Connected Educator Month and the National Writing Project

The National Writing Project is a partner in Connected Educator Month, launching in August 2012. Connected Educator Month is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, focused on connecting educators with online communities and learning networks.

Visit the Connected Educator Month website to find out about more events offered by a range of communities and organizations and for details on how to participate.

Throughout the month, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in events and activities designed to help them develop skills related to personal learning networks. The month kicks off with a two-day conference on “transforming teaching and learning” followed by a month-long set of activities and events organized around key topics and hosted by a range of participating organizations.

The National Writing Project will host or be involved in the following Connected Educator events, including:

Connected Educator Month Kicks Off NWP-Style at Teachers Teaching Teachers
Teachers Teaching Teachers (TTT), a weekly web radio program of the New York City Writing Project hosted by educator and writing project technology liaison Paul Allison, will kick off Connected Educator Month (CEM) NWP-style. This special show will focus on online communities of practice and include guests such as Darren Cambridge, director of the Connected Educators project; Kevin Hodgson of the Western Massachusetts Writing Project; Pamela Moran, Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools and a teacher-consultant at the Central Virginia Writing Project; and Karen Fasimpaur, founder and organizer of P2PU’s School of Ed.

When: Wednesday, August 1, 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT
Where: http://edtechtalk.com/ttt


Connected Learning Webinar Series

Leaders from the National Writing Project will host two MacArthur Foundation Connected Learning webinars.

Communities of Practice for Professional Learning: Connected Learning for Adults
Can the concept of communities of practice help frame connected learning in the workplace and beyond? Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, director of NWP National Programs and Site Development, will lead a MacArthur Foundation Connected Learning webinar about Communities of Practice for Professional Learning: Connected Learning for Adults. Guests will include Lacy Manship, Associate Director of the UNC Charlotte Writing Project; Kim Jaxon, Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico and member of the Northern California Writing Project, and; Tene Gray, director of the Digital Youth Network.

When: Tuesday, August 14, 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT
Where: Connected Learning TV

Teacher Research is Connective Learning: Practitioner Inquiry as Professional Development
How do we ensure schools are places of learning for both the students and staff? What does classroom inquiry look like when the teacher is the inquirer? Bud Hunt and Cindy O’Donnell-Allen of the Colorado State University Writing Project will lead this MacArthur Foundation Connected Learning webinar.

When: Tuesday, August 28, 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT
Where: Connected Learning TV


#engchat on Twitter

Meenoo Rami and Samuel Reed of the Philadelphia Writing Project will host a special #engchat—a conversation via Twitter—which will focus on networked professional learning.

When: August 27, 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT
Where: On Twitter (just search for and/or use the hashtag #engchat)


Build a “Digital Is” Resource for the World!

Are you up for a challenge? During the month of August, NWP will test a new Digital Is “challenge” at Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU) School of Ed. This is your opportunity to develop a resource at Digital Is that makes visible an example of practice and key questions related to teaching, learning, and writing. At the end of the challenge, not only will you have a completed resource, you’ll also receive a badge from your peers for your work!

When: The entire month of August (and beyond)
Where: P2PU School of Ed


The House is Open at NWP Digital Is!

NWP’s Digital Is website will host open houses during the month of August as part of Connected Educator Month. Visit the site to see what is collected there already and find out how to add your own content and participate in conversations. NWP Digital Is staff will be available to chat during the following dates and times:

  • August 8th 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PT
  • August 15th 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PT
  • August 22 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PT
  • August 29 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PT

Where: Visit us via the special “DI Open House” link – http://connectededucators.org/cems/national-writing-project-digital-is-open-house/