Seeing

I spent this past weekend at Sun Moon Lake in the middle of Taiwan. Northface hosted some races and a concert, and finally at the end of Saturday there was a fireworks show.

Before going I had known there was the possibility of seeing fireworks, but I wasn't sure of the exact plan. When it came time to pack, I left my tripod behind even though I know that taking good fireworks photos requires keeping the camera stable for a few seconds, I rationalized that I could find a rock to put it on if I needed the stability. I really didn't know what was going to happen.

When I found out that the fireworks were set to happen, I went down to the waterfront to scope out the scene. I could kind of tell where the fireworks would happen based on the tripods lined up along the shore, so I went back to the hotel and got my camera. At the waterfront I looked for a place to set my camera up. I was looking for a location where I could take a shot that included something in the foreground along with the light show.

I found a golf cart in the parking lot where I could place my camera on top of the roof. I had the people in the scene, I had the tents, you can tell it is a festival, it was just what I wanted -- just what I expected.

Everything turned out good. 

But could it have been better?

It turned out I couldn't see in front of the tents so I couldn't see the lower fireworks.

I couldn't see how the fireworks were reflecting off the water.

I couldn't see the people down at the waterfront doing what they were doing.

I didn't get a different perspective from the one I had.

You can change your whole outlook just by walking on the other side of the street. Taking a few steps out of your current place can change your whole outlook.

Seth Goden says we think we are looking for something, and when something else comes along that is good, we don't see it.  The act of seeing is not putting a name on the thing you are looking for. 

I can't help but draw a connection to my current role. I wonder what I am missing and how I can see what I am not seeing. How can I see better? Is there I way I can be better at predicting?

What would a different perspective mean for me?

Today I had a coaching meeting with my boss. We've had these meetings set up for the past couple weeks, but we have had to cancel the last few. We took an hour to talk about how things are going and discussed some strategies I can take.

For me, part of seeing better is being able to talk out my thoughts and have a sounding board. Maybe blogging more would be good too?

#CoetailChat October 25, 2015 -- Disrupt PD

I think this was the biggest turnout for a CoetailChat yet. Feel free to look back through the chat, and come to #CoetailChat to continue the discussion.

 #CoetailChat happens on the last Sunday of each month around 9 pm Japan Standard Time.

Plan B

One of the most exciting parts of my position is when I get to sit down with a teacher who is fired-up about a unit or lesson they want to do with their class.

Teachers come to me either with an idea they want to implement, or looking for ideas. I was drawn to my current role because I love working with teachers and helping to give them the tools to make their ideas a reality.

a reminder for my students last year -- northern Japan is cold

A few weeks ago I was approached with an innovative idea to use Minecraft in an elementary math class. The teacher had found a resource with a lesson that integrated area, perimeter, and order of operations. It was a really interesting lesson idea, and I was excited to make this happen. I wanted the teachers to try it out before it hit the classroom, so I offered to teach an after school club so the teachers could try it before they used it.

Here's what I did ...

• I spoke with the Director of Learning Technology and got the OK to set up a server
• I spoke with the systems analyst to make sure that he could set up a server
• I signed myself up to do an after school Minecraft club so I could test it out for the teachers and see what it is like to integrate lessons with it

Here's what I didn't do ...

• I didn't ask what the teachers would do if they couldn't use it on the Chromebooks in their rooms. They are both 1:1, and I assumed everything would be OK. Minecraft doesn't run on a Chromebook.
• I didn't ask who would be involved. I was only approached by 1 teacher, so I assumed this was a one class project. It was a team effort.

In my own excitement to see Minecraft in action,  I was blind to alternate outcomes. I could only see the one where everything worked out the way I envisioned it.

When I emailed the teacher to say that Minecraft doesn't work on Chromebooks, the house of cards came tumbling down, and the project was put on hold. Naturally because the readily available computers in the classroom couldn't be used, the plan fell apart. I would have done the same thing had it been my own classroom.

I rushed to tell my boss to hold off on the Minecraft server not wanting to be responsible for wasted money.

All this could have been avoided if I had asked what Plan B and Plan C were. If I had thought through a little more and put my own emotions aside, I may have thought about other possible outcomes.

As it turned out, everything fell into place this time, but I am going to keep in mind to always ask about Plan B.

When Is Going For The Cool Factor OK?

My first thought when a teacher came to me about publishing a book to iBooks was, "that sounds cool." And it is a cool idea. It also gives students a wider audience, gets them excited about the project and could give them added motivation to do well, it also teaches them to publish, and not hand in their work.

For me though, it was cool. It was the win. The kind of project I want now because I know other teachers will notice and come to work with me.

Is it the best way to share student work? Probably not.

As you can see from this exchange with the SIS coaching team, their advice was steering me away from this project. And I agree that technology should be used just because it's there.

But still, I think there can be valid reasons for using tools just for the coolness factor - and while I probably would have steered me away from using iBooks as well, I think my reason of wanting a win to help attract teacher is a good reason to use it. You can't attract bees with vinegar -- and telling teachers that their reasons for using technology is not sound will not win over many people.

I am torn though.

If nothing else, hopefully this experience will help me to try to dig deeper when teachers want to use a certain app and I think I will think twice about when and how I steer willing teachers away from what they want to do.

A Little Positivity

So often I focus on my weaknesses and what I did wrong that I forget to reflect on the positives in my days. Today I decided, no forced myself to think of a positive in the past week.

So ...

One morning I went to help a teacher out. He wanted to know how to put pictures together on a page and print them out. I obliged and brought him through using Word, Pages, Google Docs, and Preview.

While we were test printing I asked him what this was for. He told me students need to print out their work.

I understand the thinking behind this ...  I used to teach Grade 1-2. But his students are in high school. So I asked, "Why are you doing all the work for them? Have them put the pictures together in a printable format." I explained to him that the students

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

I'm not sure what is being done about this now, but I felt good about the exchange because while not the best way to put it, I do think I brought up a great point for him.

It was a small thing, but losing track of the small wins can be counterproductive and could stop momentum. Celebrate the small wins, learn from the learning opportunities [less than successes], and move on.

Idea People

Bright Idea, by GDJ, via OpenClipArt.org, CC0 1.0

When we started this year, the Victor (Director of Learning Technology) created a Year Road Map that included an idea bucket section. I let all the thoughts that had been rattling around in my head spill out onto the page. That was six months of "heavy" ideas - ideas that did not escape me - laid out on the page.

Since starting I have struggled to implement many of these ideas. In order to carry through with them, and get some started, I have needed the support of others to help me. Without their support, nothing would have been done and the ideas would have stayed as ideas.

Idea people need support. If you are an idea person (and I don't think it's static, people shift between the two sides on a scale) seek out the people who can help make your ideas a reality. Find the space and people that help make your ideas become complete.

Getting Started on Twitter

"Just do it!" is something I heard a lot when I was starting on Twitter. But it's easier said than done.

Know Who to Follow
There are a few ways to follow people. Follow those you find or are recommended to you. Once you find some interesting people, see which hashtags they are posting to, or take a look at who they follow.


Steps to Build Networks
Building a PLN will take time and effort, but it is very much worth the time and effort. Once your PLN is built, you will have a network of people who know the information you need to know, and will be there to share ideas and resources with you.

Since I am new in my role of a tech coach, I reached out to my PLN (Most of whom happen to be tech coaches themselves and I can't tell if it was a conscience effort to engage with them. It could have been me dressing for the job I wanted. (See below)


Steps to take on Twitter
This is what I generally did when I started Twitter. I am not saying this is the best way though.

1. Lurk
Just watch and read at first.

2. Retweet and Curate
You can gain credibility by sharing content you find from others.

3. Reply
Start replying to what others say.

4. Ask / Answer Questions
The power of Twitter is in the community. Tap into it. You will get when you give.

5. Join Chats
Twitterchats are one hour to a week chats that revolve around a topic. They are a powerful way to learn and build relationships.

6. Generate your own content


Day 2 of the #ISEdChat - this would not have happened with one person working alone

The Importance of Enthusiasm

“Put Enthusiasm Into Your Work” - Dale Carnegie

I had spent almost a week preparing a presentation about my role as a learning technology coach is and how I could help support teachers. The elementary principal agreed to let me come in to talk to the team during their weekly meeting and I spent more time than I would care to admit putting together a presentation.

The morning of the presentation I was listening to a podcast about giving presentations and the advice was don't use images from Google Image Search. I don't have many pictures from my new school, so I had filled my presentation with Creative Commons images, but since I feel the same, I took the message of the podcast to heart and stripped out all my images during the school day.

At the meeting, I looked around the room at the elementary teachers and I did not see any energy. I was not feeling good about my presentation anymore either. Then I made my mistake, and one that I will try to not make again, I matched the energy of the room and spoke without slides.

Big Mistake

I fell as flat as the room's energy, and my message was not even remotely received. I had been afraid of coming off as fake or annoying, but worse, I  didn't come off as anything at all.

I did not inject my message with enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm and confidence are linked. They both come from within. Since I did not speak with the enthusiasm I have for the topic, I did not have the confidence while speaking that I could have had.

My presentation

If I had used my original presentation, and spoken with enthusiasm, I think I could have garnered some interest from the teachers. If I don't speak with enthusiasm for a topic I am passionate about, why would anyone else be excited to receive my message?

From now on, I will do my best to put enthusiasm into everything I do because who else will be enthusiastic about what I do?

This post was inspired by Episode 12 of the Carnegie Coach Podcast - Put Enthusiasm into Your Work.