I think I have discovered a new disease (and what a fun one it is!). I call it Technology ADD or TADD. It occurs when your learning network has grown by leaps and bounds in a short amount of time. Symptoms to be aware of are: Mulitasking using such tools as Twitter, Skype, Bloglines, UStream, and many others. Trying to obtain as much knowledge and connections from various sources such as k12 Online Conference , and finding yourself trying to explain to people who have not been afflicted with this wonderful disease, only to have the ‘deer-in-the-headlight’ look staring at you.

Last night, I participated in several wonderful connection and learning opportunities, and at one point I felt as though I had ADD – my mind, eyes, and fingers were flying in so many different directions. David Warlick presented a fantastic Fireside Chat for k12 Online Conference. At one point there 111 people in the Elluminate room! From there, I headed over to Will Richardson’s tv channel (odd that we can now have our own channel). After that, I spent time with friend and co-presenter of Teacher Talk Webcast, Susan van Gelder on a Skype call and a practice run-through of streaming for our upcoming show next week.

All of this took place within 3 hours. WOW! The possibilities of connection still astound me. A link to the Fireside chat video has not been posted yet, but you will find the Fireside chat below.

fireside-chat.txt

And now off to work!

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I just finished watching David Warlick and his keynote presentation, “Inventing the New Boundaries”.  His discussion about the need to re-invent the boundaries of classroom walls, textbooks, and education in general was a very timely message. 

Over the summer, I had many great experiences with my connections and professional development made through various networks such as, Second Life, Twitter, Webcast Academy, Discovery Educator Network, These connections I made became a highpoint in my professional learning. I was able to connect and learn at anytime, and the world literally became within reach of my fingertips. (It still boggles my mind at times)

I know that my own students have their own learning networks – IM’ing, cell phones, online games, and social networks such as MatMice  and Club Penguin as well as f2f connections. With my students help, we are beginning to redefine the boundaries of my classroom. We are collaborating (through podcasting and Skype) with a class in Bucaramanga, Colombia in a project we call, Global Explorers. We are also connecting with several online projects. Nowadays, it is so easy to step outside the classroom and find yourself on an entirely new continent. All you need to do is take the first step and knock down the traditional classroom walls and move the boundary lines a little further out!

K12 Online Conference promises to be a fantastic and awesome learning experience. Won’t you join me?

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