For when you miss out

This weekend, #EdCampNJ went down in North Brunswick, NJ.

 If you don't know what an EdCamp is about, check out this fantastic review by +Jeffrey Bradbury on http://www.edcampnj.org/what-is-edcamp/


I went last year and it was such a great event. So much so, that it changed my perspective on learning, leading, and teaching. The people that I met there, some from the Social Media edu-space, became good friends and people who continually shape my existence!

So, when they announced the registration for  the 2014 version of EdCampNJ, I jumped at the chance to sign up. I was excited, especially since I had just changed just districts and jobs. There were so many questions I wanted to ask and a few sessions ideas I had kicking around in my head. If you think I am feigning my excitement, do yourself a favor and ask anyone of the over 400 educators who went this year how valuable that day was. The conversations alone (along with, "gasp" free swag and pizza) make this day one of the best of the year. 

Picture of last year with some of the great Edu-Peeps in attendance. 

Work up early on Saturday, got my coffee game going and then, I hear the dreaded cough from mountain tops. My kids, specifically the little one, has a HUGE cold. Goops, gabs, mucus, and snoogies all ruining up and down his little face (yes, those are medical terms). My life shifted to dad mode while trying to make the little guy feel better but when the SECOND kid also work up with those medical anomalies, I knew it was a sign. 

My hopes of going to the unconfernce were dashed. 

I knew it was going to be a great day but I needed to stay with the family. Thankfully, ever so thankfully, these types of events just don't happen in person. They also happen over the internet via Twitter, Google Drive, and Hangouts. 

I was able to watch along as the fellas from #satchat brought up great guest after guest during their show. I was able to follow the hashtag and see what people were talking about in the sessions and I was able to actually see the session materials thanks to Google Drive!

It stinks when you have to miss out on something, especially something you know will benefit you, your staff, and your school district in general. 

It stinks that you can't be a part of something greater than yourself BUT.. and there is always a but, the event is great because of the people who attend and their willingness to share of themselves. 

So even though I couldn't make it:

THANK YOU #edcampNJ organizers for all your hard work.

THANK YOU educators, teachers, administrators, and tech gurus who gave of their time and ideas. 

THANK YOU #NJED and NJ for being the BEST place to work in. YOU ALL ROCK. 

A New Way Home

As human beings, we become accustomed to routines and daily doings. Whether it is from what we eat in the morning to how we meet and greet people; routines are important. When things in our lives change, it has a ripple effect and often times those ripples effect how we do things. Having a routine keeps is moving, alive, and active.

Just recently, I started a new job at Princeton Public Schools as Supervisor of Social Studies and Global Education. It has been an amazing two weeks so far. I have had the chance to meet so many enthusiastic and phenomenal educators and see the great work they are doing for the students who are in their classes and attend their schools. I have also had the chance to visit with my staff here in my home base and get to know them a little bit more as well (over pizza, which, in my estimation, is the best way to get to know someone).

While the job, the people, and the interactions have all been more than I could have hoped for, one thing has changed, my routines. Changing a routine isn't inherently a bad or good thing. It is just something that needs to happen. Changing a routine isn't like changing the channel. It takes time to ease into a new one and find out which one works for you.

My most pressing routine I need to change is how I get to work and what I listen to. Now this might not seem like a great deal but my car ride is my place to think about my daily events, what I need to do, and how I need to get them done. Usually, I have had time to listen to a podcast or two (Check out the BAM Radio Network for some great ones on Education: #edtechchat for one is a homerun). Now, my time is a bit different so I need to switch up what I listen to and how I get to and from work. Finding a new way home from work has been a great adventure.

Another one? What buildings I go to and how I will manage my day. Being new to the job and district gives me an opportunity to try new things out, like the Bullet Journal (Thanks, +Daniel Scibienski for this one). It is an analog way of keeping track of notes, events, and ideas. With this fresh start, it gives me some time to try new things out, including new note taking.

To check it out for yourself - http://bulletjournal.com/

My ride home is my own little Adventure Time. 

So - moral of the story? Don't be afraid to switch it up, not matter how big or small you believe the change is. Even if what you try out doesn't work, give yourself an excuse to try something new. Routines are great but so is change. Don't get stuck in a rut. 

Video O Da Week! - Episode I

In this new series, I will be re-posting great informational videos about Education, EdTech, Social Studies, Global Education, and Citizenship. With so many great sites and information being posted daily, I wanted to take the ones that I felt were the most useful and powerful and share them again on this blog.  

I will be posting these periodically and providing context and information to go along with it!

Here is the first in our series, originally posted on Edutopia: http://tinyurl.com/mzpeedg

Blended Learning: 

Making it Work in Your Classroom

A great site to help define what this learning program is all about and how you can start leveraging it in your classes NOW: What is Blended Learning?