Using Social Bookmarking for Professional Development

Have you ever thought about how you might outline a plan for using social bookmarking as a professional tool yourself, either for your own continuing professional development or to collaborate with colleagues?  I've just recently been exposed to Pageflakes ( a wonderful tool, I might add), and my imagination is going wild with ideas!

I've already started utilizing social bookmarking with my new teachers (the "ever-so-ready" digital natives) who have even taught me more about various sites, like the Khan Academy that has over 83 MILLION lessons, including those for instructional coaches - my passion!  Check it out!

As I continue to explore this great tool, I will keep you posted with other bookmarks. Until then, check out my Pageflake that incorporates other great links!

Wikis and How they Can Help on our Journey to the Common Core

Do you know the saying, "Work Smarter, Not Harder"? Well, ..... after attending the Learning Forward PA Institute this past Thursday with Grant Wiggins encouraging districts in Pennsylvania to work collaboratively to meet our 2013-2014 goal of fully implementing the Common Core Standards, it only seems like a natural progression to keep the conversations going by creating a wiki!  "Yes, a wiki!"

A wiki is a collaborative space where everyone works together to write or brainstorm ideas, and what better way is there for participants who began capacity building conversations to continue? Talk about "building community"!

Many of the participants were district leaders, whether superintendents, curriculum directors, professional developers, instructional coaches, or teacher leaders, who came together with the same goal -  learning how to move forward on this journey toward implementing the Common Core Standards.  I plan to contact the current president of the organization to highly suggest the creation of such a wiki.  Stay tuned!