Nocking the Arrow

Happy New Year everyone! It has been a terrific year of personal and professional learning. I appreciate those of you who make " Nocking The Arrow " part of our learning agenda. This blog has evolved into my digital learning portfolio. I have learned that sharing my learning transparently deepens my thought, widens my perspective, enhances connectedness, and provides an archive of my observations and experiences. Here are the three most popular posts from this past year on " Nocking The Arrow " How Can Teachers Make Their Learning More Visible? - This post is my plea for educators to become more transparent with their personal and professional learning. Transparently sharing learning has benefits the educator, his or her colleagues, his or her students, and other learners in general. Digital Badges For Teacher Professional Development - Digital badges can be used to acknowledge and distribute professional learning. Badges visibly identify achievements,...

Reinforcing suggestions from favored PLN ( personal learning network ) contributors, A.J. Juliani , Silvia Tolisano , and Jackie Gerstein , one challenge for the coming year becomes clear; learners regardless of age or status, should find ways to contribute to the worldwide classroom . The Internet, and the unlimited accessibility to information means that our traditional concept of classroom must change. Modern learning spaces are built upon networks sharing knowledge and experiences. Thriving in these new learning spaces means being able to connect, curate, communicate, create, and contribute. The value of a learning network depends upon contributions from its members. Today, educational thought leaders are those people making consistent and impacting contributions to their learning networks. " It is more blessed to give than to receive. " Now, more than any other time in the past 100 years, education seems on the verge of a paradigm shift. You see, for the past c...

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. - Chinese proverb Like countless others, I have experienced a personal and professional rebirth as a result of connecting with other educators through a personal learning network (PLN). Connected educators frequently cite several key advantages of socially networked learning, including; personalization of learning, collaborative spirit, professional voice, global perspective, and most importantly, relationship building.  However, like other activities that we find fulfilling and enjoyable, connecting with others digitally is best done in moderation. When I eat too much ice cream too fast, I get a vicious headache. Comparatively, there are times when unplugging from our social networks is not only appropriate, but essential to our face-to face relationships. Family dinners, walking our dogs with my wife, fishing, and exercising are examples of times when I go comfortably into “ airplane mode ”.  ...

"We need to move beyond the idea that an education is something that is provided for us, and toward the idea that an education is something that we create for ourselves." - Stephen Downes In this age of abundance of information, shifting classroom pedagogy isn't nearly enough to make learning in school more relevant and authentic for the learner. Self-directed learning ( andragogy ), and self-determined learning ( heutagogy ) are the ideals necessary in making students " future ready " to live and learn in a web-connected world. While original research applied these concepts to mature learners, it has become apparent that even young children have an abundant capacity for recognizing and directing their learning. Anyone who has observed toddlers learning how to walk and talk understand the motivation and skill development that quickly develops during these processes. Considered by some to be on a learning continuum, self-directed learning, and self-determined ...