The #michED chat is a grassroots effort dedicated to giving teachers, students, and parents across Michigan a bigger voice in the conversation about education in our state. We welcome all voices through a variety of projects, media, and social networking. We’re trying to address educational issues through apolitical conversation, spreading ideas and stories of success from Michigan classrooms across the state, and helping teachers and students regain the courage to connect and demonstrate that schools in Michigan are creating amazing opportunities for learning. We want the face and voice of education in Michigan to be a mural of shared experiences and positive examples of connected learning.
Welcome to #MichEd! Our topic tonight is #k12collaboration. Introduce yourself!
I'm Zach Ripley, professional learning consultant with @cbdconsulting, former HS ELA teacher, and #elevateEDU enthusiast!
First question coming at 8:05.
Glad to join in the #MichEd chat about collaboration. I am an Ast. Princ. & taught for 17 years, mostly at the HS level. I love the opportunity to coach and learn with Ts and Ss. Influenced daily by the people around me. Truly.
I'm the instructional tech coordinator at LakeVille Schools in Otisville, MI. Almost everything I do involves collaborating with teachers! Looking forward to the chat. #miched
A1: So many great influences exist in an educators life. I wrote about this topic in my blog titled, mentorship is a dare - https://t.co/Y24bgU00Xw#MichEd
A1) Of course many educators in my PLN point me to helpful ideas and resources regularly. In my district it's my job to support teachers as they learn to use tech, but I learn so much from watching them. #miched
A1: Oh man, difficult to choose 1.Been privileged t work with many great educators. The most influential are @MichaelSharrow2 who hired me for my first job; and @EdTechInfo & @athorp for including me in the @REMCAssociation Blended Learning in the Classroom project. #MichED
Hello, my name is Brittney Havens. I am a current student at UW-Platteville and am pursuing Elementary Education! I am excited to participate in this #MichEd Chat!
A1: Just can't pass up the chance to give a plug to @MarisaEThompson (Southern California) - how often do you randomly connect with an educator thousands of miles away and glean great insight. Check her out: https://t.co/uHHAGQuXv3#miched
John from Watervliet checking in! A1: @teach42 inspires me to push my professional practice forward through constantly seeking new innovations in education! #miched
A1 Matt McCullough from Kzoo. I have taken a little bit from everyone I worked with in my career to the leave the next person better than I found them in some small way! #miched
A2: Find time to collaborate by very intentionally reaching out and being responsive. I have a lot to learn & need help. Make the space bc I understand that if I fail on this foundational principle of WHY I am an educator then the rest of what I do is ultimately weakened. #MichED
A2: I always share books with my assistant principal. We find the best books, read them and discuss. There isn't always time, but we share nuggets of great information. #miched
A2: I made time to collaborate face to face with other educators throughout the week in my previous district. Not in a role to do that as much now, so still working on a new plan. #michEd
A2) There have been many times I felt I had to collaborate to survive! I enjoy spending time with like minded teachers and we naturally end up tackling problems together or getting new ideas to work on. #miched
A2: The passing hallway convos ALWAYS have the potential to be profound moments. Starts with “what do you think about ___?” or “What’s on your mind lately ___?”
#miched#k12collaboration
A2: Be intentional and plan it! I co-plan with a science teacher in my building we collaborate on everything #miched Middle schools with teaming concepts create collaboration
A2 Even though its sometimes a struggle to get away I am sure to attend PDs with both like minded AND differing educators outside of my region. If its not my strength or tribe I most probably will learn more! #miched
A2: It’s amazing how time can escape while working so I often use my commute time to call and collaborate with my awesome network of folks! I also find that intentionally blocking out time for folks on a regular basis makes it easier to stick to. #miched
A2: try to coordinate after conference hours for face-to-face time; in-district goal is to be in buildings minimum 3 days a week. Working lunches, walk and talks. #Miched
Q3: How might (or does) your practice and/or your students' experience benefit from collaboration with educators from other expertises?
#MichEd#k12collaboration
A2: I once got this AWESOME advice from a co-worker.
Linger by the door before leaving. Just for a few minutes. Every day. Guarantee that something will come of it.
#miched
Collaboration is essential to my job. So it's everything. You don't want to partner w/me. It's okay. I'll just bug you until you break down and collaborate. Just ask @bcgeek#miched
A3: Pros with expertise can shake up "institutional thinking" in necessary ways. Our challenges need new solutions & creative thinking. We need to pros to get a new lens to understand our full potential. #MichED
A3: You learn so much from other people. Especially through my #PLN. You get great ideas, read wonderful blogs to improve your teaching practices. Kids get the benefit of your learning. #miched
Q3: How might (or does) your practice and/or your students' experience benefit from collaboration with educators from other expertises?
#MichEd#k12collaboration
A3: One of my main stay pieces of advice to all educators is that it’s not what you know but who you know. There is immeasurable benefit to knowing who to call when you are stuck! Building those relationships are key to continuing to grow as an educator! #miched
A3: One of the most profound benefits to my time as a HS teacher was observing a Kindergarten classroom. It changed my world! I think our students deserve teachers who understand the entire world of ed in an intimate way. It’s hard. But it’s so good.
#miched#k12collaboration
A3: I constantly benefit from having made connections with educators in other districts. The biggest is bringing other perspectives that are hard to see from within one’s own school district. #michEd
A3: I am able to bring the knowledge of others into the classroom to teach students that we learn from each other. I am just a facilitator of the learning process, not an expert of all. #michEd
Once sat in a room with an ELA, Social Studies, art, and SpEd teacher while they planned a single lesson together.
It was incredible. Everyone needs that!
#miched
A3 This was just tonight for our "#PBL at the Mill" learning session with 2 districts (25 teacher) and 10 local experts in the rennovation of @VicksburgMill#miched
A3: I am able to bring the knowledge of others into the classroom to teach students that we learn from each other. I am just a facilitator of the learning process, not an expert of all. #michEd
Throughout my time in K-12, and in my college experience, I have had multiple educators that influenced me beyond belief. They are the ones that pushed me into education and made me want to be an educator like them! I had many educators in mind when I read this! #MichEd
I'm going answer this from my experience as the fun "aunt". Anytime I'm in the classroom or working w/ts, I'll ask the t/coach what it is that the group is having a hard time w/learning. It gets worked into the content. #notmomanddad#miched
Q3: How might (or does) your practice and/or your students' experience benefit from collaboration with educators from other expertises?
#MichEd#k12collaboration
The power of professional learning communities. A simple “Hey, what are you teaching this week?” Coupled with a willingness to try something new can create something different & awesome. #MichEd
Once sat in a room with an ELA, Social Studies, art, and SpEd teacher while they planned a single lesson together.
It was incredible. Everyone needs that!
#miched
We used to do it all the time when we had team planning time to coordinate, sadly lost to budget cuts .... our student benefit when we collaborate #michED
Q4: What is one example of an activity or lesson in which your students (do or might) collaborate with those of another grade, level, or building?
#MichEd#k12collaboration
I would encourage you to not only focus on the good educators in your past but also those that needed improvement. Gains come from recognizing the opportunities to grow from both types. #miched
Q4: I worked with an awesome T who had HS Ss plan & organize an entire day of science study at the pond with elementary Ss. Great teaching and learning. #MichEd
Q4: What is one example of an activity or lesson in which your students (do or might) collaborate with those of another grade, level, or building?
#MichEd#k12collaboration
A4) I just helped a 6th grade ELA teacher and 8th grade science teacher on a shared project this week. The 6th graders had more experience with the tech and led some of the older students at times. The teachers were very excited about it. #miched
A4 A recent Strategic Partnership for Authentic Learning (#PBL) where our students K-4 solved a problem for a local potato farmer and then presented their finding (which they implimented!) https://t.co/xpmdhdrT86#miched
Q4: I worked with an awesome T who had HS Ss plan & organize an entire day of science study at the pond with elementary Ss. Great teaching and learning. #MichEd
A4: A few classrooms just started a global Holiday Card Exchange and Holiday Traditions chat using #flipgrid! Learning from each other and understanding global thinking is important for our students! #miched
A4: Given that I don’t have daily student contact I will share a @bcteacher story. Her students have developed @cospaces_edu experiences for incoming students to view before they transition to her school. Amazing what students develop with an authentic audience! #miched
Todd, I agree! Collaboration is not only beneficial to educators, but the students as well. Someone may expand on your idea and / or may have taught a similar lesson and expand on what you already have. #miched
A4: Let me throw out a couple practicals:
HS students make “orientation” resources (or better yet, in person) for MS students.
Art students contact local artists to give feedback on work.
Check out @flipgrid#gridpals for another quick way to connect with classes!
#miched
That is very true. From those that needed improvement, I thought what I could do differently in order to have a well maintained classroom and an enjoyable one at that! #miched
It can be a really difficult thing for students to learn though. You have to model effective collaboration to them because even adults aren’t good at it sometimes. #miched
A5: I want more people to see the work I do and tell me what they think about it (not fluff. candor). It is too easy for me to think that I’ve got it all figured out… and very easy for others to tell me I don’t.
#miched#k12collaboration
A5: Student learning is "open" when T learning is open to new ideas centered on the specific Ss in the classroom. Ts benefit from support for risk-taking & commitment to best instructional practices.Pros tire with status quo and low expectations. #Invigorate#MichED
A5: K12 collab. evolves from a culture that exists in classrooms & hallways of single buildings, then into PLCs & staffs then into other grade levels. Connecting the value of pre-K education to senior year of HS & everything in bw is never by accident. A culture. #MichEd
Teach kids to utilize social media for learning. They can share with others about what they are doing and see what other classrooms are doing. Bring in guest speakers as well to share with the kids. #miched
A5: Authentic publication opportunities are one main method for staying open. I also promote the thought of empowering not restricting. Allow students to show that they can handle open experiences rather than shutting them down first and asking questions later! #miched
A5: When I hear "open," I think of student choice and student voice. Let students choose how they want to show their learning of a specific standard. Give them a chance to take ownership of their learning. Provide them authentic opportunities and they will thrive! #miched
A6. There are so many ways to collaborate with other schools and even higher grade levels within the same district. How could you not bring those experiences in for the kids. They are all around us. We learn and grow and the kids learn and grow too. #miched
So many people from the community want to engage and support you and your students. They don't b/c they weren't asked and/or don't know how to engage with you. #miched
A6: Here’s my “last one”
@mrscantu5 (5th grade at Delton Kellogg) once told me that the best thing (or so) for her teaching career was Twitter. Finding other educators and sharing her own students/work. So much gold out there!
#miched
A6: Just that collaboration and cooperation are not the same thing. Collaboration should aim for a better product, a synthesis that leads to higher ground, can involve conflict and amicable argument! #MichEd
A6: I can only hope that the days of closing the door are done. Reach out and connect with #cmakers educators, #remcrits members, and other professional groups to expand your learning daily. #miched
Thanks @zripley - #MichEd chat was solid. Our profession demands engagement from adults if we expect it from students. Educators collaborating and battling ideas can lead to student wins. #ExpectMoreGetMore
"Collaborating with other educators is like wearing sandals on a stony beach. It is too painful to imagine proceeding without them." ~ Robert John Meehan
#miched#k12collaboration
Thanks for a fantastic chat tonight. Collaboration is critical in this day and age. Our #PLN and Twitter just give us another way to do it. Have a great night everyone! #miched
