training materials, videos, webinars, and support 24/7. The book outlines first steps to take and provides information on free web tools and mobile apps that will introduce teachers to online communities where teachers support each other everyday. "

Shelly Sanchez Terrell

"This is the essential book for learning both how and why educators must connect in order truly be at the top of their game. Written by two of the most genuine and passionate educators who are practitioners as well as innovators in the educational technology space, this is a must read for all educators that is written in a fun and conversational way. The book addresses issues that are at the heart of many staff meetings and gives practical advice on how to connect, engage, and grow as a learner. A must read! "

Adam Bellow

"As of now there are about 20 books in the Corwin Connected Educator Series, a seemingly ever-growing set of titles masterminded by Peter De Witt and Corwin Press. Each book is short enough to be read in one sitting, which makes the collection ideal for book studies and professional development, both during the summer and throughout the school year. Also, each paperback is authored by one or two educators who speak (and blog, tweet, etc.) with a credible voice in the world of connected education. Some of the topics include:

• Flipped leadership

• Tools for connecting educators, parents, and communities

• Blogging for educators

• Best practices for establishing a makerspace

• Tools to connect and empower teachers

Finally, all of the authors are active on social media, and they regularly present at local conferences, which helps in bringing to life the contents of these books. "

Ross Cooper