How I Share

I’ve written about the importance of sharing here, here, here and here, so I thought I would blog about some of the different ways I share with others. I am hoping that if I share some of the ways I share with others, that perhaps that might inspire others who are, perhaps, a bit more reluctant to share, to share.

It is important to mention that while I enjoy sharing what I am doing and what I am learning, I enjoy the reciprocal nature of the sharing. I learn a considerable amount more, from others sharing their stories than people receive from my sharing.

Sharing Face-to-Face

There are so many opportunities to share each and every day.  I do so in a number of ways, both formally and, more importantly and perhaps more effectively, informally.

Study Groups – I have the honour of being involved in two different Study Groups of Administrators. We share the wonderful things going on in our schools, our challenges, and our successes. We also share any new learnings we have.  In addition, we often have a book or some other focus for our group sessions that helps to guide our discussions.

Digital Coach for Administrators – During the past two years, I have been fortunate to be one of our Digital Coaches within our district who has tried to help our fellow administrators through the challenges of technology and constant change. I learn just as much from them as they learn from me, of that I am certain.

Digital Sandbox Series – This an opportunity for administrators to be involved in learning more about various tools at our disposal within our district: surreyschools.ca, iPad strategies, along with other ideas.

Digital Playground Sessions With Staff – We have had a number of sessions for our staff, including sessions about Twitter, Dropbox, iMovie, SurreySchools.ca, various apps, social bookmarking (diigo), blogging for teachers and students and other sessions. These are not always sessions I have led, but sessions have also been led by other staff members as well.

Informal Conversations – one-on-one or in small groups – staffroom, outside, in the hallways, in teacher’s classrooms, in my office …

Sharing Online

• my blog – This is a place where I share my learning as a learner, an educator, and a leader in education. At times, I will also share my learning as a parent and a wanna-be photographer.

• staff blog – This is our weekly staff blog where we share any important information for staff for the week. I post upcoming events and important dates on this blog as well. Each week, I also include things to stretch people’s thinking. Some of these items include Items of the Week, including Video(s) of the Week, Tweet(s) of the Week, Blog Post(s) of the Week, Website(s) of the Week, and a Quote of the Week.

• School Success Blog – This is a blog I share with our school community. Each week, we highlight some of the wonderful things that happened during the week. I include photos, videos, and other samples of student work.

• Kids Inspire Us Blog – This is a blog that I started with fellow Vice-Principal, Erin Paynter (from Ottawa). There are so many inspiring children out there – we wanted to have some of their stories in one place so others could also share in their inspiration.

• School Website – On our school website, I try to share about different upcoming events happening in our school. One of our wonderful secretaries adds all the newsletters and calendar items.

• Innovative Learning Design Collaborative Blog – This is a collaborative blog for those on our Innovative Learning Design Team at the school in which I work. It is a place for each of us to share our reflections, our successes, or challenges, and the many things we learn.

• Twitter – Twitter has been an amazing place to learn from and make connections with people from around the world. It has been instrumental in many aspects of my ever-evolving pedagogy.

• Facebook – This has also been a great place to make professional connections with educators around the world.

While it is really important to share in person, one must not forget the importance and possibilities in sharing in online spaces.  In the busy-ness of the everyday, one needs to consider the effectiveness of sharing online.

If you do not share with others, perhaps you should consider the following video (one of my favourite).

Please keep this video in mind. Happy Sharing!

How do you share your learning or the learning of others?

What is one thing you can do to increase the amount of sharing your do with others?