Diary of a Digital Learning Coach

Last week, I had the opportunity to take part in an amazing connection coordinated by my teammate, Monica Champagne , with the Surana School in India.  The webinar we hosted with them may have spanned multiple time zones and countries, but because of technology, it felt like we were right next door. Connecting that far away can be overwhelming with potential for hiccups. It was a good thing that our topic was about stress management through yoga and meditation in the classroom - a hot topic in this stress-filled world. As learners from the Surana School modeled breathing and yoga, I had the realization that distance and culture are no longer barriers to learning.  The world is as open as we choose it to be. Our campuses have been exploring the brain and how stress can inhibit learning as well.  It was exciting to see our educators and counselors discuss via the chat of the webinar how this topic impacts their classrooms.  Special thanks to Allison Moore and th...

I'm so excited to have co-written a blogpost over at my friends, Monica and Kelly's blog, Teacher Tech Tools in Under 2 Minutes this week. Hop over using the link below to learn more about an awesome collaboration project between our campuses that proves that no matter what the age of the learner, connections help us construct meaning.   Connecting, Collaborating, Creating

Next week I am providing a professional learning session on making global connections.   It has made me think a lot about how we connect and why.  It is so much more than talking to someone on a video conference or connecting to an expert.  Sure, there is great learning to be had from those experiences, but I find myself seeking more.   As my team talked about our goals this past week, my friend Amanda and I talked about the difference between global connection vs. global collaboration.  Both break down the walls of our classroom, but which leads to deeper thinking, broader perspectives and higher engagement?  As with every learning experience, it has much to do with the way the experience is approached, the reflection that happens after and the questioning opportunities to which it leads. Even so, what would our classrooms look like if we strived for more global collaboration?  Kids working with other kids and cultures to create, t...