I feel we should be concentrating on ways that educators, students and anyone interested in education can connect every day. October is #CE13 Connected Educator Month but we should be connecting every day in many different ways.
Connect with your students
Make sure you show them you care about them. Greet them each day by name. Keep up with their interests. My #YouMatter page Give them time to explore their passions
My Makerspaces page: My Genius Hour page.
Connect your students to other classes around the world and with experts
Start connecting via Skype or Google Hangout with other classes. Then take the initial meeting a step further by starting collaborating with them. My Mystery Location page. Connect your students with experts outside the classroom to answer their questions. Adam Taylor @2ftgiraffe started #Scistuchat a monthly discussion that connects high school students and scientists.
Connect with your colleagues.
Share what you are doing and what you are learning as a result of your connecting online and offline. Observe what they are doing with their students.
Connect with other levels of education.
When my daughter was in sixth grade she and classmates connected with first grade students. We need to connect elementary school students with middle & high school students and middle and high school students with higher education. We can all learn from each other.
Connect with the parents/guardians of your students.
Find the best ways each parent wants to be communicated with. Be transparent with them on what you are doing with their children. Invite them in to the class to share their expertise. Show them ways they can help you as a team improve the learning of their children. Have hands-on workshops on how you are using technology for education. Use such web tools as Remind101
Connect with the community.
Take the learning out into the area where you teach. Plan performances, art shows, science fairs in your public libraries, civic centers… Connect with the members of your school community through the Chamber of Commerce and local organizations. Build relationships with businesses and local organizations My School-Business Partnership Page
Connect via Social Media
Build a great PLN to connect with by following the hashtags on Twitter that pertain to your subject or grade level. My Educational Hashtags page. Seven days a week there are a plethora of chats for most grade levels and subject areas. Participants in these chats represent a global audience of educators, students, parents and people interested in education. Weekly Twitter Chat Schedule Use different social media connections like Facebook and LinkedIn to connect.
Connect with your family.
Step away from your technology devices and have some quality family time. If your family is spread out connect with them via Skype or Google Hangouts.
